The Late Twentieth Century
An annotated bibliography by Taylor Hall-Masiello, Krysten Castro, and Phil DeRise
The latter half of the twentieth century occupies a pivotal place in the history of the modern era. During this span of time the cataclysms of society and politics came to near apocalyptic culminations, interrupted unevenly by interludes of apparent serenity and progress. The Cold War raged on with unremitting ferocity, stoked by the fundamentalist fuel of uncompromising rhetoric; the “monolithic and ruthless conspiracy” (John F. Kennedy) was always a mere breath away from laying siege to the gates of civilization. Vietnam was a cruel testament to the lengths that ideology would propel statesmen to act. Its legacy is deeply felt in the American psyche, to say nothing of the psyche of the South Vietnamese. On the domestic front, a passive citizenry had awoken from its slumber, rising to challenge the arbiters of power and authority who were bent on a world of unending conflict and submission, and thereby raise the moral and cultural levels of our society. The Civil Rights Movement, Student Youth Activism, and rising Feminist aspirations reshaped American culture; culminating in the end of a system of racial apartheid. The 1970s then gave way to the 1980s, and fundamentalist rhetoric once again captivated the American imagination; the “Evil Empire” (Ronald Reagan) was once more in the fray. 1989 marked the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a veritable triumph for the Free World, and a great signifier of the end of history. The last decade of the millennium saw the triumph of rhetoric and momentous accolades for salient ideals, on a scale unprecedented in human history.
The Vietnam War
Source: PBS
This is PBS's website containing information about the Vietnam War. The page has awesome pictures, a timeline of the battles, information about the Guerrilla tactics, and much more. Also, for those who are looking to learn even more, there is a great list of other websites to visit.
The Berlin Wall
Left to right: Phil, Taylor, Krysten
This is the Newseum's site about the Berlin Wall. It contains really cool interactive guides about the Berlin Wall, videos, and items related to the Berlin Wall and the media. The website is based on the Newseum's exhibit of the Berlin Wall, which we are pictured standing in front of.
1968 Summer Olympics
Source: Olympics.org
This site is the official website of the Olympic Movement. It contains all official information of all the Olympic Games through history. For the1968 Summer Olympics, there are photos, videos and written information of the successful and historic events of that year.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Source: Davenport University
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to advancing equality, social justice, and opportunity for all.” This website is dedicated to service in the name of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It gives a rather thorough biography of Dr. King which includes information of his birth and family life, his education, honorary degrees, and awards, his career, publications and death. It offers another site in which one can receive a more in depth biography of Dr. King. The site also encourages you to donate and serve along with their corporation.
Robert F. Kennedy
Source: Huffington Post
This is The History Channel's page about Robert F. Kennedy. It features a biography and many videos about Kennedy. Information about his candidacy and assassination are presented in interesting videos.
Star Wars
Source: top250movies.net
The Star Wars saga was one of the most popular pop-culture crazes of the late twentieth century. This is The History Channel's page about Star Wars. It contains lots of videos about the history of Star Wars, and the amazing following of fans. It also includes tips on how to build your own collection of Star Wars merchandise and collectables.
Michael Jackson
Source: MTV
Whether with Jackson 5, or solo, Michael Jackson's music was popular throughout the late 1900's. He was most definitely one of the greatest pop icons of all time. This is MTV's webpage about Michael Jackson. It contains a biography, pictures, videos, and even a picture gallery of some of his wackiest fashion choices.
Sandra Day O'Connor
Source: The Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman ever to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court. This website for the U.S. Supreme Court Media gives a biography, picture, and facts about the Supreme Court Justice. It also has a trivia question at the bottom. This is definitely a great site to go to if you're interested in women's studies or law.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Source: Mark Vaughan
Here we have an excellent reflection on the fall of the Berlin Wall by Stanford scholars. The site is mainly in the format of an interview, which makes it unique and different to read than other sites. There are also a few interesting pictures that give more of an understanding of what happened.
Exxon Valdez
Source: NOAA
This is The Encyclopedia of Earth's site about the Exxon Valdez spill. It includes a map of the area where the spill took place, lots of pictures, and written details about the whole event, including the aftermath. Also, the site gives information on other sources for people who are interested in learning more.
Murder of Jesuits
Source: Democraticunderground.com
This site is courtesy of the Jesuits Missouri Province. It provides some much needed reflection on the 1989 assassinations of Jesuit priests in El Salvador, the twentieth anniversary of which passed virtually without notice in the West. The site features a photo gallery and numerous informative articles about the events that took place over twenty years ago.
Hubble Space Telescope
Source: NASA
This is NASA's site about the Hubble Space Telescope. It contains amazing pictures, a "Hubble Facts" section, and a database of all kinds of amazing pictures taken from space. There is also a brief history of Hubble. This website is really a must-see for space lovers!
NAFTA
Source: USDA
Watch out, its NAFTA! The USDA examines the passage and lasting effects of NAFTA, a blast from the past with an impact on today. This very informative site is put out by the U.S. government to explain and examine NAFTA. The site features the effects of the agreement on all three countries involved and has numerous sub-topics to read about.
The Trial of O.J. Simpson
Source: LAPD
The trial of O.J. Simpson was a huge event in the 1990's. It was not the first or last time someone famous was tried for murder, but the world was still shocked when he was acquitted. This website features tons of evidence from the case, a mugshot of O.J. and an extensive bibliography for those interested in learning more.
