US History Timeline

Asian Americans

1952

Walter-Mccaran Act

1956

Dilip Saund wins Eleciton

1959

Hiram Leong Fong wins election.

1964

Patsy Mink wins Election

1973

Vietnam War Peace Agreement

1962

Daniel K. Inouye wins election

1965

Delano Grape Strike

The Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, comprised of mostly Filipino-American farmworkers, begins a 5-year long strike called the Delano Grape Strike in protest of pay cuts and demanding improved working conditions. This strike was led by Filipino American Larry Itliong and the committee eventually joined forces Caesar Chavez and Latino Workers to form United Farm Workers. Here is a news report about the strike

1975

Refugee Assistance Act

By Naitik and Alek

Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaiʻi is elected for the US Senate. He ends up being reelected in 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010. Learn about Mr. Inouye's medal awards here!

Responding to the refugee crisis, Congress passed the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, setting aside $405 million for a two-year evacuation and resettlement program to assist refugees from South Vietnam and Cambodia after the Vietnam War. Here is an article of the act

Finally, in January 1973, representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. This leads to the fleeing of hundreds of thousands of Southern Vietnam residents as the Viet Cong commence a full-scale invasion of Southern Vietnam.

Patsy Mink wins the House of Representatives election from the state of Hawaii, becoming the first Asian American woman and first woman of color to serve in the House of Representatives. Mink would go on to serve 12 terms. Learn more about Patsy Mink here!

Hiram Leong Fong wins a Senate Election in the state of Hawaii, becoming the first Asian American to hold an office in the Senate. Fong was a major proponent of liberalizing immigration and expanding civil rights programs. In 1964, Fong ran for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, becoming the first person of Asian descent to run for the office of the Presidency. Click this link to learn more about the achievements of Hiram Leong Fong

Dalip Saund wins the election of the House of Representatives in California making him the first Asian American to hold an office in the House. Click this link to learn more about the political career of Dalip Saund

Walter–McCarran Act nullifies all federal anti-Asian exclusion laws and allows for the naturalization of all Asians. Click this Link to Learn More! There was backlash against this naturalization of Asian Americans due to xenophobia:

Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaiʻi is elected for the US Senate. He ends up being reelected in 1968, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004, and 2010. Learn more about Mr. Inouye here!

The Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, comprised of mostly Filipino-American farmworkers, begins a 5-year long strike called the Delano Grape Strike in protest of pay cuts and demanding improved working conditions. This strike was led by Filipino American Larry Itliong and the committee eventually joined forces Caesar Chavez and Latino Workers to form United Farm Workers. Learn more about the strike here

Asian Americans

1979

End of Genocide

1982

Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated

1982

The Murder of Vincent Chin

2000

Norman Mineta sworn in as the U.S. Sec. of Commerce

2021

Kamala Harris wins election to become Vice President

1990

Asian American Heritage Week

2010

Daniel Inouye is sworn in as Pro Tempore

By Naitik and Alek

George H. W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend Asian-American Heritage Week to a month. May was officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month two years later. May was chosen to honor the first official Japanese immigrant’s arrival to the United States in May of 1843. Learn more about the bill

Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President of the United States, serving with Joe Biden. Harris breaks multiple barriers as she becomes the first Asian American, first African American, and first woman to serve as Vice President of the U.S. Learn about Kamala Harris's Trailblazing Achievement

Daniel Inouye is sworn in as President Pro Tempore making him the highest-ranking Asian-American politician in American history. Learn more about his accomplishment

President Bill Clinton swears in Norman Mineta as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This makes Mineta the first Asian American to serve in the presidential cabinet. Learn more about Norman Mineta here

Vincent Chin dies 4 days after being held down and beaten by two white autoworkers in Detroit, Michigan. The two white autoworkers blamed their unemployment on the increase of Japanese car imports. Outrage within the Asian American community grew when the 2 men were only handed a $3000 fine and no jail time. This trial outcome led to many protests from the Asian American community. CNN Article of the Murder

The Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C. The memorial was designed by Maya Lin, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Learn more about Maya Lin

Asian Americans

1979

End of Genocide

1982

Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated

1982

The Murder of Vincent Chin

2000

Norman Mineta sworn in as the U.S. Sec. of Commerce

2021

Kamala Harris wins election to become Vice President

1990

Asian American Heritage Week

2010

Daniel Inouye is sworn in as Pro Tempore

By Naitik and Alek

George H. W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend Asian-American Heritage Week to a month. May was officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month two years later. May was chosen to honor the first official Japanese immigrant’s arrival to the United States in May of 1843. Learn more about the bill

Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President of the United States, serving with Joe Biden. Harris breaks multiple barriers as she becomes the first Asian American, first African American, and first woman to serve as Vice President of the U.S. Learn about Kamala Harris's Trailblazing Achievement

Daniel Inouye is sworn in as President Pro Tempore making him the highest-ranking Asian-American politician in American history. Learn more about his accomplishment

President Bill Clinton swears in Norman Mineta as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This makes Mineta the first Asian American to serve in the presidential cabinet. Learn more about Norman Mineta here

Vincent Chin dies 4 days after being held down and beaten by two white autoworkers in Detroit, Michigan. The two white autoworkers blamed their unemployment on the increase of Japanese car imports. Outrage within the Asian American community grew when the 2 men were only handed a $3000 fine and no jail time. This trial outcome led to many protests from the Asian American community. CNN Article of the Murder

The Vietnam War Memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C. The memorial was designed by Maya Lin, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Learn more about Maya Lin