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Civil rights by Unseen Histories/

10 Most Famous Historical World Events of the 1960s

This decade is one of the most boisterous and disruptive decades in the World鈥檚 history marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, and political assassination. It was marked by dramatic changes in the world of Fashion, fashion attire was only marketed to the elite and wealthy people in the past decades. Fashion designers realized that the young generation known as the Baby boom generation was more interested in new fashion and the income was good, thus in this decade there was a drastic shift in fashion designs. You may wonder what about music in this decade, this decade brings to mind the most iconic performers for example the Beatles, the 1960s saw the rise of funk and soul music. Recreational drugs were also synonymous with the Sixties and became more commonly used in the latter part of the decade. Feminism became a more influential ideology as more jobs become available to women, this allowed women to be more independent. The contraceptive bill was legalized in this decade and gave women the opportunity to broaden their hopes and dreams in both motherhood and marriage. Women鈥檚 liberty movement became popular at the Ford Factory in Dagenham where women went on strike demanding equal pay with their male co-workers. During this decade technological advancement drastically changed, color television and pocket transistor radios allowed people to spend their free time listening to music and watching TV. Every teenager owned a transistor radio allowing them to listen to pop music. Microwaves were invented and made it easy for women in the kitchen. Neil Armstrong achieved the impossible and become the first moon to reach the moon. The decade ended on a high note of optimism and the ability to dream bigger.

Well let鈥檚 dive in and look at the historical events that made this decade memorable

1.John.F. Kennedy moves to the state house

John. F. Kennedy by Library of Congress/Unsplash

Kennedy became president in 1961, and this significantly changed the United States African Americans faced a lot of discrimination. Discrimination was everywhere in that they were not allowed to vote, during his reign Martin Luther King, Jr., and the civil rights movement played a pivotal role during this time. John. F. Kennedy served in the U.S navy during World War II and he represented the Massachusetts 11^th congressional district for three terms. Kennedy鈥檚 path to power was smoothed by his father鈥檚 money and influence. Two factors that helped Kennedy win the 1960 presidential election were his strong, forceful personality and his response to the arrest of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At this time King was jailed in Georgia after a peaceful group attempted to integrate an Atlanta department store dining room. Kennedy sympathized with Coretta Scott king’s wife to Martin Luther and made a call that released him from prison. He was the youngest man and the first Roman Catholic ever elected to the presidency of the United States. He embodied grace, powerful command, and a wide range of intellect and was known for his good looks. Kennedy was gifted to reach the humane, empathetic, and idealistic part of people. One of Kennedy鈥檚 famous quotes 鈥�Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country,鈥� challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good.

Top 10 astonishing facts about John. F.Kennedy

2. The first man to orbit the earth

Yuri Gagarin by Unknown Article/

The Soviet Union was the first to build and send a satellite out into space and the second time they did it they sent it with a dog and it came back alive. This caused a space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, well this race did not end there Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarina a 27-year-old soviet pilot was the first human to journey out of space, he completed one orbit around the earth in 1961. He became an international celebrity been awarded medals been the hero of the Soviet Union. He traveled in a tiny capsule attached to an R-7 ballistic missile; a powerful rocket originally designed to carry a three- to a five-megaton nuclear warhead. This triumph of the Soviet Union was a great blow to the United States and this saw John Glenn the first American to orbit the earth three times in 1962 in a space capsule Friendship 7 was a member of the first American Astronauts in a NASA group called Mercury 7.

3. President John. F. Kennedy assassinated

John F. Kennedy by Gongonllum/

The youngest and the 35^th president of the United States was assassinated while traveling through Dallas in an open-top convertible. Driving in a ten-mile motorcade through the streets of Dallas Kennedy his wife Jacqueline Kennedy and the Connallys waved at the large, enthusiastic crowd gathered they were three shots were fired Kennedy was seriously wounded and succumbed to his wounds and died at the age of 46 years. Vice president Lyndon Johnson took the presidential oath on the same day making him the 36^th President In front of 30 witnesses, Kennedy鈥檚 wife was one of them still wearing clothes stained with her husband鈥檚 blood. The suspect under this circumstance was Lee Harvey Oswald who was later killed. It was a sad time for Americans and they mourned the death of their president.

4. Martin Luther King Jr famous speech I have a dream

Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington by Rowland Scherman/

Martin Luther King Jr will be remembered for his famous speech before a crowd of 250,000 people in Washington in history. The speech I have a Dream the eloquent speech was recognized as a highlight of a successful protest and one of the signature moments of the civil rights movement. Born in 1929 in Atlanta King was heavily influenced by his father a church pastor. King鈥檚 father led a protest of several hundred African American to protest against voting rights discrimination in Atlanta. Martin Luther King was a member of a debate team in high school and was known for his powerful public speaking skills enhanced by his deep baritone voice and comprehensive vocabulary. King and a few civil rights groups organized the Washington March for jobs and freedom, King participated in the Selma to Montgomery in 1965 to protest against the brutal attack on activists by the police here he gave his speck on How long Not long. King broadened his focus and began speaking out against the Vietnam War and economic issues, calling for a bill of rights for all Americans.

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5. Marilyn Monroe was found dead

Marilyn Monroe by Unknown Arthur/

Marilyn Monroe a movie star was found dead in her home in Los Angeles, she was found dead lying nude face down with a telephone in one empty, with empty bottles of depression pills littered around the room. Her death was ruled out as suicide, born in 1926 she was born to Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles. Her mother was emotionally unstable and could not take care of Monroe and she had to enter the foster care system. She started her career as a model and later signed a contract with the 20th-century fox taking her screen name Marylin Monroe. She began to attract attention as an actress in 1950 after appearing in minor roles in the movies The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve. Monroe鈥檚 death remains a mystery and after the news broke fans started circulating rumors of foul play. Well, Monroe leaves the legacy of being considered the greatest sex symbol of the 20^th century, she is highly regarded in the entertainment industry, inspiring movies and documentaries. Her enlightened beauty and glamour remain an important part of pop culture for example the famous Monroe piercing on the lip and her image can be found in posters and other merchandise.

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 6. The world鈥檚 heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali visits Washington by Unknown Arthur/

Cassius Clay also known as Muhammad Ali fought defending champion Charles Liston for the heavyweight title in Miami Beach, Florida. Ali started his boxing career at the age of 12 18 years, he trained long and hard to be the best at boxing. Muhammad was arguably the most influential and revered figure in American sports history. He defended his title nine times, but his title was stripped away from him when he refused his induction into the U.S army under the grounds of his being a Muslim Minister he was sentenced to five years in prison many across the world applauded Ali for his bold stand against the Vietnam War. Muhammad Ali the famous boxer is known for his unprecedented speed and his grace in the sport, his charm and wit attracted the public. His accomplishments in the ring with two legendary fights the first being with Sonny Liston proclaiming himself the greatest and the second one stunning victory over George Foreman in Zaire. Muhammad Ali鈥檚 career did not only revolve around boxing but he championed the development of the world he has been instrumental in providing over 232 million meals to the world鈥檚 hungry traveling across continents. Ali hand-delivered food and medical supplies to needy sites like Harapan Kita Hospital for children in Jakarta Indonesia.

7. Death of Walter Disney

Walt Disney NYWTS by Unknown Arthur/

Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago, he has Irish. German and English ancestry, he moved with his parents to Kansas City at the age of seven. During World War I he faked his age to join the American Red cross. Known as a famous American film producer, director, and screenwriter remembered for being a leading pioneer in animation and innovative amusement parks. Walter was a visionary entrepreneur alongside his brother Roy. O. Disney. Disney was a complex person and suffered mental breakdowns in his lifetime, in the work he maintained high standards, and family values with a sense of idealism, optimism, and good humor. His movies and theme parks have brought wonder, magic, and joy to millions throughout the world. Walt Disney was nominated for 48 Academy Awards and seven Emmys and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. His death is attributed to acute circulatory collapse, he had previously undergone surgery at the hospital a month ago for the removal of a lung tumor that was discovered after he entered the hospital for treatment of an old neck injury received in a polo match.

8. First heart transplant

Aankomst Dr. Chris Barnard op Schiphol by Ron Kroon/

Surgeon Christiaan Barnard performed the first human heart transplant in Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape town South Africa. Today, more than thirty thousand heart transplants have been performed in the United States and more than fifty thousand have been done worldwide. Washkansky a South African grocer dying from Chronic heart disease received a transplant from Denise Darvall a 25-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident. In 1970 heart transplants become better and Dr. Barnard continued performing heart transplants his patients lived five years with their new hearts. Heart plant surgery has been successful one of the disadvantages is finding the right donors.

9. Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King, Jr. by Dick DeMarsico/

April 1968 Martin Luther King was shot dead while standing on the balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee. His death prompted major outbreaks of racial violence resulting in forty deaths nationwide and extensive property damage. In the last year of his life, Dr. King faced a lot of criticism from young African American activists who favored a more confrontational approach to change instead of peaceful protest. King survived an assassination attempt in the shoe section at a Harlem department store in 1958. James Earl Ray a fugitive confessed to the killing of King, the looting that took place during this uprising reflected the sentiments: of police harassment, housing segregation, inadequate municipal services, failing schools, and nonexistent jobs. Today Dr. King is celebrated for his remarks at the 1963 March on Washington and for helping to fight for civil rights laws.

10. Neil Armstrong lands on the moon

Astronaut by Brian Mc Gowan/

American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin become the first humans to land on the moon. This first attempt for human beings to land on the moon occurred eight years after President John .F. Kennedy announced a national goal of landing a man on the moon. As Neil Armstrong was taking a step at a time on the moon he said 鈥�that is one step for man, one giant leap for mankind鈥�. Apollo 11 was launched from cape Kennedy, Armstrong and Aldrin spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon’s surface. Millions of people gathered around their television to watch two U.S astronauts do something no one has done before, wearing bulk suits and backpacks of Oxygen to breathe. Armstrong and Aldrin collected samples of moon rocks and dust.

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