Kennedy
Kailyn Lee 7th
Election of 1960
Democrat John F Kennedy
Republican Richard Nixon
Questions rose about electing a catholic candidate (Kennedy) in the Bible Belt South
Television was a big part of Kennedy’s campaign, he appealed to the audience
- Kennedy won the election after gaining support from workers, Catholics, and African Americans
- Election was very close
The New Frontier
Peace Corps: an army of idealistic and mostly youthful volunteers to bring American skills to underdeveloped countries.
Southern Democrats and Republicans hated the New Frontier
Kennedy’s plan to “revitalize the economy” after Eisenhower
Tried to curb inflation
Steel Industry
Stimulated the economy by cutting taxes and putting more money directly into private hands
- Proposed multi-billion plan to land an American on the moon
The Cold War
"Flexible response" which developed military options that could be used during crisis when needed.
President Kennedy increased spending on conventional military forces
1961 Kennedy increased the number of military advisors in South Vietnam to protect Diem from communism
Marshall Plan: plan to help Latin American countries close gap between rich and poor
- Cuba’s Bay of Pigs: soviets were secretly installing nuclear missiles in Cuba, Kennedy ordered a naval quarantine from Cuba and had missiles removed
- Alliance for Progress: increase economic cooperation between North and South America; helped countries south of the Rio Grande to modernize their economics and political outlook
1961: Soviets began constructing the Berlin Wall which was designed to stop the large population drain from East Germany to West Germany through Berlin.
Trade Expansion Act 1962: authorized tariff cuts of up to 50% to promote trade with Common Market countries
Civil Rights
JFK gained the black vote after stating he would pass civil rights legislation
Groups of Freedom Riders fought against desegregation in buses
Voter Education Project: registered the South's disfranchised blacks
1983 Martin Luther King Jr. gave speech against discrimination in Birmingham, AL
Kennedy's Assassination
Shot and killed on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, TX
Shooter was Lee Harvey Oswald who was later shot by Jack Ruby
- Vice president Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) took office after assassination