President Kennedy’s New Frontier

New Frontier

A series of domestic programmes to try eliminate poverty and inequality, improve education and fight unemployment

Education

The Peace Corps was set up (an organisation that sends volunteers abroad to assist people in poorer countries)

Criticisms of education

JFK’s efforts to provide federal funding for schools were denied. Congress was dominated by politicians from Southern states who had clashed with him over civil rights issues and refused to support his plans

The economy

JFK cut taxes to give people more money to spend. Made $900 million available to businesses to create new jobs. Gave grants to companies to buy high-tech equipment and train workers to use it. Increased government spending on armed forces, creating jobs

Criticisms of the economy

New equipment in factories sometimes meant that fewer workers were needed so some people lost their jobs. Many new jobs were dependent on government spending so were vulnerable to spending cuts

Healthcare and poverty

Minimum hourly wage increased. $4.9 billion made available for loans to improve housing, clear slum areas, telephone lines. Training schemes for unemployed introduced. Social Security Act increased benefits for the elderly and unemployed. Increased funding for research into mental illness and allocated funds to develop poor rural areas

Criticisms of healthcare and poverty

The minimum wage was only helpful to those in work and housing loans were only useful if the recipient could afford the loan repayments

Civil rights

Gave more important government jobs to African-Americans than any other president before. Created the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity (CEEO) to ensure that all people employed with the federal government and equal employment opportunities. He stood up to Southern politicians who failed to defend civil rights

Criticisms of civil rights

Some people thought that he could of done more but he seemed more concerned by what Southern politicians and voters thought of him. The CEEO only helped those who already had a government job but did nothing to find jobs for millions of unemployed African-Americans