The Year 1961 From The People History

1961 The cold war continued to worsen with the USSR exploding some very large bombs during testing and then masterminding the building of the Berlin Wall separating East from West Berlin, America sent a battle group to Germany and Americans and Russians Glared at each other across the border, due to this uncertainty many Americans built backyard fallout shelters incase of nuclear war. To make matters worse the Americans financed anti-Castro Cubans for an invasion at the bay of pigs which was an unmitigated disaster. The Soviets put the first man in space in April Yuri Gagarin followed by the US in May with Alan Shepard. popular music included Chubby Checkers "The Twist" and top movies included "West Side Story" and "The Parent Trap" .

What Events Happened in 1961

• Fidel Castro declares Cuba is to adopt Communism and bans free elections

• US Cuban Exiles and CIA mount unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro known as the ( Bay of Pigs )

• John F. Kennedy inaugurated as President of the United States

• President John F. Kennedy advises American families to build bomb shelters

• The 23rd Amendment to the Constitution is Ratified which permits electors in the District of Columbia to choose Electors for President and Vice President. Available as a downloadable image on our Public Domain Images Page

• The Peace Corps is established by John F. Kennedy

• President Kennedy asks Congress for $531 million to put a man on the moon

• Race Riots in Cities throughout the United States

• The Xingu National Park is created in Brazil

• Somalia suffers wide spread flooding after the two main rivers, broke their banks and merged in a vast flood plain leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

• Britain applies for membership of the EEC

• Segregation on railways in the south ends

• Texas Sales Tax Introduced

• Construction of the Berlin Wall begins.

• East German Authorities close the border between east and west Berlin

• UN General Assembly condemns Apartheid

• Estimate of the Worlds Population reaches 4 billion

• Farthings no longer legal tender in Britain

• South Africa becomes an independent republic.

• Last Journey of The Orient Express Paris - Bucharest

• First Direct US Military Involvement in Vietnam

• The first six flags theme parks opens "Six Flags Over Texas" at Arlington, Texas

• Amnesty International Started in United Kingdom

• The Antarctic Treaty System comes into force to regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica to ensure in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes

• Pampers the first disposable diaper are introduced

• Members of the Portuguese leftist movement hijack The luxury cruise liner "Santa Maria".

• Members of The UK Portland Spy Ring are found guilty of selling plans of the HMS Dreadnought, Britain's first nuclear submarine to the Russians

• During the Monza Italian Grand Prix Race Baron Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari crashes off the track onto embankment filled with spectators killing 14 plus the driver.

• The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) started

• "Freedom Riders" test the United States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia on May 20th , over local segregation ordinances

Popular Culture

• The farthing coin, used since the 13th century, ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom.
• British satirical magazine Private Eye is published for first time
• The last episode of I Love Lucy is aired
• The Jerk , the Frug , the Pony become popular dances
• Black and white 5 pound notes cease to be a legal tender in the UK

Popular Films

• The Guns of Navarone
• The Parent Trap
• The Absent-Minded Professor
• The Alamo
• Swiss Family Robinson
• 101 Dalmatians
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• El Cid
• West Side Story

Popular TV

• Mister Ed
• The Avengers

What do you remember ? was this the year you graduated ?, what music was being played the year you were born?

Technology 1961

• Yuri Gagarin is the first human in space.



• The First inflight movie is shown on TWA



• The First electric toothbrush is produced Squibb Co.



• Alan Shepard makes first US Space Flight



• Niagra Falls starts producing hydroelectric power



• The first quasar is discovered by Allan Sandage at Mt Palomar, California



• IBM introduces the Selectric typewriter Golfball

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
Human Space Travel Russia Yuri Gagarin - the first human in space

Major World Political Leaders 1961

Australia Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies

Brazil President Juscelino Kubitschek Till 31 January
Brazil President Jânio Quadros From 31 January
Brazil President Jânio Quadros Till 25 August
Brazil President Ranieri Mazzilli From 25 August
Brazil President Ranieri Mazzilli Till 7 September
Brazil President João Goulart From 7 September

Canada Prime Minister John Diefenbaker

China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Liu Shaoqi

France President Charles de Gaulle

Germany Chancellor Konrad Adenauer

India Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru

Italy Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani

Japan Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda

Mexico President Adolfo López Mateos

Russia / Soviet Union
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev

South Africa Prime Minister Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd

United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower Till January 20,
United States President John F. Kennedy From January 20,

United Kingdom Prime Minister Harold Macmillan



The Information above is taken from our new page that gives world leaders from 1920 to current.
WorldLeaders