Identify “Temperance”
The “Stormy Sixties” Chapter 38
John F. Kennedy (JFK) Elected in 1960 Youngest president elected Young cabinet: RFK (Attorney General)
JFK and the new frontier Reduce unemployment Reduce inflation Keep wages high Inspired patriotism
The New frontier Southern Democrats and Republicans hated it Regulation of business (steel) Cut taxes
The New frontier (literally) Apollo programs
JFK and the Peace Corps Youthful volunteers Help other parts of the world
In Europe…
1961-1962: Berlin Wall Built by Soviets, separated East and West Berlin
West Europe: Prospering Marshall Plan: economic aid European Economic Community (Common Market): boosted trade Kennedy: Trade Expansion Act 1962, 50% tariff reduction for Common Market countries
Foreign Policy
“Flexible Response” Defense Secretary: Robert McNamara America would use military options around the world that matched the crisis at hand Increased spending on Special Forces
“flexible Response” results More force Vietnam
Modernization Theory Idea that traditional societies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America could develop into prosperous, democratic societies by following Americas lead.
Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam North Vietnam: Communist South Vietnam: Democratic 1950s and 60s: North Vietnam starts to invade South Vietnam
1961 Kennedy sent “military advisors” to aid the South with resistance to the North (President Diem) 1963: American aid was being embezzled by Diem, supported a coup that assassinated Diem
Latin America
1961: Alliance for Progress Marshall Plan for Latin America Supposed to close gap b/w rich and poor so as not to encourage communism Disappointing results
Cuba
Bay of Pigs
Fidel Castro 1959 Ties to USSR
CIA Operation Trained group of Cubans and Americans to land in Cuba, overthrow Castro Operation started under Eisenhower, unsure about how much Kennedy knew
Bay of Pigs Land at Bay of Pigs Kennedy did not come through with aid Operation failed Fiasco
Results America/Kennedy looks dumb Cuba/USSR’s relationship strengthened
Cuban missile crisis 1962: discovered that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles in Cuba Kennedy ordered removal of missiles 1 week later, USSR said okay
1963 Kennedy gave a speech urging America to abandon negative views of the Soviet Union “peaceful coexistence”
Civil Rights
JFK JFK promised to pass civil rights legislation Got black vote After elected, didn’t want to alienate southern government
1960 Freedom Riders
Federal Aid
March on Washington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE
November 22, 1963 Kennedy assassinated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU83R7rpXQY
Lee harvey oswald (allegedly)
Jack Ruby https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n9VQ-dXrwQ /
What did Kennedy actually do? Peace Corps “Ask not what your country can do for you…” Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile Crisis More troops to Vietnam
Lyndon Johnson
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Banned racial discrimination in private facilities open to the public
Federal equal employment opportunity commission (EEOC) Eliminated discrimination in hiring
Affirmative action Against discrimination
Great Society New Dealish War on Poverty Economic and welfare measures
Gulf of Tonkin resolution Let President use unrestricted force in Southeast Asia
Great Society congress
4 Achievements 1. aid to education 2. medical care for the elderly and poor (Medicare and Medicaid) 3. immigration reform (Immigration and Nationality Act, abolished quotas) 4. new voting rights bill
More Civil Rights
Civil Rights Act of 1964 Gave federal gov’t more power to prohibit segregation
24th Amendment (1964) Abolished poll tax in federal elections
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Prohibited disenfranchisement through poll taxes, literacy tests, etc
Black Power Malcolm X Nation of Islam Militant