History Lecture 14 New Frontiers

New Frontiers

Era under President John F. Kennedy symbolizing optimism, innovation, and generational change in the 1960s.

New Generation of Americans

Younger Americans embracing new technology, social change, and cultural experimentation during the 1960s.

Age of Pharmaceuticals and Computers

Period of rapid scientific and technological advancement that reshaped modern life.

John F. Kennedy (JFK)

Seen as the face of a new, modern America; represented youth, idealism, and leadership in a changing world.

Counterculture (1960s)

Movement rejecting mainstream values; embraced peace, love, drugs, and experimentation with new lifestyles.

Hippie Counterculture

Group within the counterculture movement promoting peace, communal living, and alternative values.

Consequences for Women in Counterculture

Previously, casual sex risked pregnancy; birth control now allowed more sexual freedom.

Birth Control Pill

Revolutionized women's autonomy and sexuality; contributed to the sexual revolution.

Drug Experimentation

Use of substances like LSD and marijuana to explore consciousness and reject societal norms.

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide)

Hallucinogenic drug initially developed by psychologists for treatment research.

Timothy Leary

Harvard psychologist who studied LSD and became a counterculture icon promoting psychedelic drug use.

The New Left

Movement of mostly middle-class, white college students seeking civil rights, equality, and political reform.

Old Left

Communist and socialist movements of the early 20th century focused on labor and class issues.

Port Huron Statement (1962)

Manifesto of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); called for grassroots activism and participatory democracy.

New Left Values

Civil rights, egalitarianism, economic justice, and skepticism toward established authority.

Grassroots Activism

Bottom-up organizing approach used by the New Left to promote local and student-led change.

Mistrust of Authority

New Left's suspicion of traditional institutions like government, business, and universities.

In Loco Parentis

Rule allowing college administrations to act as students' guardians; restricted political activity on campuses.

Berkeley Free Speech Movement (1964)

Student protest at UC Berkeley demanding the right to organize politically on campus.

Mario Savio

Leader of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement; symbol of student activism in the 1960s.

Radical Civil Rights Strategy

Belief that 'justice delayed is justice denied'; pushed for faster, more assertive civil rights actions.

Black Nationalism

Belief that Black Americans should separate from white society and build independent communities.

Watts Riots (1965)

Urban uprising in Los Angeles highlighting racial tensions and frustration with systemic racism.

Malcolm X

Black nationalist leader who argued for self-defense and independence in his 1965 speech 'The Ballot or the Bullet.'

Black Panther Party (1966-1976)

Black nationalist organization advocating self-defense, community programs, and independence from white America.

Black Panther Police Patrols

Armed patrols organized to monitor police behavior and protect Black neighborhoods.

JFK's Family Background

Kennedy family faced discrimination as Irish Catholics; his father dreamed of his son becoming president.

JFK's Military Service

Served in WWII commanding PT-109 torpedo boat; became a war hero after rescuing his crew.

PT-109 Incident

Boat destroyed in battle; JFK led survivors through dangerous waters to safety, injuring his back in the process.

Kennedy's Injuries

JFK suffered chronic back pain from his wartime injury; wore a brace throughout his presidency.

1960 Presidential Election

Televised debates between Nixon and Kennedy; Kennedy's charisma helped him win narrowly.

Kennedy-Nixon Debate (1960)

First televised presidential debate; Kennedy appeared confident and sincere, while Nixon looked tired and unwell.

Southern Voting Patterns

South traditionally voted Democratic until the mid-1960s when it began shifting Republican.

Kennedy's Presidency

Promised a 'New Frontier' of progress but faced struggles in domestic politics due to congressional opposition.

Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)

Failed U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba to overthrow Fidel Castro; embarrassment for Kennedy and the U.S.

Fidel Castro

Communist leader of Cuba allied with the Soviet Union; target of U.S. attempts to remove him from power.

Vienna Summit (1961)

Meeting between JFK and Khrushchev; Khrushchev viewed Kennedy as inexperienced and weak.

Berlin Crisis (1961)

Confrontation over Germany leading the Soviets to build the Berlin Wall to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West.

Berlin Wall (1961)

Barrier built by East Germany separating East and West Berlin; symbol of Cold War division.

Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

Standoff between the U.S. and USSR after the Soviets placed nuclear missiles in Cuba; closest the world came to nuclear war.

Kennedy's Blockade of Cuba

JFK ordered a naval quarantine around Cuba to prevent Soviet missile shipments.

Resolution of Cuban Missile Crisis

U.S. and USSR agreed to remove missiles from Cuba and Turkey; nuclear war was avoided.

March on Washington (1963)

Mass civil rights rally where MLK Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech; supported by JFK administration.

JFK and Civil Rights

Initially cautious, Kennedy eventually endorsed civil rights reforms and met with leaders like MLK Jr.

Dallas, Texas (1963)

City where President Kennedy was assassinated during a motorcade on November 22, 1963.

Lee Harvey Oswald

Former Marine and Soviet defector who assassinated JFK; later killed by Jack Ruby.

Jack Ruby

Nightclub owner who killed Lee Harvey Oswald; claimed he acted out of grief and anger.

Kennedy's Legacy

Represented youthful optimism and progress but left behind unfinished reforms.

Radical Approach to Civil Rights

JFK's push for racial equality marked a generational shift toward direct federal involvement.

New Frontier Programs

Kennedy's domestic agenda aimed at economic reform, education, and space exploration but faced congressional resistance.

Attempt to Complete the New Deal

Kennedy sought to extend Roosevelt's New Deal reforms but was blocked by conservative lawmakers.