Towards the beginning of the 1960s, the political mindset of America was focused around international affairs and policy, however towards the end of the decade, the focus shifted to domestic social reforms. President Johnson’s antipoverty initiative was to involve communities, local governments, and the courts. In his State of the Union Speech he proposes the "Great Society" program, through which the Econominc Opportunity Act of 1964 was passed. The act proved to be successful by implementing effective programs such Head Start, Medicare, Medicaid, and VISTA. These programs provided health benefits, education for low income families, and countless jobs for the people of the nation. Head Start which was a federal program designed to prepare low-income children for school. Medicare and Medicaid, put into action in 1965, provided health insurance coverage for the previously uninsured and the elderly. VISTA, Volunteers In Service To America, a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps, was a service agency that created jobs and provided a number of programs including literacy and community health care initiatives.
President Lyndon Johnson singing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Follow this link to find a typed copy of JFK's Inaurural Speech .
President Kennedy with Caroline and John, the White House, March 28, 1963 Medicare:
Both Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965 in order to help the elderly and people who could not afford healthcare. These two plans were considered two of the most important social programs of the decade. Social Security was also a major factor in that it gave money for people for Medicare. On July 30, 1965, a bill, known as the Social Security Act of 1965, was signed that enabled social security insurance to cover Medicare expenses for people over the age of 65 years old. Although voluntary, must people used this system. Prior to the passing of the bill, many conservatives believed that the bill was trending towards socialism. JFK had tried to pass a Medicare bill when he was in office, and Johnson had also tried to pass one, however both of their plans failed, but after Johnson was elected for the second time his bill was passed in 1965.
The Civil Rights Movement
As the election of 1960 was being held, largely based on international policy and promising social reform, a new movement of black activism started to arise in the south. The south's policy of segregation that had relegated blacks to second rate citizens was challenged by sit-ins, freedom rides, speeches, and forced integration of schools. President Johnson's Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most outstanding civil rights acts passed by congress, it provided the unconditional right to vote by all Americans. Despite the 15th ammendment, Southern States bitterly made it difficult for Blacks to vote, some distributed literacy tests that supposedly tested one’s ability to understand and then used the results to prohibit blacks from voting. The act allowed the use of federal voting registrars, discontinued the use of literacy tests in 8 different states, and made sure that states couldn’t change their election laws without the approval of congress. In all, the act produced a 10% increase in the number of black voters, a tremendous leap in African American voting rates.
Primary Source: President Johnson's speech about the Vietnam war (Johnson's speech describes how he sees domestic issues as more important and therefore works to limit the involvment in the Vietnam war)
"Yet, I believe that we must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and the tests ahead. The ultimate strength of our country and our cause will lie not in powerful weapons or infinite resources or boundless wealth, but will lie in the unity of our people.
This I believe very deeply.
Throughout my entire public career I have followed the personal philosophy that I am a free man, an American, a public servant, and a member of my party, in that order always and only.
For 37 years in the service of our Nation, first as a Congressman, as a Senator, and as Vice President, and now as your President, I have put the unity of the people first. I have put it ahead of any divisive partisanship.
And in these times as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of party, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand.
There is division in the American house now. There is divisiveness among us all tonight. And holding the trust that is mine, as President of all the people, I cannot disregard the peril to the progress of the American people and the hope and the prospect of peace for all peoples.
So, I would ask all Americans, whatever their personal interests or concern, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences."
Primary source: Kennedy's inagural address
(Kennedy stresses the importance of international relations, in order to serve the well being of the world and to support the country) "But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course--both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."
Primary Source: Johnson's State of the Union Address (In 1965 President Johnson proposed his "Great Society" program in his State of the Union Address. It explains his goals to work against the "War on Poverty." For example, Head Start provided countless low income children with the chance of an education.)
"Let a just nation throw open to them the city of promise:
to the elderly, by providing hospital care under social security and by raising benefit payments to those struggling to maintain the dignity of their later years;
to the poor and the unfortunate, through doubling the war against poverty this year;
to Negro Americans, through enforcement of the civil rights law and elimination of barriers to the right to vote;
to those in other lands that are seeking the promise of America, through an immigration law based on the work a man can do and not where he was born or how he spells his name."
Analysis of America in the 1960’s 1960’s America was a direct response to the decades preceding it, marked by civil unrest, escalation of the “Red fear”, and liberal application of executive power. Post war and into the Eisenhower administration, the American government remained hands off in the lives of its citizens. It had very little direct influence on the lives of the average American citizen, although through infrastructure expansion projects, it provided numerous jobs and homes for the returning war generation. The 1950’s, marked by consumerism, conformity, and stiffness, put a damper on American pop culture and the youth. Compared to the old war hero, President Eisenhower, the election of JFK marked a new period of change in America, the civil rights movement gained pace, the space race was started, and government began to expand again into the lives of the people through civil rights bills and advances in health care services. The 1960’s are divided into two different administrations, JFK and LBJ, the latter focusing on domestic issues and remembered for the escalation of the Vietnam conflict. The overall political mindset of the 1960’s was that of liberal expansion to improve the standard of living in America.
Sources:
Introduction:
Towards the beginning of the 1960s, the political mindset of America was focused around international affairs and policy, however towards the end of the decade, the focus shifted to domestic social reforms. President Johnson’s antipoverty initiative was to involve communities, local governments, and the courts. In his State of the Union Speech he proposes the "Great Society" program, through which the Econominc Opportunity Act of 1964 was passed. The act proved to be successful by implementing effective programs such Head Start, Medicare, Medicaid, and VISTA. These programs provided health benefits, education for low income families, and countless jobs for the people of the nation. Head Start which was a federal program designed to prepare low-income children for school. Medicare and Medicaid, put into action in 1965, provided health insurance coverage for the previously uninsured and the elderly. VISTA, Volunteers In Service To America, a domestic counterpart to the Peace Corps, was a service agency that created jobs and provided a number of programs including literacy and community health care initiatives.
Follow this link to find a typed copy of JFK's Inaurural Speech .
Medicare:
Both Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965 in order to help the elderly and people who could not afford healthcare. These two plans were considered two of the most important social programs of the decade. Social Security was also a major factor in that it gave money for people for Medicare. On July 30, 1965, a bill, known as the Social Security Act of 1965, was signed that enabled social security insurance to cover Medicare expenses for people over the age of 65 years old. Although voluntary, must people used this system. Prior to the passing of the bill, many conservatives believed that the bill was trending towards socialism. JFK had tried to pass a Medicare bill when he was in office, and Johnson had also tried to pass one, however both of their plans failed, but after Johnson was elected for the second time his bill was passed in 1965.
The Civil Rights Movement
As the election of 1960 was being held, largely based on international policy and promising social reform, a new movement of black activism started to arise in the south. The south's policy of segregation that had relegated blacks to second rate citizens was challenged by sit-ins, freedom rides, speeches, and forced integration of schools. President Johnson's Voting Rights Act of 1965 was one of the most outstanding civil rights acts passed by congress, it provided the unconditional right to vote by all Americans. Despite the 15th ammendment, Southern States bitterly made it difficult for Blacks to vote, some distributed literacy tests that supposedly tested one’s ability to understand and then used the results to prohibit blacks from voting. The act allowed the use of federal voting registrars, discontinued the use of literacy tests in 8 different states, and made sure that states couldn’t change their election laws without the approval of congress. In all, the act produced a 10% increase in the number of black voters, a tremendous leap in African American voting rates.
Primary Source: President Johnson's speech about the Vietnam war
(Johnson's speech describes how he sees domestic issues as more important and therefore works to limit the involvment in the Vietnam war)
"Yet, I believe that we must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and the tests ahead. The ultimate strength of our country and our cause will lie not in powerful weapons or infinite resources or boundless wealth, but will lie in the unity of our people.
This I believe very deeply.
Throughout my entire public career I have followed the personal philosophy that I am a free man, an American, a public servant, and a member of my party, in that order always and only.
For 37 years in the service of our Nation, first as a Congressman, as a Senator, and as Vice President, and now as your President, I have put the unity of the people first. I have put it ahead of any divisive partisanship.
And in these times as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of party, of region, of religion, of race, is a house that cannot stand.
There is division in the American house now. There is divisiveness among us all tonight. And holding the trust that is mine, as President of all the people, I cannot disregard the peril to the progress of the American people and the hope and the prospect of peace for all peoples.
So, I would ask all Americans, whatever their personal interests or concern, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences."
Primary source: Kennedy's inagural address
(Kennedy stresses the importance of international relations, in order to serve the well being of the world and to support the country)
"But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course--both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.
So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."
Primary Source: Johnson's State of the Union Address
(In 1965 President Johnson proposed his "Great Society" program in his State of the Union Address. It explains his goals to work against the "War on Poverty." For example, Head Start provided countless low income children with the chance of an education.)
"Let a just nation throw open to them the city of promise:
Analysis of
America in the 1960’s 1960’s America was a direct response to the decades preceding it, marked by civil unrest, escalation of the “Red fear”, and liberal application of executive power. Post war and into the Eisenhower administration, the American government remained hands off in the lives of its citizens. It had very little direct influence on the lives of the average American citizen, although through infrastructure expansion projects, it provided numerous jobs and homes for the returning war generation. The 1950’s, marked by consumerism, conformity, and stiffness, put a damper on American pop culture and the youth. Compared to the old war hero, President Eisenhower, the election of JFK marked a new period of change in America, the civil rights movement gained pace, the space race was started, and government began to expand again into the lives of the people through civil rights bills and advances in health care services. The 1960’s are divided into two different administrations, JFK and LBJ, the latter focusing on domestic issues and remembered for the escalation of the Vietnam conflict. The overall political mindset of the 1960’s was that of liberal expansion to improve the standard of living in America.
Sources:
HealthCare and others (check the side under 1960's)
HealthCare
President Johnson Background
brief Medicare description
Civil Rights Act
Great Society
Voting Rights Act 1965
Head Start Project-->War on poverty
Kennedy's Inaugural Address
http://www.jfklibrary.org/
Johnson 1968 speech
State of the Union Speech
VISTA
Economic Oppurtunity Act (1964)