Week 1
1. Dune
The novel Dune was originally published in 1965 and has remained a tremendous influence on science fiction…
2. Szilard-Einstein Letter
In 1939, Leo Szilard and Albert Einstein collaborated to send a letter to US President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning of a new type of weapon…
3. Jesse Owens
During the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany, American Track and Field Athlete Jesse Owens won several gold medals…
4. The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post began publishing national and international news stories in the US sometime in 1821…
5. The Battle of Mobile Bay
In August 1864, the Battle of Mobile Bay was fought during the United States Civil War…
Week 2
6. Richard Nixon
In August of 1974, US President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office rather than face an impending impeachment hearing…
7. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
In 1911, Fort Alcatraz became Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. Successful escape attempts from this heavily guarded prison have been disputed…
8. Panama Canal
In 1904, the Panama Canal opened after ten years of construction. The artificial waterway shortened the route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
9. Woodstock
In 1968, the Woodstock Music and Art Festival lasted from August 15 to August 18 and became a symbol of American counterculture of the 60s.
10. Transatlantic Telegraph Cable
In 1858, the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable was successfully completed and direct communication between the Americas and Europe was established…
Week 3
11. George S. Patton
In 1943, Lieutenant General George S. Patton helped to lead the Allied invasion of Sicily, also commonly called Operation Husky.
12. Wilkes Expedition
In August of 1838, the Wilkes Expedition from the US weighed anchor and set off in an attempt to explore around the world…
13. James Meredith
In 1963, James Meredith graduated from college despite the segregating practices of the university at that time…
14. Conquering Bear
In 1851, Conquering Bear and a band of Brule Lakota faced off with John L. Grattan and a group of infantrymen near Fort Laramie, Wyoming…
15. James Anderson Jr.
During his time in the USMC, James Anderson Jr. earned seven medals including a posthumous awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor….
Week 4
16. The Salad Bowl Strike
In August 1970, the United Farm Workers and the Teamsters faced off for jurisdiction over California produce, particularly lettuce fields…
17. Edith Sampson
In 1950, Edith Spurlock Sampson became US delegate to the United States. Prior to that, Sampson worked as a lawyer and judge.
18. Aaliyah
Aaliyah was a singer, dancer, an actor, and more prior to her tragic death in 2001…
19. Dolley Madison
Dolley Madison was First Lady of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She has been credited with establishing the expectations of that role…
20. Battle of Long Island
Although the Battle of Long Island was a British victory, the Americans proved that the American Revolutionary War would be costly…