Episodes from "US Since 1945," Juniata College (Spring 2011): 1 through 10 of 18
- Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Walk on the Moon
July 16, 1969 to July 21, 1969
Harris, Texas
Science/Technology, Moon, Apollo 11On July 16, 1969, Americans Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins sat atop a Saturn V rocket and were blasted away from the surface of the Earth on a journey across 300,000 kilometers to land and walk on the Moon. The choice of which astronaut would step on the lunar surface first came almost by chance- because Armstrong was the Commander of the flight, his seat was closer...
- George H.W. Bush Announces Post-Cold War Strategies during Persian Gulf War
September 11, 1990
District of Columbia, District of Columbia
War, Diplomacy/InternationalIn George H.W. Bush’s speech about Kuwait, he said “Recent events have surely proven that there is no substitute for American leadership.” By 1990, the Cold War had finally ended after forty years of conflict. George H.W. Bush came into office just before at the end of the Cold War. This had become a vital time in American foreign policy because the country no longer had to feel threatened with...
- Air Nailer spreads though Building Industry
1985
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
construction, EconomyBrian Hoy, a life-long building contractor appreciated many new tools that entered into wide usage in the trade but he stated that “the air gun is one [tool] that helped increase production.” He adapted the air guns in the middle of the 1980s. The air nailers were around earlier, but were not widely used because they were not proven. Once the large companies started to make the nailers, and builders...
- Cordless Tools spread in the Building Industry
1980
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Economy, constructionIn 1961, Black and Decker invented cordless power tools. Brian Hoy, who worked as a general contractor for over 30 years, found the convenience of these tools to be among the best technological changes in the industry especially for small jobs. He stated “cordless tools are one of the greatest tools to have come to the trade because of their eases of use.” One reason is because contractors do not...
- Levittown Real Estate Boards' Discriminatory Housing Practices Revealed
August 7, 1954
Suffolk, New York, Nassau, New York, Bucks, Pennsylvania
Race-Relations, African-AmericansIn an article published in the Saturday Evening Post in August of 1954 journalist Craig Thompson exposed the “problem of Negro exclusion,” commenting on the discriminatory practices employed by Levitt and the preventive covenants established by the local real estate boards within his suburban communities. As the father of modern suburbia, it seemed that with his prepackaged communities, he had...
- Whites Riot in Response to Arrival of First African American Family in Levittown, PA
August, 1957 to 1957
Bucks, Pennsylvania
African-Americans, Race-Relations, Crime/ViolenceUpon driving up to their new home at 43 Deepgreen Lane, Daisy Myers was filled with doubt, recalling that she repeatedly asked herself, “what would be the extent of our ostracism? Would we be able to sleep comfortably?” as she studied the four law officers standing on the lawn of her address in the Dogwood Hollow Section of Levittown. These questions regarding the neighborhood reaction to the arrival...
- Levitt & Sons Advertises New Housing Design
1949
Bucks, Pennsylvania
Housing, Economy, World War IIAfter receiving much criticism on his first mass-produced, low-cost housing design, the influential post-World War II real estate developer, William Levitt, introduced a new design in 1949. As advertisements for the new Rancher sprang up across Pennsylvania, many citizens, including veterans who would receive significant discounts, flocked to the Exhibit Center in the Levittown suburbs. The innovative,...
- Black Family Challenges Racial Barriers in Suburb
August, 1957 to 1957
Bucks, Pennsylvania
Civil Rights, African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Race-RelationsOn August 13, 1957, Daisy and Bill Myers moved their family to a well-developed suburb in Levittown, Pennsylvania. They were just like every other eager newcomer to arrive in Levittown, except that they were black. As news of this Levittown “first” quickly spread, so did the curiosity. Drivers continuously circled the house in their automobiles, trying to catch a glimpse of the first African...
- Lieutenant Colonel Moore leads 7thCalvary into Ia Drang Valley
1965
Asia, Outside US
"Harold Moore", "Ia Drang Valley"Lieutenant Colonel Harold G. Moore, Jr., took command of one of the battalions of the 11th Air Assault Division in June, 1964. He trained and tested the officers and soldiers of his battalion for over a year. Upon completion of testing, the 11th Air Assault Division (Test) was redesignated the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), and Lieutenant Colonel Moore's battalion was given the 1st Battalion, 7th...
- A Central Pennsylvania Woman recalls the Vietnam War Veteransreturning home
1960 to 1970
Dauphin, Pennsylvania
"Veteran", "Vietnam", "PTSD"Linda Reed, who during the 1960’s was raising three kids and working in a factory outside of Gratz, Pennsylvania, never noticed a change in anyone who returned from Vietnam. She knew many people who served in Vietnam, but resuming civilian life, none of those she knew exhibited outward effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She was happy that those who had left had arrived home safe. A...
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