CHAPTER 20: THE NEW FRONTIER AND THE GREAT

SOCIETY

KENNEDY: A HERO

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR: SECTION ONE

THE ELECTION OF 1960

Setbacks of the Cold War (a recession, sputnik, U-2 incident, an alliance between Cuba and Soviet Union) causes people to question if we were winning the C. War

Kennedy’s advantages and setbacks*

Kennedy vs. Nixon on television during pres. debates

John and Robert Kennedy’s actions with the African American community

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

THE CAMELOT YEARS

Kennedy wins the election in 1960 by a narrow margin

Kennedy family is characterized with beauty and grace

Invite celebrities and artists to the White House

People follow the Pres., his wife, and the children obsessively*

Surrounded by great team of advisors

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

A NEW MILITARY POLICY

Kennedy blamed Eisenhower and the Republicans for not dealing with the growth of Soviet influence in third-world countries (esp. Cuba)

Kennedy did not like building up nuclear weapons against Soviets in minor conflicts; decides to change this

Flexible response*

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

CRISES OVER CUBA

Fidel Castro*

Castro takes over American and British oil refineries

Takes over commercial farms and makes them into communes (some American sugar companies give up land)

U.S. reaction*

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

Castro relies on Soviet aid

Some like him for his willingness to stand up to the U.S.; some do not like him because he is another dictator

10 percent of Cuban population exiled

March 1960 –Eisenhower has CIA train exiles in plot to overthrow Castro

Kennedy learns of this nine days after elected; sends troops in 1961 and the following goes wrong*

Kennedy embarrassed*

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

Summer of 1962—Soviets promise to protect Cuba with placement of missile heads on the country

Oct. 14th—photos taken by American planes of missiles; some are ready to launch

Kennedy on tv*

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

U.S. uses a quarantine*

Soviet ships stop before quarantine

Khruschev offers an exchange*

CRISIS OVER BERLIN

Berlin Wall*

Three million East Germans fled into West Berlin to escape communist rule

Weakens East Germany’s economy

KENNEDY AND THE COLD WAR

June 1961 Summit in Vienna—Khruschev threatens to close all access roads to West Berlin

Kennedy refuses to give up U.S. access to West Berlin

Khruschev’s actions afterward*

Only a few refugees are able to get into West Berlin

Kennedy tries to smooth over tensions with the Soviet Union with a hot line* and the Limited Test Ban Treaty*

THE NEW FRONTIER: SECTION TWO

THE PROMISE OF PROGRESS

New Frontier*

Kennedy unable to get some of his programs passed due to Republicans and Southern Democrats

Shows limited skill and inexperience to push for program approval

Poor economy in the 60’sKennedy has Congress increase spending

Defense spends more on weapons, minimum wage rises, extended unemployment, and provide assist. to cities

THE NEW FRONTIER

Peace Corps*

Kennedy’s reasoning behind it—stop the spread of communism

Alliance for Progress*

12 billion spent on Latin America to resist the influence of Castro

THE NEW FRONTIER

Soviets beat the U.S. with sending the first person into space

Telstar launched*

NASA creates facilities in Cape Canaveral, FL and Houston, TX

1969 Neil Armstrong lands on the moon

Results of the space program*

THE NEW FRONTIER

TRAGEDY IN DALLAS

November 22, 1963 Pres. Kennedy and wife went to Dallas, Texas for promotion for the next election

Lee Harvey Oswald shoots Kennedy from the Texas Schoolbook Depository

Jack Ruby kills Oswald

Televised funeral—many distraught Americans

Warren Commission*

Lyndon Baines Johnson is president

THE GREAT SOCIETY: SECTION THREE

LBJ’S PATH TO POWER

Lyndon Baines Johnson*

Politician from Texas that worked closely with FDR

“LBJ Treatment”

THE GREAT SOCIETY

JOHNSON’S DOMESTIC AGENDA

In memory of Kennedy, Johnson urges Congress to pass tax-cuts and civil rights bill

Ten billion in tax cuts spur economic growth

Civil Rights Act of 64 passed*

Economic Opportunity Act*

Election of 1964—Republican Barry Goldwater believes govt. should not help with poverty and discrimination; should use atomic bombs on Cuba and Vietnam

Americans have more confidence in LBJ—he wins

THE GREAT SOCIETY

BUILDING THE GREAT SOCIETY

The Great Society*

1. Provides one bill. in federal aid to schools to purchase books and library materials

2. Medicare and Medicaid*

3. HUD—rent or housing is based on income

4. Immigration Act of 1965*

5. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring inspires the Water Quality Act of 1965—states need to clean up rivers

6. Safety standards increase for food, cars and tires

THE GREAT SOCIETY

REFORMS OF THE WARREN COURT

Warren Court*

Landmark decisions such as Brown v. Board of Ed., banning prayer in schools, freedom of speech with wearing black arm bands, limiting the power of communities to censor books and films

Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims—”one person, one vote”

Mapp v. Ohio—evidence seized illegally cannot be used in state courts

Gideon v. Wainwright*

Escebedo v. Illinois*

Miranda v. Arizona*