The American 1950s and 1960s: Social and Cultural Revolution Examined

1. 1950s & 1960s American History II - Unit 6 Ms. Brown

2. Review • What was Eisenhower’s “Modern Republicanism?” • Gov’t should be conservative with money and liberal with social issues • What evidence supports the statement: “Popular 1950s culture emphasized conformity.” • Suburbia – houses and families looked the same • Pressure to conform to traditional gender roles (TV, advertising…) • Standardization and consistency across businesses and franchises • Discouraged rock’n’roll and Beat Movement • How did the Beat Movement and rock’n’roll music rebel against traditional 1950s culture? • The beatniks expressed literary nonconformity by rejecting superficial 1950s values, experimenting with drugs and alternative religions, and portraying human life realistically • Rock’n’roll music focused on “rebellious” themes including fast cars, young love, and teenage angst; the music was criticized by the older generation for being too wild and inappropriate. • Both subcultures were popular among teenagers and young adults

3. 6.2 – JFK’s Presidency

4. Election of 1960 • Election climate… • Economy struggling • Space Race in full force (Sputnik launched in 1957) and USSR developed long-range missiles – is the US falling behind the USSR? • High Cold War tensions – U-2 Incident (1960), Cuba aligned with USSR • Democrat – John F. Kennedy • MA Senator, promised to “get America moving again • Republican – Richard Nixon • Current VP, wanted to ride Eisenhower’s popularity

5. Election of 1960 • JFK nailed the 1st televised debate • Sept. 1960 - JFK looked and spoke better than Nixon even though Nixon was more experienced • Televised age affects politics – “That night, image replaced the printed words as the natural language of politics.” – journalist Russell Baker • JFK supported civil rights • Oct. 1960 - MLK jailed in GA for breaking segregation laws and sentenced to moths of hard labor • Eisenhower refused to intervene, Nixon took no position • JFK phoned MLK’s wife to express sympathy, Robert Kennedy negotiated with the judge to release MLK on bail • Garnered the African American vote to carry the South and Midwest • 35th POTUS – JFK • VP – Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ)

6. The Camelot Years • Nickname for JFK’s time in the White House when the First Family was basically American royalty • JFK loved for good-looks, charm, and wit • Jacqueline Kennedy – young, beautiful, elegant, fashionable, captivated American public and idolized by women • Made the White House glamorous by inviting many artists and celebrities to visit • “The best and the brightest” advisors compensated for JFK’s lack of experience – relied most heavily on his younger brother Robert Kennedy as Attorney General

7. JFK and the Cold War • JFK’s criticized Eisenhower and Republicans for… • Relying too heavily on nuclear weapons • Threatening to use nukes over minor conflicts • Allowing communism to spread to Cuba (too close to US) • JFK’s administration developed the flexible response policy – JFK’s defense strategy to fight a non-nuclear war • Increased defense spending on traditional military forces (non-nuclear forces) – army and navy • Created the Special Forces aka the Green Berets • Tripled the overall nuclear capabilities of the US (just in case)

8. Communism in Cuba • 1959 – Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro led the rebellion to overthrow Cuban dictator – promised to rid Cuba of poverty and inequality • US suspicious but recognized new gov’t • 1960 - Castro declared Cuba communist and welcomed aid from USSR • Land was nationalized (put under gov’t control)  US instituted economic trade sanctions

9. The Bay of Pigs • Early 1960 – CIA trained Cuban exiles for a Cuban invasion to overthrow Castro • April 17, 1961 – 1,500 Cuban exiles with support of US military invaded the Bay of Pigs  nothing went as planned • Air strike failed to knock out Cuban air force, CIA reported otherwise • Some troops never reached shore, those that did faced 25,000 Cuban troops and Soviet tanks/jets • Most exiles were killed or imprisoned • JFK looked incompetent, US embarrassed

10. Cuban Missile Crisis - 1962 • “For a moment, the world had stood still and now it was going around again.” – Robert Kennedy • JFK criticized for practicing brinksmanship, Cuban exiles claimed the Democrats had “lost Cuba” and switched to the GOP • Castro banned all flights to and from the US

11. Berlin Wall • 1961 – Too many East Berliners were fleeing to West Berlin  Soviets contemplated blockading West Berlin, but decided to build the Berlin Wall made of concrete topped with barbed wire • Berlin Wall contained communism from West Germany, but served as a symbol of communist oppression

12. Attempting to Ease Tensions • JFK and Khrushchev became aware of the gravity of split-second decisions that separated Cold War peace from nuclear disaster • 1963 - both leaders searched for ways to decrease tensions • the establishment of a hot line between the White House and the Kremlin - enabled the leaders to communicate at once should a crisis arise • US and USSR agreed to a Limited Test Ban Treaty – prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in outer space, or underwater

13. The New Frontier • “We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier… [Americans should be] new pioneers of uncharted areas of science and space… unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.” – JKF’s broad vision of progress • Wanted to focus on becoming the most scientifically, economically, and socially advanced country in the world • JFK proposed medical care for the aged, rebuilding of urban areas, education aid  all shot down by Republicans and Dixiecrats • Lacked popular mandate – a clear indication that voters approved of his agenda

14. New Frontier Successes • Growing the economy • deficit spending  stimulate economic growth and lower taxes • Department of Defense received a 20% budget increase to develop new nuclear missiles, nuclear submarines, and the expansion of the armed forces • Minimum wage increased to $1.25/hour, extended unemployment insurance, and provided federal funding to cities with high poverty

15. New Frontier Successes • Addressing domestic poverty • 1960 – 50M Americans survived on less than $1,000/year  JFK called for a “national assault on the causes of poverty” • Ordered the Justice Department to investigate racial injustices in the South • 1963 - Proposed a civil rights bill to Congress focused on ending segregation

16. New Frontier Successes • Addressing poverty abroad • Peace Corps – 1961, a program of volunteer assistance to the developing nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America  mostly recent college graduates acting as teachers, heath aides, agricultural advisers, etc in host countries • Alliance for Progress – a program of economic and technical assistance to Latin American countries (mostly to deter communist influence from Cuba)

17. New Frontier Successes • Space Race to the moon • 1961 – USSR put first man in space  JFK wants first man on moon • Expanded funding for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – new facilities in Cape Canaveral, FL; new mission control center in Houston, TX • July 20, 1969 (over 5 years after JFK’s death) – US puts first men on moon

18. JFK’s Assassination • Nov. 22, 1963 – JFK and Jackie in Dallas to meet with Texan Democrats, shot while riding in open-air limousine • JFK rushed to hospital, quickly pronounced dead  LBJ took oath of office immediately • Lee Harvey Oswald charged with the assassination of JFK (handprint found on rifle used, dishonorably discharged from Marines, briefly lived in USSR, openly supported Castro) • Nov. 24 – live television coverage of Oswald being transferred between jails when nightclub owner Jack Ruby broke through the crowd and shot/killed Oswald • Nov. 25 – JFK’s funeral

19. Warren Commission • Bizarre chain of events made some people wonder if Oswald was part of a conspiracy  Warren Commission established to investigate JFK’s assassination • Initially concluded Oswald was working on his own • 1979 – reinvestigation concluded that Oswald was part of a conspiracy – maybe 2 people involved, possible plot by anti-Castro Cuban, maybe a Communist-sponsored attack, etc • LBJ’s responsibility to rebuild the emotionally shattered nation and continue JFK’s work on the economy and civil rights