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1960s Research Project: Home

The 1960's "a closer look" choice board research project.

Directions:  Choose one of the 1960's topics listed below for your research topic. Use the links provided for that topic to start your research. Then, use the choice board linked here to complete your research project.

1960's Civil Rights

  • The Civil Rights Movement
  • Civil Rights Movement Timeline
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • March on Washington
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965
  • Civil Rights (Video)

1960's NASA-Space Exploration

  • Space Program
  • Sputnik's Impact on America
  • The Space Race (1955-1975) (Video)

1960's Fashion

  • Fashion History: 1960s
  • 1960-1969 Fashion
  • History Brief: 1960s Daily Life and Pop Culture (Video) (Start Time: 10:18)

1960's Pop Culture

  • Pop Culture
  • The Sixties Moments in Time Timeline
  • History Brief:1960s Daily Life and Pop Culture (Video)
  • The 1960s in Color - Life in America (Video)

1960's Music

  • Elvis Presley
  • History Brief: 1960s Daily Life and Pop Culture (Video) (Start Time: 8:49)

1960's World Events

  • Cuban Missile Crisis
  • The History of the Cuban Missile Crisis (Video)
  • John F Kennedy Assassination
  • Vietnam War

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Articles on The 1960s

Displaying all articles.

research topics for 1960s

What being a teenage girl in 1960s Britain was really like

Penny Tinkler , University of Manchester

research topics for 1960s

How alternative communities have evolved – from pacifist communes to a solution to the ageing population

Kirsten Stevens-Wood , Cardiff Metropolitan University

research topics for 1960s

Good profits from bad news: How the Kennedy assassination helped make network TV news wealthy

Michael J. Socolow , University of Maine

research topics for 1960s

Black students in Washington state played key role in the Civil Rights Movement, new book states

Marc Arsell Robinson , California State University, San Bernardino

research topics for 1960s

Minneapolis’ ‘long, hot summer’ of ‘67 – and the parallels to today’s protests over police brutality

Rashad Shabazz , Arizona State University

research topics for 1960s

The soundtrack of the Sixties demanded respect, justice and equality

Michael V. Drake , The Ohio State University

research topics for 1960s

Red-state politics in and out of the college classroom

Natasha Zaretsky , Southern Illinois University

research topics for 1960s

How Canadian boomers got into pot

Catherine Carstairs , University of Guelph

research topics for 1960s

Magical Mystery Tour: a rare Beatles flop – but it paved the way for Monty Python

Adam Behr , Newcastle University

Related Topics

  • 1968 50th anniversary
  • Civil rights movement
  • George Harrison
  • Higher education
  • Paul McCartney

Top contributors

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Senior Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, Newcastle University

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Professor, Department of History, University of Guelph

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President, The Ohio State University

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The Ohio State University

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Associate Professor of History, Southern Illinois University

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Associate Professor at the School of Social Transformation, Arizona State University

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Assistant Professor of History, California State University, San Bernardino

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Professor of Sociology and History, University of Manchester

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Professor of Communication and Journalism, University of Maine

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Senior Lecturer, Cardiff Metropolitan University

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research topics for 1960s

The Timeline highlights significant developments in the history of financial regulation against U.S. and world events. Choose a decade to start, scroll down to read more. Learn more about building the Timeline .

John Kennedy Elected President

research topics for 1960s

U-2 Spy Plane Shot Down Over Russia

Adolf eichmann captured, greensboro sit-in, birth control pill approved for contraceptive use, report on regulatory agencies.

President-Elect Kennedy asked former SEC Chairman James Landis to write a report on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal regulatory agencies. The report emphasized the importance of hiring adequate and experienced staff for the SEC, as well as the negative repercussions of an under-budgeted agency.

Berlin Wall Erected

research topics for 1960s

Bay of Pigs

Peace corps, freedom rides, opec formed, gagarin first to orbit earth.

The Res, a father and son team of American Stock Exchange specialists, had been engaged in illegal activity in connection with the securities markets since the early 1950s. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission learned of some of their activity in 1957 and imposed minimal penalties. In 1960, the SEC began a full-scale investigation of the Res. The Res were expelled from the AMEX and, after a criminal trial, sentenced to prison. The SEC came under criticism for not taking effective action earlier. The Re scandal questioned the efficacy of of self-regulation.

Cady, Roberts & Co.

Cady, Roberts & Co. was a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission administrative proceeding involving a broker who traded an exchange-listed security while in possession of inside information. While the SEC had rarely used Rule 10b-5 since its enactment, in Cady, Roberts , the SEC made clear that Rule 10b-5 applied to transactions occurring over stock exchanges and not just to transactions made face to face.

Branch of Special Investigations

In October, concerned that the regionally fragmented nature of the enforcement program kept the SEC from going after large-scale fraudsters, Chairman William Carey createda Branch of Special Investigations within the Division of Trading and Exchanges to assist regional offices—and in some instances take over—cases of national importance. This signaled the waning of regional office autonomy within the SEC.

James Meredith Registers at University of Mississippi

research topics for 1960s

Cuban Missile Crisis

Rachel carson’s “silent spring”, second vatican council, telstar transmits first transatlantic television, american stock exchange investigation.

Following the Re scandal, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission conducted an investigation of the American Stock Exchange, attributing the AMEX problems to a small group of specialists, and proposed decreasing the role of specialists in management positions.

Wharton Study of Mutual Funds

The Wharton School of Business was commissioned by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 1958 to conduct a study of the mutual fund market. The study, published in 1962, found that the performance of the mutual funds examined did not exceed the performance of a randomly selected portfolio of securities, nor did higher management fees result in better performance.

Market Break

On May 28, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 5.7%, the second-largest point decline then on record. Volume was so heavy that the “ticker” did not finish reporting until two hours after the market closed. A report by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission found that specialists stopped trading when liquidity was urgently needed.

Kennedy Assassinated – Lyndon Johnson President

research topics for 1960s

Civil Rights March on Washington

Equal pay act, washington-moscow "hot-line", special study of securities markets.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission released the Special Study of Securities Markets . About 40 staff members worked on the study full time for two years. The study was conducted on a quasi-independent basis and issued without the prior approval of SEC Commissioners. The study questioned the effectiveness of self-regulation and the ability of exchanges to adequately protect investors. It criticized the SEC’s passivity in supervising exchanges and found that the SEC had not adequately enforced rules against large securities firms.

Supreme Court Limits NYSE Antitrust Exemptions

In Silver v. New York Stock Exchange , the U.S. Supreme Court limited New York Stock Exchange antitrust exemptions only to areas that fulfilled the exchange's obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Investment Tax Credit Accounting

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced in Accounting Series Release No. 96 that it would accept a method of accounting for the investment tax credit that had been outlawed by the AICPA's Accounting Principles Board. The Board accommodated the SEC's view in APB Opinion No. 4, but tried again in vain when the investment tax credit was re-introduced in 1967 and in 1971. Congress intervened by including a provision in the Revenue Act of 1971 that no taxpayer should be required to use any particular method of accounting for the investment credit in its financial statements.

Markets Close with News of Kennedy Assassination

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22 quickly impacted trading. The New York Stock Exchange shut down within 27 minutes of the news of the assassination spreading to the floor.

Civil Rights Act

research topics for 1960s

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Nelson mandela sentenced to life imprisonment, krushchev deposed, u.s. surgeon general affirms cigarette smoking causes cancer, supreme court rules on private actions.

In J.I. Case v. Borak , the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Exchange Act implicity authorizes a private right of action for false and misleading proxy statements issued in violation of Rule 14a-9. The ruling meant that individuals could sue and seek damages from other people or corporations that violated certain securities laws. The Court reasoned that private suits would supplement the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s efforts in enforcing securities laws and deterring violators.

Securities Act Amendments

In response to the Special Study of Securities Markets , Congress enacted the Securities Act Amendments of 1964. The most significant amendment extended reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to firms that were unlisted on an exchange but above a certain size.

“Come to Rest” Abroad Offerings

Securities Act Release No. 4708 announced the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s position that the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 do not apply to offerings reasonably designed to “come to rest” outside of the United States. This release was supplemented by the adoption of Regulation S in 1990.

First Spacewalks

research topics for 1960s

Malcolm X Assassinated

Voting rights act, u.s. combat troops in vietnam, u.s. equal employment opportunity commission, china’s cultural revolution.

research topics for 1960s

U.S. Supreme Court Confirms Miranda Rights

First regional enforcement conference.

To integrate the efforts of a variety of agencies, the SEC, encouraged by commissioner Hugh Owens, initiated a series of annual conferences hosted by regional offices. Attendees included federal, state, and local prosecutors; state securities commissioners; postal inspectors; accountants; securities lawyers; and representatives of self-regulatory organizations.

Thurgood Marshall First African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice

research topics for 1960s

Israeli-Arab Six Day War

Pbs created, first successful human heart transplant, wall street back office crisis.

The back office crisis was caused by an increase in trading volume without an increase in personnel to process the transactions. Major exchanges had to close down mid-week so brokers could catch up on processing delays; brokerage firms failed in large numbers. The New York Stock Exchange used a special reserve fund to reimburse customers of failed brokerage firms, but by 1970, the fund was nearly depleted.

Auditors Under Siege

In cases such as Yale Express , BarChris Construction , Continental Vending , and National Student Marketing , auditors found that reliance on the guidance in GAAP and generally accepted auditing standards would no longer be a shield against litigation. The profession was shocked when, in Continental Vending , auditors were convicted of a criminal violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy

research topics for 1960s

Richard Nixon Elected President

Tet offensive, my lai massacre, apollo 8 orbits moon.

The National Association of Securities Dealers, with the support of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, began to build Nasdaq, an electronic system that would provide price quotations for over-the-counter stocks.

SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur

In SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur , the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ruling which found that corporate insiders trading company stock on the basis of material non-public information violated Rule 10b-5.

Fixed Commission Hearings

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission held hearings on the New York Stock Exchange’s use of fixed commissions, demonstrating that fixed commissions failed to allow for volume discounts. The Justice Department filed a comment letter on proposed Rule 10b-10, urging the NYSE to abolish fixed rate commissions.

Williams Act

Concerned by a rise in hostile tender offers, U.S. Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced legislation to make corporate takeovers more difficult by requiring potential acquirers to publicly file details of their offers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Act imposed a mandatory waiting period before acquisition and stipulated that all shareholders receive the same price offer for their shares.

Management's Discussion and Analysis

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission began requiring the inclusion of a narrative discussion of the entity's operations in the audited financial statements, addressing liquidity, capital resources, results of operations, and the future impact of known trends, demands, commitments, events or uncertainties.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Rule 22c-1 under the Investment Company Act, requiring that open-ended mutual fund shares be sold and redeemed at the net asset value (NAV) as of the next market close. Forward pricing ensured that shares would be purchased at the next computed share price following the fund's receipt of the transaction order.

Apollo 11 Lands on Moon

research topics for 1960s

Stonewall Riot

Gaddafi establishes islamic republic in libya.

The Pacific Stock Exchange started up its Computerized Execution System, the world's first automated electronic equities trading platform. After being improved ten years later, the system was renamed the Securities Communication Order Routing and Execution System (SCOREX).

Responding to the rise of institutional investors during the 1960s, Institutional Networks Corporation launched an electronic system enabling banks, mutual funds, and insurance companies to buy and sell securities anonymously off the New York Stock Exchange.

Federal Securities Code Project

The American Law Institute appointed Louis Loss as reporter for its project to create a Federal Securities Code, an attempt to revise and integrate the federal laws relating to securities. Loss recruited a team of advisors who worked through the 1970s to simplify the body of law, eliminate duplicate regulation and increase efficiency of investor protection. The 700-page code failed to gain passage through Congress in the early 1980s, but was a major influence on regulatory agencies and the courts.

Wheat Report –Investor Disclosure

Under the leadership of SEC Commissioner Francis M. Wheat, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission conducted a study on the extent to which disclosure could improve the agency's rule-making power. The study's report, Disclosure to Investors - A Reappraisal of Federal Administrative Practices Under the 1933 and 1934 Acts , known as the Wheat Report, laid the groundwork for the development of an integrated disclosure system.

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1960s Facts: Fun, Interesting & Historical USA Trivia

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The 1960s witnessed some of the most iconic moments in modern history. In a single decade, we saw revolutions start and geniuses come and go. We also were able to see some of the most incredible feats in human achievement that would go on to define our lives to this very day.

Here are some of our favorite interesting facts about the 1960s in America.

Photo: Astronaut Neil Armstrong works at the Lunar Module in the only photo taken of him on the moon from the surface; photo taken by Buzz Aldrin

1) A Giant Leap for Mankind

This is, without a doubt, near or at the top of every list of facts about the 1960s. On 20 July 1969, the human race defied the odds by stepping foot on the moon. The honor of being the first one, of course, goes to Neil Armstrong. He marked the momentous occasion with his famous line, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

2) An Iconic Hollywood Tradition Began

Although it feels like they were part of Hollywood ever since it began, the famous stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame weren’t actually there until the 1960s. The honor of being the first actress to be placed on the Walk goes to Joanne Woodward.

3) The Flintstones Debuted

One of the most recognized kids’ cartoons of all time, The Flintstones , debuted during the 1960s. The Hanna-Barbera production became the second-most-successful and longest-running cartoon series in television history, behind only The Simpsons .

4) Roger Maris, Record Breaker

Babe Ruth’s all-time high record of 60 home runs in a season remained a lofty goal until Roger Maris of the New York Yankees beat it. He hit his 61st home run on the last game of the 1961 season, officially topping Ruth’s record.

5) Julia Child Became a Household Hit

The culinary world would never be the same after this 1960s fun fact. The decade saw Julia Child publish her now-legendary cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking . It became a best-seller for the next five years and helped Child establish herself as a culinary icon. She also had her own TV show, The French Chef , in 1962.

Photo: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. giving his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on 28 August 1963

6) Martin Luther King Jr. Delivered a Famous Speech

One of the most significant historical moments of the 1960s was Martin Luther King Jr. speaking before a crowd of 250,000 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on 28 August 1963. That speech, known as the “I Have a Dream’ speech, marked a turning point in the civil rights movement in America. It’s one of the most iconic speeches in American history.

7) President Kennedy Was Assassinated

Maybe the most well-known 1960 historical fact is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald on 22 November 1963. Just three years earlier, JFK won the presidential election against Richard Nixon. He holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever elected president.

Photo: the Beatles with Ed Sullivan from their first appearance on Sullivan’s variety television program in February 1964

8) Beatlemania Arrived in the U.S.

This 1960s fun fact marks the beginning of a musical craze in the U.S. On 9 February 1964, the Beatles first performed before a U.S. audience on the Ed Sullivan Show . They pulled in an incredible 75 million viewers, roughly three-fourths of the total audience in America at the time.

9) A Boxing Legend Was Born

If we were to compile a sports-focused list of 10 facts about the 1960s, the date 25 February 1964 would surely top it. It was when Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston and became the heavyweight champion of the world. Less than a month later, Clay would rename himself as Muhammad Ali.

10) A Famous Landmark Was Built

It’s hard to imagine the city of St. Louis without it; that’s why this 1960s fact might come as a surprise to most Americans. The famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis wasn’t finished until halfway through the 1960s, on 28 October 1965.

Photo: opening ceremony at Woodstock Rock Festival. Swami Satchidananda giving the opening speech on 15 August 1969

11)  Woodstock Happened

Although actually held 40 miles southwest of Woodstock, on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Bethel, New York, the Woodstock Rock Festival on 15-18 August 1969 brought together more than 400,000 fans to hear some of the greatest rock music every played, and to enjoy “3 Days of Peace & Music.”

12) An Important Science Fiction Achievement

One of the most significant movie facts about the 60s is the debut of Stanley Kubrick’s ambitious space film 2001: A Space Odyssey . While not well-received at the time, it eventually earned the status of many critics’ “Best Films Ever Made” lists.

13) Defining the Childhood of an Entire Generation

On 10 November 1969, Sesame Street debuted on American television. The groundbreaking children’s show featured a combination of live actors, puppets, and animation. It has since touched the lives of more than 80 million children, and continues to be watched in households across America to this very day.

14) Andy Warhol Rocked the Art World

In 1961, then commercial artist Andy Warhol first exhibited his works at the New York department store Bonwit Teller. This event marked a turning point for Warhol and helped put him at the forefront of the avant-garde art movement in the U.S.

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New York Archives: 955 Newspapers for Genealogy Research

The first families of america: no blue bloods on the mayflower (part 2), 6 thoughts on “ 1960s facts: fun, interesting & historical usa trivia ”.

I didn’t know most of these!!

Thanks for writing us; we’re glad you enjoyed the article!

These are really cool I am doing a project on the1960s so there are some interesting facts about the 1960s. My teacher didn’t know some of these.

Thanks for writing to us, Dakota, and I’m glad you enjoyed the article!

Is there really no mention of the birth control pill approved for sale by the FDA in 1960?

Nothing was mentioned about the Fashion of 1960’s …..Twiggy and the Shrimp and the amazing beehive hairstyles makeup. Movie stars like Bridget Bardot, Ursula Andrews, Julie Christie and James Bond movies

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By: History.com Editors

Updated: May 11, 2022 | Original: June 17, 2010

TV Time TogetherA happy family cheerfully sits in their living room and watches a televisied clown and puppet show, 1957. The father holds an newspaper open to the financial section in his hands. (Photo by Lambert/Getty Images)

The 1950s were a decade marked by the post- World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the civil rights movement in the United States. “America at this moment,” said the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1945, “stands at the summit of the world.” During the 1950s, it was easy to see what Churchill meant. The United States was the world’s strongest military power. Its economy was booming, and the fruits of this prosperity–new cars, suburban houses and other consumer goods–were available to more people than ever before. However, the 1950s were also an era of great conflict. For example, the nascent civil rights movement and the crusade against communism at home and abroad in the Korean War exposed underlying divisions in American society.

The Postwar Booms

Historians use the word “boom” to describe a lot of things about the 1950s: the booming economy, the booming suburbs and most of all the so-called “baby boom.” This boom began in 1946, when a record number of babies–3.4 million–were born in the United States. About 4 million babies were born each year during the 1950s. In all, by the time the boom finally tapered off in 1964, there were almost 77 million “baby boomers.”

After World War II ended, many Americans were eager to have children because they were confident that the future promised peace and prosperity. In many ways, they were right. Between 1945 and 1960, the gross national product more than doubled, growing from $200 billion to more than $500 billion, kicking off “the Golden Age of American Capitalism.” Much of this increase came from government spending: The construction of interstate highways and schools, the distribution of veterans’ benefits and most of all the increase in military spending–on goods like airplanes and new technologies like computers–all contributed to the decade’s economic growth. Rates of unemployment and inflation were low, and wages were high. Middle-class people had more money to spend than ever–and, because the variety and availability of consumer goods expanded along with the economy, they also had more things to buy.

Moving to the Suburbs

The baby boom and the suburban boom went hand in hand. Almost as soon as World War II ended, developers such as William Levitt (whose “Levittowns” in New York , New Jersey and Pennsylvania would become the most famous symbols of suburban life in the 1950s) began to buy land on the outskirts of cities and use mass production techniques to build modest, inexpensive tract houses there. The G.I. Bill subsidized low-cost mortgages for many returning soldiers, which meant that it was often cheaper to buy one of these suburban houses than it was to rent an apartment in the city.

These houses were perfect for young families–they had informal “family rooms,” open floor plans and backyards–and so suburban developments earned nicknames like “Fertility Valley” and “The Rabbit Hutch.” 

Though the G.I. Bill helped white Americans prosper and accumulate wealth in the postwar years, it didn’t deliver on that promise for veterans of color. In fact, the wide disparity in the bill’s implementation ended up driving growing gaps in wealth, education and civil rights between white and Black Americans.

Suburban homes, meanwhile, weren't always so perfect for the (mostly white) women who lived in them. In fact, the booms of the 1950s had a particularly confining effect on many American women. Advice books and magazine articles (“Don’t Be Afraid to Marry Young,” “Cooking to Me Is Poetry,” “Femininity Begins At Home”) urged women to leave the workforce and embrace their roles as wives and mothers. The idea that a woman’s most important job was to bear and rear children was hardly a new one, but it began to generate a great deal of dissatisfaction among women who yearned for a more fulfilling life. (In her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique , women’s rights advocate Betty Friedan argued that the suburbs were “burying women alive.”) This dissatisfaction, in turn, contributed to the rebirth of the feminist movement in the 1960s.

The Civil Rights Movement

A growing group of Americans spoke out against inequality and injustice during the 1950s. African Americans had been fighting against racial discrimination for centuries; during the 1950s, however, the struggle against racism and segregation entered the mainstream of American life. For example, in 1954, in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, the Supreme Court declared that “separate educational facilities” for black children were “inherently unequal.” This ruling was the first nail in Jim Crow’s coffin.

Many Southern whites resisted the Brown ruling. They withdrew their children from public schools and enrolled them in all-white “segregation academies,” and they used violence and intimidation to prevent blacks from asserting their rights. In 1956, more than 100 Southern congressmen even signed a “Southern Manifesto” declaring that they would do all they could to defend segregation.

Despite these efforts, a new movement was born. In December 1955, a Montgomery activist named Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her seat on a city bus to a white person. Her arrest sparked a 13-month boycott of the city’s buses by its black citizens, which only ended when the bus companies stopped discriminating against Black passengers. Acts of “nonviolent resistance” like the boycott helped shape the civil rights movement of the next decade.

Did you know? When Rosa Parks died in 2005, she was the first woman to lie in honor in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

The Cold War & The Korean War

The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union , known as the Cold War , was another defining element of the 1950s. After World War II, Western leaders began to worry that the USSR had what one American diplomat called “expansive tendencies”; moreover, they believed that the spread of communism anywhere threatened democracy and capitalism everywhere. As a result, communism needed to be “contained”–by diplomacy, by threats or by force. 

This policy is what drew American forces into the Korean War in July 1950. A month earlier, some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People’s Army poured across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea to the south. As far as American officials were concerned, fighting on behalf of the Republic of Korea was pushback against forces of international communism itself.

The United States never formally declared war on North Korea. Instead, President Harry Truman referred to the addition of ground troops as a “police action.” The Korean War armistice , signed on July 27, 1953, drew a new border between North Korea and South Korea , granting South Korea some additional territory and demilitarizing the zone between the two nations.

research topics for 1960s

The Korean War: Fire and Ice

Cold War tensions shaped domestic policy as well. Many people in the United States worried that communists, or “subversives,” could destroy American society from the inside as well as from the outside. Between 1945 and 1952, Congress held 84 hearings designed to put an end to “un-American activities” in the federal government, in universities and public schools and even in Hollywood. These hearings did not uncover many treasonous activities–or even many communists–but it did not matter: Tens of thousands of Americans lost their jobs, as well as their families and friends, in the anti-communist “Red Scare” of the 1950s.

1950s Pop Culture

In the 1950s, televisions became something the average family could afford, and by 1950 4.4 million U.S. families had one in their home. The Golden Age of Television was marked by family-friendly shows like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, The Twilight Zone and Leave It To Beaver. In movie theaters, actors like John Wayne, James Stuart, Charlton Heston, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe dominated the box office. The Abstract Expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning signaled a new age in art, paving the way for the Pop Art of artists like Andy Warhol in the 1960s.

1950s Music

Elvis Presley . Sam Cooke. Chuck Berry. Fats Domino. Buddy Holly. The 1950s saw the emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the new sound swept the nation. It helped inspire rockabilly music from Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. People swayed to The Platters and The Drifters. Music marketing, changed, too: For the first time, music began to target youth.

On February 3, 1959, American musicians Buddy Holly. Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson died in a plane crash over Clear Lake, Iowa, in what became known as “ The Day The Music Died ”—an event immortalized in Don McLean’s 1972 song “American Pie.”

Shaping the 1960s

The booming prosperity of the 1950s helped to create a widespread sense of stability, contentment and consensus in the United States. However, that consensus was a fragile one, and it splintered for good during the tumultuous 1960s .

The Elvic Oracle. The New Yorker . 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll. Rolling Stone. The Day The Music Died. Biography. The Fifties: The Way We Really Were. Douglas T. Miller and Marion Novak .

research topics for 1960s

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In four pages this essay examines how the 1960s social movements had a predominantly positive impact upon attitudes regarding wome... ...

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In twelve pages the Students for a Democratic Society and its failure during the 1960s is assessed. Eleven sources are cited in t... ...

In five pages this paper considers how American value systems parents taught to their children changed after the Sixties with the ... ...

In this paper consisting of five pages comparing and contrasting viewpoints of the protest movements of this era are offered inclu... ...

This paper is written in the form of a fictitious letter from a NAACP attorney during the 1960s. The attorney represents an Afric... ...

In six pages America's sexual revolution during the 1960s is examined in an overview of the impact of birth control and liberal at... ...

In a paper consisting of five pages the cartoons produced by these two studios during this time period are contrasted and compared... ...

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This text is reviewed in a paper consisting of three pages. There are no other sources listed.... ...

In four pages changes since the 1960s regarding schools and the education system as a whole are examined. Four sources are cited ... ...

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This 4 page paper discusses the Civil Rights movement as well as the Vietnam War protestors, explains both sides, and considers th... ...

A 4 page paper which examines the women’s liberation of the 1960s. Bibliography lists 5 sources.... ...

This paper looks at Philip K Dick's novel Ubik in relation to the period in which it was written, and draws parallels with the eve... ...

This 11 page paper discusses Lt. William Calley, the My Lai Massacre and the draft resistors as examples of what it was like in Am... ...

This paper describes Thunder Storm's tall tale of his journey through the turbulent Sixties. The annotated bibliography cites 6 s... ...

Examines the influences of happenings in the 1960s, and their impact on today. There are 3 sources listed in the bibliography of t... ...

In five pages the Persian Gulf War's impact upon the economy of the United States in terms of residual effects is discussed. Seve... ...

In sixty pages this research paper discusses Asia trade, applies various trade models, and then considers the effects of technolog... ...

In ten pages this paper examines contemporary society in an assessment of the importance of such concepts as productivity, unemplo... ...

In eight pages the Euro common currency is examined within the context of France and its national implications. Nine sources are ... ...

This paper consists of two pages and evaluates fixed exchange rates in a consideration of their primary advantages and disadvantag... ...

In eight pages this paper argues in favor of China retaining its most favored nation economic trading status by the United States.... ...

In four pages this paper considers the Kennedy administration's approaches to the American economy with the year 1963 the primary ... ...

In ten pages this paper discusses the impact of the Euro currency on Europe, investors, and on the US. Fifteen sources are cited ... ...

In five pages economic forecasting is considered in terms of econometric models' impact. Five sources are cited in the bibliograp... ...

In six pages this paper discusses the causes of the 1987 crash of the stock market and the consequences that resulted. Five sourc... ...

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  1. The 1960s History

    Getty Images. The 1960s started off as the dawn of a golden age to most Americans. On January 20, 1961, the handsome and charismatic John F. Kennedy became president of the United States. His ...

  2. The 1960s Science and Technology: Topics in the News

    The first, Enovid, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1960. It was marketed by the Searle Pharmaceutical Company. By the end of 1961, 400,000 women were using Enovid; nearly 1.2 million were doing so a year later, and the number rose to 2.3 million by the end of 1963.

  3. 1960s: Counterculture and Civil Rights Movement

    The 1960s were a tumultuous decade defined by the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and the emerging "generation gap." ... Topics; 1960s; 1960s. The 1960s was one of the most ...

  4. 1960s News, Research and Analysis

    College administrators are falling into a tried and true trap laid by the right. Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, University of New Orleans. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, conservative activists led a ...

  5. Blue Valley Libraries: 1960s Research Project: Home

    The 1960's "A Closer Look" Choice Board Research Project. Directions: Choose one of the 1960's topics listed below for your research topic. Use the links provided for that topic to start your research. Then, use the choice board linked here to complete your research project.

  6. The Sixties . Timeline . Text Version

    February 1, 1960. First Sit-In Protests. A group of students launch protests against segregation at a "Whites only" lunch counter of the Woolworth store in Greensboro, NC. April 15-17, 1960. SNCC ...

  7. The Sixties . For Teachers . Unit 1

    In this lesson, students will consider what they know about one of the most significant eras in recent history, the 1960's, as well as how they learned what they know. In this lesson, students ...

  8. Topics in Chronicling America Research Guides

    This research guide gathers together a collection of topical guides that tell various stories of America through the newspapers available in Chronicling America. Listed here are research guides intended to be a starting point for research. Browse these guides by date range below.

  9. Finding Scholarly Articles

    Google Scholar. Google Scholar is another resource for finding research articles. Look on the right hand side of the screen for the "Check MCLA Full-Text " links that will bring you to the article in one of our databases. You can also look for the free PDFs listed on the right hand side. If you are off-campus, use these instructions to set it ...

  10. The 1960s News, Research and Analysis

    Browse The 1960s news, research and ... in a scene from the 1969 film 'Easy Rider,' a countercultural movie that influenced drug use by baby boomers in the 1960s. ... Related Topics 1960s; 1968;

  11. 140 Good Research Topics for History Papers

    10 Good History Research Topics that are Easy to Adapt. Conditions for Slaves During the Building of the Great Pyramid. Three Events from the First Greek Olympiad. How, Where, and When Rome was Founded. The Battle of Marathon: How the Greeks Defeated Persia.

  12. Popular Culture of the 1960s

    Research Topics. Popular Culture of the 1960s. 1. Music (as a medium of getting the protest message out, culture change, youth movement, etc.) The British Invasion . Motown . The San Francisco Sound/ Haight-Ashbury. Rock and Roll. Woodstock. Individual Artists/ Groups (your choice) Song Lyrics . Rolling Stone Magazine. 2. Social Changes. The ...

  13. The 1960s Education: Topics in the News

    During the 1960s, dozens of universities established drama programs for the purpose of training actors for Broadway and regional theaters. Eventually, universities constructed dazzling new state-of-the-art theaters. The $20 million Krannert Center for Performing Arts, at the University of Illinois, was completed in 1966.

  14. 1960s

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission learned of some of their activity in 1957 and imposed minimal penalties. In 1960, the SEC began a full-scale investigation of the Res. The Res were expelled from the AMEX and, after a criminal trial, sentenced to prison. The SEC came under criticism for not taking effective action earlier.

  15. Timeline: 1945 to the Present

    Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter. Learn how the Institute impacts history education through our work guiding teachers, energizing students, and supporting research. Comments. Timeline: 1945 to the Present | |.

  16. The Sixties . For Teachers

    The suggested video clips, radio and TV programming, and supporting Web sites are an ideal way to provide students with access to the issues, faces, places, feelings, music, delights and horrors ...

  17. Articles and Essays

    Articles and Essays. The March on Washington For many Americans, the calls for racial equality and a more just society emanating from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, deeply affected their views of racial segregation and intolerance in the nation. Since the occasion of March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom 50 years ago ...

  18. 1960s Facts: Fun, Interesting & Historical USA Trivia

    This 1960s fun fact marks the beginning of a musical craze in the U.S. On 9 February 1964, the Beatles first performed before a U.S. audience on the Ed Sullivan Show. They pulled in an incredible 75 million viewers, roughly three-fourths of the total audience in America at the time. 9) A Boxing Legend Was Born.

  19. 1960s

    The 1960s (pronounced "nineteen-sixties", shortened to the "' 60s" or the "Sixties") was a decade that began on January 1, 1960, and ended on December ... The first working laser was demonstrated in May by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories. 1960 - Tony Hoare announces the Quicksort algorithm, the most common sorter on computers ...

  20. Civil Rights Movement: Timeline, Key Events & Leaders

    The civil rights movement was a struggle for justice and equality for African Americans that took place mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. Among its leaders were Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, the ...

  21. The Sixties . Pop Culture

    In 1960, nearly half of America's population is under 18 years old. It's a young society, and the most affluent generation in U.S. history. American teenagers have $22 billion a year at their ...

  22. Welcome to the Purdue Online Writing Lab

    Mission. The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives.

  23. The 1950s

    The 1950s were a decade marked by the post- World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the civil rights movement in the United States. "America at this moment," said the former British ...

  24. The 1960s Term Paper Topics

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