Contesting Futures: America in the 1960s

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering important terms and concepts from the 1960s in America, focusing on social changes, political movements, and significant events.

The Kennedy Promise

The vision articulated by President John F. Kennedy, emphasizing hope, change, and the pursuit of social and economic freedoms.

Lyndon Johnson

The Vice President under Kennedy who became the 36th President and is known for his Great Society programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Civil Rights Movement

A movement in the 1960s that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

The New Frontier

A term used by Kennedy to describe his goals for America, including social reforms and foreign policies aimed at progress.

Great Society

A set of domestic programs launched by Lyndon Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.

Bay of Pigs

A failed military invasion of Cuba in 1961 by CIA-trained Cuban exiles, which was supported by Kennedy.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A 1962 confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles deployed in Cuba, leading to a major Cold War confrontation.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans and protect their voting rights.

Black Power

A movement advocating for the empowerment of African Americans and emphasizing racial pride and political independence.

Chicano Movement

A movement among Mexican Americans that sought to secure rights and empowerment through cultural recognition and political activism.

Free Speech Movement

A student protest movement at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s that called for political speech and activism on campus.

Women's Rights Movement

A movement during the 1960s and 1970s advocating for women's rights, equality, and social reforms, including issues like reproductive rights and workplace equality.

Betty Friedan

An American writer and feminist, author of 'The Feminine Mystique,' which sparked the second wave of feminism in the United States.

Medicare

A program established in 1966 to provide health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older, part of Johnson's Great Society initiatives.

Peace Corps

A volunteer program established by Kennedy aiming to promote world peace and friendship by preparing Americans to work in developing countries.

Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act

A 1963 act increasing support for public mental health services.

Social Security Act of 1965

An act that created Medicare and Medicaid, aimed at providing healthcare to the elderly and low-income individuals.

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

A large rally in 1963 where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech, advocating for civil and economic rights for African Americans.

Bloody Sunday

A violent confrontation between civil rights marchers and state police in Alabama on March 7, 1965, which garnered national attention and support for the civil rights movement.