Celebrate the Century: U.S. History of the 1960s
THE REBELLIOUS 60s AND MAN ON THE MOON
A decade of extremes, the 1960s, saw triumphs and demonstrations. President John F. Kennedy's commitment to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade was fulfilled. Young people questioned authority and rebelled against the status quo.
Civil rights activists won a victory when Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One of the most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in 1968.
To promote international friendship, President Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961. His assassination in 1963 stunned the nation. In 1965 U.S. ground troops were deployed to active combat in Viet Nam.
Roger Maris hit 61 homers in one season, and the Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls. The Beatles captivated the nation, and Star Trek debuted.
New words: Hippie, workaholic, scam, and skateboard.
ASTRONAUT WALKS ON THE MOON
President John F. Kennedy's 1961 commitment to put a human on the moon was
fulfilled July 20, 1969, when the lunar module Eagle landed on the
surface of the moon, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the
lunar soil. Obviously, this was a proud moment for the United States.
Question 1:
Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to set foot on the moon. How much time
did he and Buzz Aldrin spend exploring the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969?
The Web site:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/
whos_who_level2/whos_who.html
To find the answer to that question, go to the Who's
Who in Space Web page and click on Neil Armstrong.
'I HAVE A DREAM'
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a
Dream" speech to some 250,000 supporters in Washington, D.C. Two years
later, he led a march from Selma to Montgomery Alabama.
Question 2:
Why was the first march on Selma known as "Bloody Sunday" and the
second march known as "Turnaround Tuesday"?
The Web site:
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214523/selmamarch.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to The Selma March Web page.
THE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
Independently invented by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce, the integrated circuit
was first available commercially in 1961. It led to small, inexpensive,
mass-produced electronic circuits, revolutionizing the computer industry.
Question 3:
What company did Jack Kilby work for when he was granted Patent No. 3,138,743
for Miniaturized Electronic Circuits? What company did Robert Noyce found after
he was granted Patent No. 2,981,877 for the silicon based IC (integrated
circuit)?
The Web site:
http://www.dotpoint.com/xnumber/kilby.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the A
Tale of Two Brains Web page and read about their research.
BARBIE DOLL
Introduced by Mattel in March 1959, the Barbie doll caused a sensation by
providing young girls a teenage fashion doll with a large and stylish wardrobe.
By 1963, sales had reached 5 million dolls and 25 million fashions.
Question 4:
The year 1968 was a milestone in Barbie history. Barbie had a
new friend. What was unique about Barbie's new friend?
The Web site:
http://www.billbam.com/barbiehistory.html
To find the answer to that question, go to the Barbie History website .
FORD MUSTANG
Introduced in April 1964, the Mustang had sporty styling, economic value, and a
long list of options that appealed to men and women of all ages. Some 22,000
orders were taken the first day, and 1 million cars were produced in less than
24 months.
Question 5:
How many Ford Mustangs were produced in 1965?
The Web site:
http://members.tripod.com/coolhand_luke/id2.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the Mustang
Alley Web page .
THE VIETNAM WAR
The Vietnam War was the longest military conflict in U.S. history. The
hostilities in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia claimed the lives of more than 58,000
Americans. Another 304,000 were wounded.
Question 6:
Where is the first name located on the Vietnam memorial? What year is it listed
under?
The Web site:
http://www.vvmf.org/134.cfm
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Web page.
THE PEACE CORPS
Established by President Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps promotes world peace
and cross-cultural understanding.
Question 7:
What are the 3 main goals of the Peace Corps?
The Web site:
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Peace Corps Web page
and read about their mission.
SUPER BOWL I
The first championship game between the American Football League and the
National Football League was held January 15, 1967. The game, which was later
dubbed Super Bowl I, saw the NFL's Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City
Chiefs.Question 8:
How much money did each of the Packers receive for the victory? How much did
each of the Chiefs receive in defeat?
The Web site:
http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/history/recap/sbi
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Super
Bowl Recaps Web page.
THE BEATLES
The Beatles debuted in the United States on
the Ed Sullivan Show.
Charming and exuberant, the band's members captivated the nation. Their
creativity helped revolutionize rock 'n' roll, moving it to a more artistically
ambitious musical form.
Question 9:
Ed Sullivan had a popular variety show for many years.
On February 9, 1964 he introduced The Beatles to a
large American audience. How many songs did The Beatles perform that night?
The Web site:
http://www.edsullivan.com/artists/the-beatles/
To find the answer to that question, go to the
Ed Sullivan Archives
and read about that great night!
ROGER MARIS: Home Run King
In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees set a new
Major League Baseball record, breaking the previous mark of 60 set in 1927
by Babe Ruth.
Question 10:
In 1961, Roger
Maris broke the single season home run record of Babe Ruth.
How many home runs did Roger Maris hit in 1961?
The Web site:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct01.html
To find the answer to that question, go to
the Library of Congress.