Chapter 32 - The Changing Values of the 1960s
The Affluent Society
Written in 1958 by John Kenneth Galbraith
Criticized American consumerism and stated that more money should be devoted to public education
Sought to clearly outline the manner in which the post–World War II United States was becoming wealthy in the private sector but remained poor in the public sector, lacking social and physical infrastructure, and perpetuating income disparities
Credited with popularizing the term "conventional wisdom"
Ralph Nader
His book Unsafe at Any Speed protested the flaws of car safety
An American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes
Ran in the election of 2000
John F. Kennedy
A Democrat and a Roman Catholic
He was popular because of his good looks and his attractive wife
An American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office
The youngest person to assume the presidency by election
New Frontier
1960 - Created by JFK
Used by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Democratic slogan to inspire America to support him
Unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country's rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers' incomes was made law
Détente
Implemented by JFK
The relaxation of strained relations, especially political, by verbal communication
Focused on the US existing peacefully alongside the USSR
Contributed to the thawing of Cold War tensions
Peace Corps
1961
Implemented by JFK
A volunteer organization that sends volunteers to help developing nations
Assists developing countries by providing skilled workers in fields such as education, health, entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, and community development
Bay of Pigs
1961
A failed landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution, covertly financed and directed by the U.S. government
Took place at the height of the Cold War, and its failure influenced relations between Cuba, the United States, and the Soviet Union
Its failure severely hurt JFK’s reputation
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962
A 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores
The U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s (1894-1971) offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba
Prevented nuclear warfare
Kennedy Assassination
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson automatically became president upon Kennedy's death
Lyndon B. Johnson
Won the Election of 1964 alongside Barry Goldwater
His domestic policy was aimed at expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education and the arts, urban and rural development, and public services
Signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968
Escalated the Vietnam War
Great Society
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Included civil rights legislation, the War on Poverty, Head Start, Medicare and Medicaid, consumer safety, etc.
When more money for the Vietnam War was needed, funding for the Great Society decreased
Affirmative Action
1961
Race was removed as a factor during hiring processes, making the playing field more equal
More African Americans were now included in hiring and promotions
War on Poverty
1964 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Helped the underprivileged break the poverty cycle by helping them develop job skills, further their education and find work
Tasked state and local governments with creating work training programs for up to 200,000 men and women
Barry Goldwater
A Republican and anti-communist
Was against presidential programs
Wanted the US to play an aggressive and offensive role in the Vietnam War
Medicare & Medicaid
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income
Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income
Is routinely expanded to help as many people as possible
Head Start Program
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs
Enthusiastically received by education, child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the nation
Fiat Currency
1971
A government-issued currency that is not backed by a commodity such as gold
The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from American coins
Fiat money gives central banks greater control over the economy because they can control how much money is printed
Silent Spring
1962 - Written by Rachel Carson
A true story using a composite of examples drawn from many real communities where the use of DDT had caused damage to wildlife, birds, bees, agricultural animals, domestic pets, and even humans
Believed that humans were misusing powerful, persistent, chemical pesticides before knowing the full extent of their potential harm to the whole biota
Democratic Convention in Chicago
1968
Held during a year of riots, political turbulence, and mass civil unrest
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April of that year inflamed racial tensions to an unprecedented level
As delegates flowed into the International Amphitheatre to nominate a Democratic Party presidential candidate, tens of thousands of protesters swarmed the streets to rally against the Vietnam War and the political status quo
Vice President Herbert Humphrey received the presidential nomination
Stonewall Rebellion
1969
New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City
Sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar
Resulted in more LGBTQ+ activism
Warren Court
Earl Warren served as the Chief Justice
Changed the application and interpretation of the Constitution
Focused on creating an equal society and guaranteeing civil liberties to all
Brought an end to de jure racial segregation in the United States through Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
1954
A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case in which the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional
Helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not, in fact, equal at all
Southern schools protested against the result of the court case
Escobedo v. Illinois
1964
Didn’t let Danny Escobedo talk to his lawyer while being questioned
The court ruled that as soon as someone is in the custody of law enforcement, he or she has a Sixth Amendment right to speak to an attorney
Miranda v. Arizona
1966
Didn’t inform Ernesto Miranda of his rights
The court ruled that if a confession was obtained before the Miranda rights are read to someone, their confession would be unusable in the court of law
BIG PICTURE
Kennedy administration - Foreign affairs + Progressive domestic agenda
Johnson administration - Great Society (domestic reform)
Presidential programs → Conservative backlash
Cold War - Wars + nuclear weapons
Warren Court - Civil rights issues
The Affluent Society
Written in 1958 by John Kenneth Galbraith
Criticized American consumerism and stated that more money should be devoted to public education
Sought to clearly outline the manner in which the post–World War II United States was becoming wealthy in the private sector but remained poor in the public sector, lacking social and physical infrastructure, and perpetuating income disparities
Credited with popularizing the term "conventional wisdom"
Ralph Nader
His book Unsafe at Any Speed protested the flaws of car safety
An American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes
Ran in the election of 2000
John F. Kennedy
A Democrat and a Roman Catholic
He was popular because of his good looks and his attractive wife
An American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination near the end of his third year in office
The youngest person to assume the presidency by election
New Frontier
1960 - Created by JFK
Used by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Democratic slogan to inspire America to support him
Unemployment benefits were expanded, aid was provided to cities to improve housing and transportation, funds were allocated to continue the construction of a national highway system started under Eisenhower, a water pollution control act was passed to protect the country's rivers and streams, and an agricultural act to raise farmers' incomes was made law
Détente
Implemented by JFK
The relaxation of strained relations, especially political, by verbal communication
Focused on the US existing peacefully alongside the USSR
Contributed to the thawing of Cold War tensions
Peace Corps
1961
Implemented by JFK
A volunteer organization that sends volunteers to help developing nations
Assists developing countries by providing skilled workers in fields such as education, health, entrepreneurship, women's empowerment, and community development
Bay of Pigs
1961
A failed landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution, covertly financed and directed by the U.S. government
Took place at the height of the Cold War, and its failure influenced relations between Cuba, the United States, and the Soviet Union
Its failure severely hurt JFK’s reputation
Cuban Missile Crisis
1962
A 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores
The U.S. agreed to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s (1894-1971) offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba
Prevented nuclear warfare
Kennedy Assassination
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson automatically became president upon Kennedy's death
Lyndon B. Johnson
Won the Election of 1964 alongside Barry Goldwater
His domestic policy was aimed at expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education and the arts, urban and rural development, and public services
Signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968
Escalated the Vietnam War
Great Society
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Included civil rights legislation, the War on Poverty, Head Start, Medicare and Medicaid, consumer safety, etc.
When more money for the Vietnam War was needed, funding for the Great Society decreased
Affirmative Action
1961
Race was removed as a factor during hiring processes, making the playing field more equal
More African Americans were now included in hiring and promotions
War on Poverty
1964 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Helped the underprivileged break the poverty cycle by helping them develop job skills, further their education and find work
Tasked state and local governments with creating work training programs for up to 200,000 men and women
Barry Goldwater
A Republican and anti-communist
Was against presidential programs
Wanted the US to play an aggressive and offensive role in the Vietnam War
Medicare & Medicaid
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income
Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income
Is routinely expanded to help as many people as possible
Head Start Program
1965 - Created by Lyndon B. Johnson
Designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs
Enthusiastically received by education, child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the nation
Fiat Currency
1971
A government-issued currency that is not backed by a commodity such as gold
The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated silver from American coins
Fiat money gives central banks greater control over the economy because they can control how much money is printed
Silent Spring
1962 - Written by Rachel Carson
A true story using a composite of examples drawn from many real communities where the use of DDT had caused damage to wildlife, birds, bees, agricultural animals, domestic pets, and even humans
Believed that humans were misusing powerful, persistent, chemical pesticides before knowing the full extent of their potential harm to the whole biota
Democratic Convention in Chicago
1968
Held during a year of riots, political turbulence, and mass civil unrest
The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April of that year inflamed racial tensions to an unprecedented level
As delegates flowed into the International Amphitheatre to nominate a Democratic Party presidential candidate, tens of thousands of protesters swarmed the streets to rally against the Vietnam War and the political status quo
Vice President Herbert Humphrey received the presidential nomination
Stonewall Rebellion
1969
New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City
Sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar
Resulted in more LGBTQ+ activism
Warren Court
Earl Warren served as the Chief Justice
Changed the application and interpretation of the Constitution
Focused on creating an equal society and guaranteeing civil liberties to all
Brought an end to de jure racial segregation in the United States through Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
1954
A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case in which the justices ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional
Helped establish the precedent that “separate-but-equal” education and other services were not, in fact, equal at all
Southern schools protested against the result of the court case
Escobedo v. Illinois
1964
Didn’t let Danny Escobedo talk to his lawyer while being questioned
The court ruled that as soon as someone is in the custody of law enforcement, he or she has a Sixth Amendment right to speak to an attorney
Miranda v. Arizona
1966
Didn’t inform Ernesto Miranda of his rights
The court ruled that if a confession was obtained before the Miranda rights are read to someone, their confession would be unusable in the court of law
BIG PICTURE
Kennedy administration - Foreign affairs + Progressive domestic agenda
Johnson administration - Great Society (domestic reform)
Presidential programs → Conservative backlash
Cold War - Wars + nuclear weapons
Warren Court - Civil rights issues