The 1960s was a period in American history that was marked with conflict and social revolution. Here you can find information about major events that took place in the 1960s and events in the modern era.
Every four years, millions of U.S. citizens go to local voting booths to elect the next president and vice president. But those votes may not matter. How can the electoral college change the vote? See more »
Public enemies threaten the well-being of the populace, committing serial murders, genocide or financial piracy. What 10 public enemies make our list?
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On this day, five men were arrested at an office suite in the Watergate Hotel/office facility. Learn how the Watergate break-in eventually led to the impeachment and resignation of President Nixon.
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The 1970s was a tumultuous era that began with tragedy on Kent State's campus. Four students were killed in the midst of protests against the Vietnam War. But who's to blame is still up for debate.
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She's held down more than 80 jobs, including paleontologist, astronaut and McDonald's cashier. She comes dressed to thrill in ball gowns and ski slope chic. So why would anyone compare her to an adults-only German doll?
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Many people enjoy their cliched "15 minutes" these days, but their notoriety quickly fizzles out. The most famous among us remain iconic across generations. But how can you measure John Lennon's fame against Muhammad's?
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The Warren Commission published its findings on President John F. Kennedy's assassination in a report in 1964. So why do people still ask who killed JFK?
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Candidates drool over it. Campaign managers turn gray from it. Super Tuesday is the second-most important Tuesday in the American election process. What is Super Tuesday? And why aren't all the states involved?
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Every four years, the state of Iowa becomes a political hotbed when it hosts its caucuses. Each state has its own nominating contests, so why does Iowa mean so much to the candidates and the media?
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Famous locomotives, such as the John Bull locomotive, have helped shape the history of American railroads. These trains are well-known to many railroad historians. Learn more about some famous locomotives.
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By the 1960s the lonesome whistle of the steam railroads was a thing of the past. The decline of railroads came about during the 1960s and 1970s as the automobile dominated transportation.
See more »Black Power Movement, in United States history, an effort among black Americans to gain control of the institutions that affect their daily lives by acquiring independent economic, social, and political power.
See more »Counterculture , a set of behaviors and beliefs that are radically different from those of mainstream society.
See more »Cuban Missile Crisis , a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, October 22–28, 1962, that threatened to precipitate nuclear war.
See more »Iranian Hostage Crisis, a diplomatic conflict caused by the holding in captivity of United States embassy personnel by Iranian militants from November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981.
See more »Following the Persian Gulf War in 1991, Iraq agreed to United Nations-supervised destruction of its facilities for developing weapons. The Iraq War began in 2003 after dispute over cooperation with U.N. inspections.
See more »The Presidential election of 1960 was held in an atmosphere of strained international relations and increasing racial tension in the United States.
See more »Peace Corps, the volunteer foreign assistance program of the United States. The peace Corps places men and women in other countries to help meet the need for skilled persons.
See more »Railroad super-engines were produced in the mid-1990s with the same size but more power than standard locomotives. They were produced by General Motors and General Electric, the two largest engine manufacturers. Learn about railroad super-engines.
See more »Railroad technology has greatly changed the way in which railroads conduct business. Computers have automated much of what used to be done by the work of several people. Learn about some of the developments in railroad technology.
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