Brink's Robbery 1950- On the evening of January 17th, 1950 an infamous bank robbery occurred where $2.8 million was stolen in 17 minutes occurring on 165 Prince Street in Boston. Eleven men were a part of the “Brinks Robbery” all wearing pea coats, gloves, chauffeur caps, Halloween mask’s covering their face, and to muffle footsteps crepe-soled shoes and rubbers. The robbery was headlines for newspapers and police were already investigating. Suspects of the investigation includes Anthony Pino , Stanley Gusciora , Joseph O’Keefe, Adolph Maffie, Henry Baker, Vincent Costa, James Faherty, Joseph Banfield, Elmer Burke, Michael Geagon, and Thomas Francis Richardson. All were proven guilty for the robbery after Joseph O’Keefe revealed the plan and how the robbery took place. Six years of investigation and trials the eleven men were arrested on January 11th, 1956, the eleven criminals were charged with (1) conspiracy to commit theft of Government property, robbery of government property, and bank robbery by force and violence and by intimidation, (2) committing bank robbery on January 17, 1950, and committing an assault on Brink's employees during the taking of the money, and (3) conspiracy to receive and conceal money in violation of the Bank Robbery and Theft of Government Property Statutes. In addition, McGinnis was named in two other complaints involving the receiving and concealing of the loot. On October 5, 1956 all men were guilty and was sentenced to two year sentences, life sentences and sentences of eight to ten years in jail.
Japanese Peace Treaty 1951- San Francisco Peace Treaty between Japan and part of the Allied Powers was officially signed by forty-eight nations on September 8, 1951, at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. It then came into force on April 28, 1952. The treaty served to officially end World War II. The treaty is said to mark the beginning of the “San Francisco System”; signifies the effects of Japan’s relationship with the United States. Consisting of seven chapters and a preamble, the San Francisco Peace Treaty specifies the settlements terms of war-related issues. Supporters of the treaty gather to honor the 50th Anniversary of the treaty in San Francisco.
"Checker's" Speech 1952- Richard Nixon makes one of many speeches in answer to allegations against him. The speech was called the “Checkers” relating to a Cocker Spaniel dog. Nixon supposedly had a secret fund but he said all he had accepted was the gift of the Cocker Spaniel named “Checkers”. The press became aware of the fund, two months after Nixon was selected as General Dwight Eisenhower’s running mate. The story of Nixon’s secret funds and dog became known and a controversy began whether he should stay on the ticket. Nixon responded with a speech that was aired on television and radio on September 23rd, 1952 stating he will only keep the Cocker Spaniel dog. Urging to call the Republican National Committee on whether he should stay on ticket. Richard Nixon was voted back on ticket on November, 1952.
Mt. Everest 1953- On May 29th, 1953 Edmund Hilary and Tensing Norgay became the first humans to climb Mt. Everest. They were a part of an expedition of climbing the mountain but not to the top. Two other climbers were unsuccessful with their expedition due to weather conditions so the expedition to climb Mt. Everest was delayed. Edmund and Tensing sent out for the expedition with help of George Lowe, Alfred Gregory, and Ang Nyima. The team camped for a night and set to finish climbing the Mountain the next morning. The hardest part of climbing the Mountain was a forty-foot rock face, where Edmund saw a wedge between the rock and the ice and Tensing followed his steps. Afterwards the expedition to the top was easy and they reached the top of the Summit at 11:30 A.M, May 29th, 1953.
Marilyn Monroe 1953- Marilyn Monroe becomes a famous actress after the film “Niagara” comes out in 1953. She was at the top of Hollywood’s A-list and in January of 1954 she married baseball great Joe DiMaggio. Joe became uncomfortable with his wife’s image and popularity and ended getting a divorce after nine months. After the divorce, Marilyn tried to take on serious roles and studied at the Actor’s Studio in New York. She released films with a “serious role” such as Bus Stop, The Prince and the Showgirl, and Some Like It Hot. By 1961 Marilyn began to have emotional breakdowns after her third marriage and was admitted to hospitals for psychiatric observation twice. Her last film was “The Misfits” in 1961 after being fired by Fox for absence on movie sets. On August 5th, 1962 Marilyn was found dead in her house from an overdose of drugs at the age of 36.
Brown v. Board of Education 1954- The Landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was about School segregation. United States Supreme Court had to make a landmark decision declaring state laws establishing public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. This first began controversy when a young girl name Linda Brown was turned down from being enrolled in a “white school” because she was African American. Other parents were dealing with the same situation and they filed lawsuits against the Topeka Board of Education. Many African American children and parents felt they did not have the same education the “white schools” were being taught because of their race. After Linda’s father Olivia Brown (the case was Brown v. Board of Education because Oliver Brown was first on the list of lawsuits) was turned down from the state court, the case was taken to the Supreme court. The same case was being held in many other states and they joined as one to fight for their rights. The lawyers of parents and the Board of Education argued for three days and the Supreme court talked it over for seven months. After three years of the case, the Supreme Court thought it was not fair to separate white and black children in different schools and both white and black children had the same education without being separated.
Vietnam War 1954- The Vietnam War was a devastating war for world history. The war began in 1954 after the rise of Ho Chi Minh leader of North Vietnam fighting against South Vietnam and the United States. More than 3 million people including 58,000 Americans were killed in the Vietnam War and half were Vietnamese civilians. During the Cold War, the United States wanted to end communism and Ho Chi Minh was spreading communism to Vietnam, already beginning to take over North Vietnam. The United States thought Communism would become known with Americans and start affecting the government. By 1969, 500, 000 military soldiers were involved with the Vietnam Conflict. The war lead to anti-war protest in America, leading to President Nixon to bring back U.S forces in 1973. In 1975 communist forces gained control of Saigon ending the War and Vietnam was unified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the next year.
Rosa Parks 1955- On December 1st , 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama leading to a Supreme Court decision outlawing bus segregation. Rosa Parks boards a city bus in the middle of the bus because there isn’t a white person standing. Along the route, all the “white” seats are taken and a “white” passenger just climbs aboard, and the bus driver asks Rosa to move to the back where there are no seats and has to stand. The other passengers and Rosa don’t budge at the first time, but on the second they move except Rosa. Rosa tired of how she has been treated and eventually gets arrested for violation segregation rules. “Black” leaders start boycotting all city buses, and Martin Luther King is chosen to lead the boycott. Protest begins and Rosa Parks is found guilty and her lawyer states he will bring the case to the Supreme Court. The case leads to an uprising of segregated citizens and on November 13th, 1956 the Supreme Court rules that Montgomery’s segregation laws are unconstitutional.
Elvis Presley 1956- Elvis Presley Releases single Heart Break Hotel selling 300,000 copies in the first week. Elvis gains popularity and makes six appearances on the Jackie Gleason- Produced stage show on CBS. His first album is sold on March 13th, selling over a million becoming his first Gold Album. He signs a seven year contract with Paramount Pictures in April. On November 16th Elvis’s first movie “Love Me Tender” premieres. Throughout the year Elvis performs songs, Love Me Tender, Don’t Be Cruel, Ready Teddy, Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes, Heartbreak Hotel, That All Right, and Blue Moon of Kentucky. Elvis Presley inspired a new generation of music for the 1950’s!
Football 1957- On December 29th, 1957 the Detroit Lions won the NFL Championship against the Cleveland Browns. Starting quarterback Bobby Lane was injured, so back-up quarterback Tobin Rote had to take his place. Detroit Lions scored two touchdowns every quarter, with an extra point from a field goal in the first. Quarterback Tobin Rote scored one touchdown and completed 12 out of 18 passes for 280 yards. Cleveland Browns only scored two touchdowns throughout the whole game. The Detroit Lions dominated the Browns winning the Super Bowl 59:14.
Plane Crash 1958- On February 6th, 1958 the airplane carrying players and backroom staff of Manchester United, a number of journalist and supporters crashed in a blizzard on its third attempt to take off from Munich Airport. Manchester United was just returning from Belgrade where they just finished beating Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup. Twenty-three of forty-four passengers passed away. Eight players of Manchester United passed away due to the Munich Air Disaster. Roger Bryne, Mark Jones, Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor, Eddie Coleman, Liam Whelan, David Pegg, and Geoff Bent were the players of Manchester United that did not survive the crash. The people that passed away due to the air disaster will always be remembered.
NASA1958- On July 29th, 1958 the U.S Congress passed legislation establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA was an agency that could be responsible for America’s expeditions in America. NASA would provide expeditions and experiments that would provide important information about the solar system and universe. NASA was created after the Soviet Union launched its first satellite in 1957. The “Sputnik” launch caught Americans by surprise and feared that the Soviets would be capable of sending nuclear missile’s from Europe to America. The first successful satellite was on January 31st, 1958 when it orbited the Earth. NASA has provided the world with great information about Earth, the Solar System, and the Universe with hopefully many more to come!
Cuban Leader 1959- On January 1st, 1959 Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista fled to Dominican Republic after Fidel Castro forced him to. Fidel became the Prime Minister of Cuba in February and soon suspended all elections and named himself “President for Life”. Fidel then established a communist government and jailed or executed all who opposed him. The Cuban Revolution started after Fulgencio Batista overthrew the President of Cuba, this upsetting Fidel Castro beginning “The Cuban Revolution”. “The Cuban Revolution” was a turning point in history. Cubans began to leave Cuba and find jobs in America to make a living there. Fidel Castro gave his power to his brother Raul Castro now the President of Cuba, but his government is still used in Cuba.
1959- on September 26th, 1959 one of the most destructive typhoons in Japanese History, struck the Ise Bay Region on the southern coast of Japan’s main island Honshu. The storm killed more than 5,000 people and left about 1.5 million homeless, and injured almost 39,000 people. The storm began as a low-pressure area in the Pacific Ocean gaining strength as it moved to the Northwest. It was classified as a typhoon on the 21st of September and continued to become more destructive as it headed towards Japan. Once the typhoon
Skateboards 1960- This was the year Skateboarding and Skateboards were invented! Skateboards originated form surfboards with roller-skates on the front and back of the board. The pieces of wood tuned into planks, and companies began to manufactures “pressed layers of wood” as the “deck”. Skateboarding became a big hit and it was a great way to get from Point A to Point B. Skateboarder of that time did “freestyle” which was dancing ballet or ice skating with a skateboard. Throughout the years skateboard went from pressed layer of wood, to boards with a kick tail at the end of the board. Skateboarding has evolved from blocks of wood, to extreme ramps and tricks, and it’s more popular then ever
Video- This video is about Prime Minsiter Shigeru Yoshida and Chief treaty of Japan shows his pleasure and kindness to the members of the press for their kindness and understanding. He tells the press he has just returned from signing the Peace treaty and security pact. He promises Japan to greater courage and wisdom then before. The Prime Minister also hopes the treaty will tie the U.S's freindship with Japan and continue with future cooperation. He wants the assurance that Japan's government and people will take responsibility in the peace and manner history now demands. The Prime Minister has kept his word and now firendship between the United States and Japan stay firm.
Video- This video is an excerpt from Discovery Channel about the Brown. V. Board of Education. The video shows the case through pictures, videos, newspaper clippings, and speeches of Presidents. The video explains why Oliver Brown ( Linda’s father) felt his daughter and race should be placed in a school with white kids. The aftermath of the case, starting an uproar of controversy and protest’s. Pictures of white students beating up black students and signs held during protests. An excerpt of President John. F. Kennedy and President Eisenhower’s speech stating that it does not matter of what race you are , you should be treated equally. Eventually this controversy of human equality ended making each one of us equal.
Video- This video is the Checker's Speech spoken by Senator Richard Nixon. He explains what he has been charged for in detail. Nixon, agrees that he did take a secret fund of 18,000 dollars from a group of his supportors. He questions if his actions were wrong not only because it was illegal but becasue it was secretley handled for his own personal usage, and because the contributors got special favors for the contributitions they made. Nixon replies by saying not one cent of the fund was used for his personal usage but for political expenses that in his opinion should not be brought to the txpayers of the U.S. He also says the fund was not secret because on a press conference a fellow co-worker asked if the fund was secret and Nixon denied and gave his explanation of Political Expenses. Nixon explains about the Cocker Spaniel Dog "Checkers" was a gift, but he will not return. He continues to explain his actions and denies the secret fund for his personal usage.
Video- This video is about Prime Minsiter Shigeru Yoshida and Chief treaty of Japan shows his pleasure and kindness to the members of the press for their kindness and understanding. He tells the press he has just returned from signing the Peace treaty and security pact. He promises Japan to greater courage and wisdom then before. The Prime Minister also hopes the treaty will tie the U.S's freindship with Japan and continue with future cooperation. He wants the assurance that Japan's government and people will take responsibility in the peace and manner history now demands. The Prime Minister has kept his word and now firendship between the United States and Japan stay firm.
