The Most Significant Events

The Most Significant Events HIS/135

Introduction, of all the different decades over the years in the United States we as Americans has draw a picture of how an election of a President Dwight D. Eisenhower to President Clinton admitting to the Lewinskys affair can be the most influential events in our country. These past decades in our country has showed a start to a beginning that produced exploration of achievements. Our history can teach all Americans that the most negative impact can bring a strong foundation that lays hopes, dreams and determination to build a strong country. This paper will explore each decade from the 1950s through the 1990s while demonstrating how each event in these decades helped to mold of social involvement toward the future.

1950s Dwight D Eisenhower elect for President

Dwight D. Eisenhower was born on October 14th 1980 in Denison, Texas. Dwight D. Eisenhower became the 34th President of the United States in the late 1950s. His presidency obtained a truce in Korea and work endlessly during his two terms to east the tension of the Cold War. Eisenhowers Modern Republicanism brought a sense of security and honor to an uncertain America (Travel and History, 2010). President Eisenhower policies produced many advantage with congress that had a major effect on the democrats during serving his time as President in the White House. President Eisenhower wanted to prove to the country to be a strong leader that makes sure he took ownership and control of his administration.

Eisenhower help to build a foundation that strengthen programs such as; Social Security while putting in place the Interstate Highway System in 1956. The Interstate Highway System became one of the largest public work programs in the United States History. Eisenhower declared the he was conservative when it comes to money and liberal when it comes to human being (Davidson, 2005). Also, still remaining to be the uncomfortable with the big picture of the government he rejected the liberal proposal on trying to house the health care with the Social Security system. President Eisenhower was determined to make modern Republicanism successful with wooing prosperous Democratic with joining the middle class. This domestic policy that President Eisenhower put into place as the New Deal program help to balance out budgets with the government that allow a great influence on our country back then and as well as now.

1960s Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.

The name of Martin Luther King, Jr is a well recognized name of the civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States (The National Archives). Martin Luther King was born in raised in middle class black community of Atlanta, Georgia. He was one of the sons to Atlanta, Georgia most respected prominent black minister. Mr. King he lead the victory of boycott of the segregation on the black people on the bus system. Martin Luther King and his colleagues were developing the tactics that were needed to launch a more aggressive phase of the civil rights movement (Davidson, 2005). In November in 1956 the Supreme Court ruled that the segregation on the public bus system was illegal. This victory leads Martin Luther King Jr. to national fame during the

aggressive time for civil right movements. Some of Kings activist where not just forcing on civil rights of blacks but also to help eliminate the chain of poverty, unemployment and lack of education the confronts a lot of black Americans. In the late 1960s Martin Luther king Jr wanted to ensure their unity of nonviolence protesting in Memphis, Tennessee that was schedule for April 5, 1968. The United States district court judge put in place a temporary restrain order against Martin Luther king Jr. for doing this protest. The temporary restrained was voided so Martin Luther King and his protest could march in Memphis. As King and his associate were getting ready to head out to dinner on the evening of April 4, 1968 he was assassinated as he left his hotel room to attend dinner. In addition, Martin Luther King Jr. became a spokesperson for nonviolent protest in the Civil Rights Movement. He was a man that try to show people his visions with determination of how united we could be a country equality. This was great milestone that Martin Luther king Jr. helped to lead the achievements of civil right movements such as; act of 1964 Civil Rights and Voting Rights Act of 1965 that was a great influence as todays society as well.

1970s- Four College Students Killed by National Guard at Kent State University, Ohio

President Nixon argued to communism in Southeast Asia threatened vital American interests. But it was Lynden Johnson who began a massive bombing campaign that sent half a million American troop to intervene in Vietnams civil war (Davidson, 2005). During the war protester protest on equality for women, gays and other racial ethnics civil rights along with

tension building on American troops going to an unnecessary war. A lot of college student represented these protesters mostly known as counterculture. On May 4, 1970 members of the Ohio National Guards fired into a crown of Kent State University demonstrators, killing for and wounding nine Kent State students. (Lewis, 1998). With student lies dead at Kent State many had to ask their selves who were the enemy and who was the friend? This event triggers an outrage with more colleges and universities to close due to student protesting and strikes nationwide. In addition, this had a major impact on the national politics this help to build a mudslide into Watergate that destroyed the Nixon Administration. The event was very traumatizing that produce a time when federal troops shot and killed United States students. The impact of this epochal event lead many to believe that it help the end the Vietnam War. All the tension nationwide with all colleges and universities showed how deep the political and social divided the country during the Vietnam War are that had a lot of influence on this 1970s decade.

1980s- Music Television (MTV) was launched on cable television.

One of the greatest cable success stories would be the launch of MTV by the Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. MTV was known for the providing music videos for record companies and their performers. MTV was formed in 1981 that was know as Music Television that give music artists a opportunity to show their talent in music video all over the world. In addition, MTV earned $7 million in ad revenue in the first eighteen months, and in May 1983 the station already had 125 advertiser representing 200 products (MTV Music Television, nd),

MTV help to start a nation wide expansion of cable television. Many rock roll bands become household name with the help from Music Television. Michael Jackson Launched the second wave of his career as an MTV staple. Madonna rose to frame on MTV in the 1980s. As well, Madonna is the most successful video performer in the MTV history (MTV, nd). Music Television started in New York City along with playing the first video by the Buggles. There have been many memorable music video that were ground breaking that mold the future for videos such as; Michael Jacksons video Thriller. Not only have MTV change the way we see artist perform it also started a foundation of the whole television industry around our country and in the future that build a milestone in history.

1990s- Clinton admits to Lewinsky affair

In almost every president was face with some type of crisis in their second terms. For example, Watergate build a foundation of bring down Richard Nixon, the controversy of IranContra help to tarnish Reagan and then Bill Clintons affair threaten his presidency with impeachment and conviction. Clinton admits to an affair with an aid working at the White house during the Clintons presidency by the name of Monica Lewinsky. A friend of Monica Lewinsky recorded conversation of Lewinsky talking about her and Mr. Clinton sexual relations (Davidson, 2005). Furthermore, these actions lead to investigation of Bill Clinton denying his affair under oath in a deposition (Monica Lewinsky, nd). This brought down for ground of impeached of perjury against the President Clinton. This controversy seem to have the lead the president into a weakened state but never powerless on nations economy was still growing strongly with

unemployment rate dropping and stock market steady rising. Clintons indiscretion left the country wondering if the justice system was truly fair or not. This plays a major role on a lot of political figures influences in todays society as well.

In conclusion, with all the combination of political, civil rights leaders to Bill Clintons affair we share a unity that build a vision as where we are going as a nation over the years. The past plays a major role in reflecting the necessary impact of how strong the United States had become of these decades. In our history it tell a story of how bad or good it was help to determined just how strong we stand as a country. This allows us to believe not matter where the past has taken us it will allow have a line of hope and dreams that made us the country we are today.

References

Davidson (2005). Nation of nations: A concise narrative of the American republic (4th ed., Vol. 2). New York: McGraw-Hill. Monica Lewinsky. (n.d.) In Encyckopaedia Britannica. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked /topic /42785/Monica-Lewinsky Travel and History (n.d.). Dwight D. Eisenhower. Retrieved May 7, 2010, From http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1789.html The National Archives (n.d.). Teaching With Documents: Court Documents Related to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Memphis Sanitation Workers. Retrieved May 7, 2010, From http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/memphis-v-mlk/ Jerry M. Lewis.(1998). The May 4 shooting at Kent State University: The search for historical accuracy. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/lewihen.htm MTV Music Television (n.d.) I want my MTV. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from http://student.valpo.edu/kpage/comm/history.html MTV (n.d.) MTV History. Retrieved May 7, 2010, From http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/MTV.htm