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 in case 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" .
Cost of Living 1961
How Much things cost in 1961
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.07%
Average Cost of new house $12,500.00
Average Income per year $5,315.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 27 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,850.00
Bacon for 1 LB 67 cents
Eggs per dozen 30 cents
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 ( 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 Peace Corps is established 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
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
Last Journey of The Orient Express Paris - Bucharest
Amnesty International Started in United Kingdom
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
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) started
"Freedom Riders" test the United
States Supreme Court decision Boynton v. Virginia, over local segregation
ordinances
Popular Culture 1961
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
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
