American History The Modern United States (1970's to Present)
In the past 50 years, Americans have been captivated by some incredible moments. Neil Armstrong took the first steps on the moon in 1969. Twenty-one years later, the Hubble Telescope was launched. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream Speech," and in 2009 President Barack Obama became the first black U.S. president. Other top events include the "Star Wars" movies, the Clean Air Act, and pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles successfully landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.
Americans have also witnessed some upsetting events. The Watergate Scandal of the 1970s caused many to lose faith in government officials. Many lives have been lost in the Gulf War and the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars. The Orlando shooting that killed 49 on June 12, 2016 is just one of many mass shootings. The September 11 terrorist attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people.
Click on the links below to learn more about the past 50 years.
