I am doing research on my final project in HIS 135, and I need to find an important social, economic, or political event that impacted the American people the most for the following years: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s. I don't mind doing the research myself, I just wanted help getting started. Thanks

Look up these things:

1950s - Sputnik

1960s - JFK assassination

1970s - Watergate; Vietnam War

1980s - end of USSR, Berlin Wall

1990s - robust economy; first attack on World Trade Center

There are many others:
http://www.animatedatlas.com/timeline.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=timeline+us+history&aq=0&oq=timeline+us&aqi=g10

Thank you so much for your help.

You're very welcome!

=)

Sure, I can help you get started with your research! Here are a few important events from each decade that impacted the American people:

1950s:
1. Korean War (1950-1953): This conflict significantly influenced American foreign policy and heightened the fear of communism.
2. Civil Rights Movement: The African American civil rights movement gained momentum during this decade, marked by events like the landmark Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

1960s:
1. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): This event brought the United States and Soviet Union dangerously close to a nuclear war.
2. Civil Rights Act of 1964: This legislation prohibited discrimination against individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

1970s:
1. Vietnam War (1955-1975): This controversial war caused divisions among the American people, leading to protests and social unrest.
2. Watergate scandal (1972-1974): The Watergate scandal, culminating in the resignation of President Richard Nixon, shook the foundations of American politics and undermined public trust.

1980s:
1. Reaganomics: The economic policies of President Ronald Reagan, known as Reaganomics, sought to spur economic growth through reducing taxes and deregulation.
2. Cold War: The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union continued during the 1980s, but relations thawed with the later signing of arms control agreements.

1990s:
1. Gulf War (1990-1991): The United States led a coalition in the Gulf War to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation, marking a significant military action.
2. Dot-com Bubble: The rise of the internet and the subsequent dot-com bubble, followed by its burst in the late 1990s, had a major impact on the American economy.

To dig deeper into these events, you can start by using academic databases such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, or the library databases provided by your institution. Additionally, you can check out reliable online resources like official government websites, reputable news sources, or books written by historians specializing in American history.

Remember to critically evaluate your sources, focus on primary and scholarly sources whenever possible, and include citations for any information you use in your research. Good luck with your final project!