1960

The “Year of Africa”—nations break free from colonial rule, television transforms politics, and a revolutionary pill gives women unprecedented control over their lives.

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🌍 Key World Events

Date	Event	Why It Matters
Feb 1	Greensboro sit-ins begin	Four Black students sit at segregated lunch counter, sparking nationwide protest movement for Civil Rights.
Apr 21	Brasília inaugurated as Brazil’s new capital	Purpose-built modernist city represents Brazil’s bold vision for the future.
May 1	U-2 incident escalates Cold War	Soviet missiles shoot down American spy plane, torpedoing Paris summit and heightening Cold War tensions.
Sep 26	First Kennedy-Nixon debate televised	70 million watch America’s first televised presidential debate, forever changing political campaigns and image over substance.
Nov 8	JFK elected President	John F. Kennedy becomes youngest elected president and first Catholic president, promising a “New Frontier.”
1960	”Year of Africa” — 17 nations gain independence	Cameroon, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Madagascar, Congo, Somalia, Benin, Niger, Chad, and others achieve independence through decolonization.

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🧪 Science & Technology

• Birth control pill approved (May 9) — FDA approves oral contraceptive, revolutionizing women’s reproductive rights and sparking social transformation.
• First weather satellite (TIROS-1) launched (Apr 1), providing unprecedented ability to monitor and predict storms.
• Laser invented — Theodore Maiman demonstrates first working laser at Hughes Research Labs, opening new technological frontiers.
• First cardiac pacemaker successfully implanted, marking breakthrough in medical device technology.

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🎨 Culture & Society

• “Psycho” premieres — Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller shocks audiences and transforms horror cinema with iconic shower scene.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” published — Harper Lee’s novel becomes instant classic, exploring racial injustice in American South.
• Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins Olympic gold in boxing at Rome Olympics, beginning legendary career.
• “The Flintstones” debuts (Sep 30) — First animated prime-time TV series becomes cultural phenomenon.
• Olympics in Rome showcase athletic excellence while Cold War rivalry plays out in medal counts.

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👶 Notable Births

Name	Born	Legacy
Bono	May 10	U2 frontman and humanitarian activist.
Diego Maradona	Oct 30	Legendary Argentine footballer.

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⚰️ Notable Deaths

• Albert Camus (Jan 4) — Nobel Prize-winning French philosopher and author of “The Stranger.”
• Boris Pasternak (May 30) — Russian author of “Doctor Zhivago.”

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📚 Quick Facts & Trivia

• Cold War Tensions: The year saw increasing superpower rivalry, with the U-2 incident nearly derailing diplomatic efforts.
• Civil Rights Momentum: The Greensboro sit-ins inspired similar protests across the South, energizing the movement.
• Television’s Power: Kennedy’s telegenic performance in the debates demonstrated TV’s growing influence on politics.
• Africa’s Liberation: The wave of independence marked a turning point in decolonization, though many new nations faced immediate challenges.