Mt. Carmel High School

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://www.whitehousetapes.org/exhibits/selma/
To find the answer to that question, go to The White House Tapes 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. That year's new edition of the Barbie doll did something no Barbie doll had done before. What did the doll do?

The Web site:
http://www.barbiecollector.com/collecting/barbiehistory/index.asp
To find the answer to that question, go to the Barbie Year By Year History  and enter and then choose 1968 .

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.nps.gov/vive/memorial/wall.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Web page.

While the government parks site is under construction, you can find the answer at the following informational web page:

  http://www.thewall-usa.com/information.asp

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
To find the answer to that question, go to the Peace Corps Web page.

SUPER BOWL I

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
To find the answer to that question, go to the Super Bowl Recaps Web page.

THE BEATLES

The Beatles debuted on television in the United States on February 9, 1964. 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:
  Life magazine was one of the most popular magazines in the 1960's. They also had great taste in music. How many Life covers featured all four of The Beatles? When were they published?

The Web site:
 http://www.life.com/
To find the answer to that question, go to the Life Magazine  and enter Beatles in the search box.

ROGER MARIS: 61 in '61

In 1961, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit 61 home runs, setting a new Major League Baseball record, breaking the previous mark of 60 set in 1927.

Question 10:
In 1961, Roger Maris broke the single season home run record of Babe Ruth when he hit his 61st homerun. Which Yankee was competing with Maris and had 54 homeruns that year before a season ending injury? Hint: They were known as the "M + M boys")

The Web site:
http://ultimateyankees.com/history.htm
To find the answer to that question, go to The Ultimate Yankees Web Site and choose Roger Maris.