Kids growing up in the 1960s experienced a decade unlike any other. Technology rapidly advanced. New devices were popping up for sale all the time. Various wars were breaking out among the United States and other countries. Iconic leaders and activists were assassinated in broad daylight. ’60s kids witnessed numerous events that shaped both their lives and the course of history.
The most monumental achievement mankind has ever accomplished went down when ’60s kids were barely starting to gain understanding. Apollo 11 landing on the moon changed the world. Scientists lit up when they realized we could explore the galaxy. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first skipped across the cratered surface of the moon. Armstrong’s proclamation as he stepped onto the moon will never be disregarded. Kids around the world have echoed the phrase since that day. Armstrong pluckily said, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Another event that shaped the world in the 1960s was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. He. was shot outside of a motel in Memphis. James Earl Ray was the screwy creep who gathered the audacity to murder King Jr. in 1968. As of 2024, the Lorraine Motel (where the assassination went down) has been relaunched as a National Civil Rights Museum. For more 1960s content, click here to read about the most relatable TV characters from the decade.
To compile this list of unforgettable moments only 60s kids will remember, 24/7 Tempo consulted historical sources, including History Daily and History.com.
Apollo 11 moon landing
No person had been to the moon before the Apollo 11 mission. There was more than solely arriving upon the moon at stake. An unofficial race to the moon took shape. Countries like America and the Soviet Union put all of their resources into winning mythical race. It came at a time when the Cold War between the nations was heating up. When the Apollo 11 ship took off, there was a tremendous amount of hope that filled Americans’ hearts.
The three astronauts who were picked for the mission were Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. The trio weren’t sure if they were going to make it back to Earth. It took an immeasurable amount of courage from the men to accept the mission. When they successfully landed, Armstrong said his famous quote. He proclaimed “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The next step was returning to Earth. The men were greeted by the United States with a heroes welcome.
“Sesame Street” debut
Few television shows have had a bigger impact on kids around the world than “Sesame Street.” Before the show, kids needed to go to preschool to learn things like the alphabet and how to share. However, not every family sent their children to preschool. Some kids were already academically behind by the time they were starting kindergarten. “Sesame Street” changed all of that forever. The advancement of the television meant more shows popped up to watch.
People quickly realized kids could learn from watching shows. “Sesame Street” has become known for using various talking puppets to keep kids entertained. The lessons kids learn from the show are similar to what they learn in preschool. Fewer kids were behind when they reached kindergarten because of the show. The program first aired in 1969 and is still going strong in 2024.
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Seemingly everyone from the 1960s remembers exactly where they were when they heard Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. He was slotted to speak in Memphis when James Earl Ray murdered him. It took place outside of the Lorraine Motel. Tons of people looked to King Jr. as the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. There was still inequality in the United States. This was despite slavering ending decades prior. It was especially prevalent in the south.
King Jr. wasn’t afraid to make speeches and inspire people with his words. Unlike most activists, King Jr. took a calm approach. Rather than fight back with fists, he preached the message of peace. He led numerous marches. King Jr. famously recited his “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington D.C. The motel where King Jr. was killed is now the National Civil Rights Museum. People flock every year to learn about part of the history of the United States.
The Vietnam War
There were still battles going down between the United States and other countries in the ’60s. It came on the heels of ending World War II. One of the biggest battles was the Vietnam War. It was one of the first times in history the United States used a draft to stack the military. Every day, young men watched the television with the hopes their birthday wouldn’t come up. The war was known for giving countless soldiers PTSD.
The Vietnam War is one of the most controversial wars in American history. Unlike wars in the past, people in the United States had footage of what was truly happening across the Pacific Ocean. The pictures that were sent back were filled with blood and gore. The war was one of the catalysts for political change in the United States. People were confused why the war was being fought and didn’t believe in it. It started the anti-war movement.
Anti-War Movement
The Vietnam War changed the United States forever. A draft was used to select troops. However, not everyone believed in fighting the war. There were thousands of men who dodged being drafted. Arguably the most famous person to avoid going to war was Muhammad Ali. At the time, Ali was the heavyweight champion of the world. Rather than keep the title, Ali went to prison. He never wavered on his beliefs that the war shouldn’t be fought.
President Jimmy Carter pardoned everyone who dodged the draft when he was elected. The people who dodged the draft did so because they believed in love and peace. Ali famously once said “I ain’t got no quarrel with the VietCong,” in response to why he was dodging the battle. Ali felt like the United States turned their back to African Americans and were asking them to go to battle for them. Many people echoed the same sentiment towards the United States.
Cuban Missile Crisis
The planet as we know it narrowly avoided coming to an abrupt end. The Cuban Missile Crisis was two weeks of stress for society. The Soviet Union was storing nuclear missiles in Cuba. The island is within shouting distance from the coast of Florida. During the crisis, the Cold War was flying up the tension scale. The Soviet Union and United States were waiting for the other one to make the first move. The United States threatened to invade Cuba to take the missiles from the Soviet Union.
At the end of the two week stretch, the Soviet Union agreed to take their missiles off of Cuba. The Soviets agreeing to do so led to a period of calm during the conflict. The Cold War was one of the scariest wars in history. There wasn’t a single bullet fired, but people constantly felt on high alert. Kids in the 1960s commonly practiced hiding under their desks on the off chance the Soviets decided to fire a missile toward the United States.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is one of a few of presidents to get assassinated during their tenures. President Kennedy was riding around with the top down. It took place during a trip to Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald took aim at Kennedy from the Texas School Book Depository. The footage of what happened next is engrained in many Americans. Jackie Kennedy attempted to put her husband’s head back together post-shooting.
The assassination has sparked many conspiracy theories over the years. Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby before he stood trial. Oswald maintained his innocence until the moment he was murdered himself. In Dallas, there are X’s painted where the car was when Kennedy was shot. Many people have attempted to solve the mystery over the years. However, nobody has succeeded in clearing Oswalds name.
The Civil Rights Movement
One of the most pivotal times in American history was the Civil Rights Movement. Slavery was abolished in the United States decades before. However, African Americans were still treated like animals by people. This was especially prominent in the southern part of the country. However, African Americans had had enough by that point. They were banding together and figuring out ways to fight back.
There were numerous groups of people to follow. The most famous and noteworthy person was Martin Luther King Jr. Unlike so many other activists, King Jr. preached peace and calm. His goal was for people to avoid fighting back physically. Instead, he thought people should be peaceful. Another famous African American during the Civil Rights Movement was Rosa Parks. She refused to give up her seat for a white man. The action sparked the bus riots in Alabama.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The United States feared Fidel Castro gaining power in Cuba. They felt like he was going to help the Soviet Union in the Cold War. The United States decided to step in. They could have sat back and waited to see what happened. Their goal during the Bay of Pigs Invasion was to stop the momentum Castro was gaining during his time running for office. Instead, the people only supported him more.
The Cold War continued to escalate when the United States tried to halt the progress Castro made. It also became one of the reasons Cuba and the United States had tensions for decades to come. It wasn’t until the 2010s when people from the United States could successfully go to and from Cuba. Prior to that, those who wanted to escape Cuba and go to the United States were forced to take a boat to Miami.
Feminist Movement
The Civil Rights Movement wasn’t the only movement taking place in America during the 1960s. For years, women felt like the only reason they were needed was to serve as homemakers. While many women were content with that, some felt like they wanted to work and earn their own money. They craved having the same opportunities as men. It was during the 1960s that women decided to truly push themselves forward.
There were constant rallies held where women came together. For the women who were working, they noticed their pay rate wasn’t the same as the men who were doing the same job. Some men who had lower job titles were making more than them. While not everything was solved in the 1960s for the Feminist Movement, there were great strides made. The passion has continued into 2024.
Stonewall Riots
LGTBQ+ people frequently visited the Stonewall Inn in New York City. The bar was a haven for people who identified as part of the community during the 1960s. However, on June 28 that year, police raided the bar without giving anyone a warning that they were coming. There were reports that alcohol was being served illegally inside the bar. The police also thought it was a place where mob members hung out at to avoid detection.
During the raid, someone was put in handcuffs and chaos ensued. Everyone in the bar was held inside for three hours. That led to many members of the LGBTQ+ community feeling like they were being unfairly targeted by police. Riots continued for a week in support of people in the community. On July 3, NYPD broke up the remaining protests. The incident is still remembered by folks who identify as LGTBQ+ as a pivotal moment in their history.
First Super Bowl
It’s challenging to think about a world without a Super Bowl for many Americans in 2024. That was once the reality for football fans until 1967. For years, the AFL and NFL fought for fans to watch their product over the other one. The two leagues came together to play Super Bowl I to decide who the best team was. The Green Bay Packers took home the title agains the Kansas City Chiefs in Los Angeles.
At that point, there was no game to declare the best team in the sport. The name Super Bowl comes from the numerous college bowl games. Each college bowl game has a fun name that goes along with it. However, since the college kids aren’t professionals, Lamar Hunt coined the phrase Super Bowl. It was supposed to be the greatest football game each year. The Super Bowl routinely pulls in the most amount of views for anything on television every year.
Woodstock
Music festivals wouldn’t be the same without Woodstock. One of the biggest talking points during the ’60s was peace and love. People didn’t want to fight anymore. The Vietnam War made plenty of people realize how brutal war and fighting actually is. Instead, Woodstock was promoting the idea of peace and music during their festival. Most of the attendees were classified as hippies. Being a hippy was a common trend during the decade.
Performers like The Who and Jimi Hendrix headlined the festival. For three days, people came together to enjoy music and vibe together. This is what music festivals in 2024 attempt to mimic. There’s no telling what the music world would look like today without the events of Woodstock. The site of the concert is now on the list of National Register of Historic Places.
The Beatles
Music fans were in for a shock when The Beatles came to the United States. The English rock band had already taken over Europe, with their next step being America. Their first show took place on The Ed Sullivan Show. The move was strategic for the band. It allowed their music to be broadcast to a national audience. People couldn’t stream music the way they can today. Finding music from other countries was a challenge for music-heads.
Songs like “Lucy in the Sky of Diamonds” and “Yellow Submarine” were engrained in people from the 1960s. Folks still put on The Beatles when they want to rock out in 2024. There’s no telling where the music industry would be in 2024 without The Beatles. Their classic songs have inspired countless artists from nearly every genre.
Color TV
By the 1960s, most households had at least one television in them. However, technology hadn’t reached a point where the screens were filled with any color. Instead, pictures came across in black and white. By the end of the decade, technology had gotten to a time when different colors could be seen on any screen in the world. This changed the way people watched their favorite programs. It also altered how shows were written.
Characters needed to wear the right colors that described their mood in different situations. As time has gone on, the clarity of the colors on screen has gotten better. In 2024, there are televisions that proudly showcase hundreds of variations of colors. There’s no telling what people will see when they turn on their TV sets in the future. For more 1960s content, click here to read about famous celebrities who were hippies during the decade.