America in Our Time Review Flashcards

Acceleration of Historical Time: Historical time seems to accelerate in America.
- High school graduates perceive the time since they began school as distant, resembling a prehistoric era before the Fall.
- Previously, life circumstances changed slowly, allowing generations to live and die within the same age.
- Currently, events, fashions, and moods change rapidly, making one age feel very different from another within a biological generation's span.
Comparison of Eras: The years between John Kennedy's inauguration in 1961 and Richard Nixon's second inauguration in 1973 have taken on the shape of an era.
- The continuity of events, coupled with a constitutional crisis and national disunity by 1976, created a stark contrast to the hopeful tone of Nixon’s first inauguration.

Climate of Lost Hopes: Looking back from Dallas to Watergate indicates a significant loss of hope.
- Contrasting images and myths define the public mood regarding leaders and events.
- The presidency symbolizes this loss, where each of the three presidents since 1960 (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon) faced destruction through office.
Prominent Symbols: The contrast of Dallas (a city with rampant right-wing anger) versus Watergate illustrates the tumultuous periods.
- Myth plays a critical role in American collective consciousness, shaping what is deemed truth.

Enduring Myths: Old myths express core elements of American historical experience.
- Examples: Washington at Valley Forge, Lee at Appomattox, John Brown at Harpers Ferry.
- New myths also arise and can evoke strong sentiments based on divergence within the populace.
Kennedy Myth: The assassination of John F. Kennedy symbolizes the shattered hopes of a generation, inflicted by an absurd and meaningless death.
- Illustrates the tension between achievement culture and tragic loss: a leader of accomplishment being killed by someone perceived as a failure.
- The emotional impact of Kennedy’s assassination was amplified by the expectations placed upon him and his office.

Posthumous Impact: Kennedy’s death transformed him into a symbolic martyr for national unity, despite the divided opinions during his life.
- Public opinion shifted significantly post-assassination; polls reflected increasing admiration and attachment to Kennedy.
- Originally elected by 49.7% of the electorate, after his death 62% of opposed groups felt a personal loss, and support rose to 65%.
Promise of the Kennedy Era: Expectations were that his term would lead to an age of tranquility and progress.
- Events like the test-ban treaty and peaceful protests signaled this promise before tragic events altered the landscape.

Technological Optimism: Late 1960 represented faith in advancements and the prosperity of the American lifestyle.
- Example: Synthetic fabrics gaining popularity symbolized technological advancement and ingenuity linked directly to American cultural consumption.
Attitudes Toward Economic Health: Reports indicated the United States enjoyed prosperity but faced underlying economic challenges.
- Indicators included unemployment rates and considerations of recession on the horizon despite seeming wealth.

The Role of Leadership: President Kennedy invoked commitment to progress and sacrifice in both foreign and domestic arenas, stressing responsibilities abroad.
- This theme echoed in Nixon's own rhetoric at his 1976 inauguration, reflecting a continued aim to rebound from turbulent events.
Changing Political Priorities: As time progressed, a notable shift in public priorities emerged from international to domestic issues.
- Surveys indicated a growing concern about domestic problems such as inflation and racial violence unexpectedly topped the list of public worries.

Emergence of Liberal Consensus: A prevailing orthodoxy formed, characterized by unified national goals and assumptions, marking a shift in public consciousness.
- That included a sense that the American economy functioned adequately, yet also faced threats abroad from communism, leading to a duality in public opinion.
Shift in Economic Views: A belief developed that the American system had resolved class conflict, leading to a focus on middle-class accessibility among all Americans, dismissing energetic class distinctions.

Crisis of Belief System: The text depicts a generational challenge as Americans began to question whether problems could even be solved.
Provocation of Change: Urges contemplation of rapid societal changes, confronting discrepancies between national narratives and lived experiences during the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and beyond.