Transcript 1960’s The Stormy Sixties - AP US History Class Dearborn

1960’s
The Stormy Sixties
1960’s
 Changes
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during the 60’s:
Sexual revolution
Civil rights revolution
Emergence of the “youth culture”
War in Vietnam
Beginnings of the Feminist revolution
Changes in government and society with
Johnson’s Great Society program
Kennedy

Kennedy was youngest president ever elected.
Assembled a young cabinet also
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Attorney General
• Chose his brother Robert Kennedy
• Wanted FBI to also focus on organized crime and civil rights
infractions, which Hoover resisted
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Defense Department
• Robert McNamara, who was president of Ford before
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Kennedy chose the brightest and best to put around them, and
many of them from Harvard.
Kennedy famously asked his countrymen: ask not what
your country can do for you: ask what you can do for
your country.”
Establishes Peace Corps to increase American presence
and prestige in underdeveloped countries
Kennedy and Congress
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Despite Democratic majorities in Congress, the
New Frontier stalled there due to Republicans
and Southern Democrats, especially programs
like Medicaid and federal aid for education
 New Frontier policies
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Steel problem lead to attacks from Big Business on
the New Frontier
Kennedy helped curtail these fears but supporting a
tax-cut bill, with goal of getting more money to
citizens hands to spend.
Kennedy also asked for appropriations to increase
expenditures on NASA and to land an American on
the moon, which they do in 1969.
Kennedy and the Cold War
 Khrushchev
and Kennedy met in Vienna in
1961:
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Khrushchev tried to bully the young president
by threatening to cut off access to Berlin and
to make a treaty with east Germany, but
Kennedy would not budge or be bullied
But in August 1961, the Soviets started to
build the Berlin Wall, separating east and
West Berlin. Mostly to stop the flow of East
Berliners from escaping to the West.
Kennedy and Europe
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Europe recovered miraculously after the Marshall Plan
and from the growth of the Common Market, free trade
area that evolved to the European Union
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Kennedy secured Trade Expansion Act of 1962
• Tariff cuts by 50 percent to promote trade within the Common
market
• Eventually leads to significant expansion of American and European
trade
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But Charles De Gaulle stood in the way of further
cooperation between America and Europe.
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De Gaulle vetoed the idea of Britain being in the Common
Market in 1963, fearing it was a Trojan horse.
De Gaulle thought America was unreliable in a crisis, so he
developed his own Atomic bomb
In essence, De Gaulle did not want France or Europe dominated
by USA.
Flexible Response
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Laos presented an issue:
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Does America send troops in masse to deter the
spread of communism and invoke Eisenhower’s and
Dulles policy of massive retaliation? Or…
Do you seek a diplomatic answer because it was too
small of a situation to risk a nuclear conflagration?
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So USA was forced between humiliation or
nuclear incineration due to Eisenhower’s policy.
 McNamara pushed the idea of Flexible
response:
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Developing an array of military options to match the
crisis at hand
Vietnam and Flexible Response
 Diem
and his family posed a huge problem
for the US
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Diem was a tyrant and a right-wing ruler.
Many in South Vietnam wanted him out.
 The
policy of flexible response meant that
the US might have a continual build up of
military in Vietnam as the situation
escalated.
Background
to the War
 France controlled “Indochina” since the
late 19th century
 Japan took control during World
War II
 With U.S. aid, France attempted
re-colonization in the postwar period
Background
to the War
 The French lost control to
Ho Chi Minh’s Viet Minh
forces in 1954 at Dien Bien
Phu
 President Eisenhower declined to
intervene on behalf of France.
Background to the
War
 International Conference at Geneva
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Vietnam was divided at 17th
parallel
O Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist
forces controlled the North
O Ngo Dinh Diem, a Frencheducated, Roman Catholic
claimed control of the
South
Background to the
War
 A date was set for democratic
elections to reunify Vietnam
 Diem backed out of the elections,
leading to military conflict between
North and South
U.S. Military
Involvement Begins
 Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem
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Diem’s family holds all power
Wealth is hoarded by the elite
Buddhist majority persecuted
Torture, lack of political freedom
prevail
 The U.S. aided Diem’s government
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Ike sent financial and military aid
675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
Early Protests of
Diem’s Government
Self-Emolation by a Buddhist Monk
U.S. Military Involvement
Begins
 Kennedy elected 1960
 Increases military “advisors” to
15,000
 1963: JFK supports a Vietnamese
military coup d’etat – Diem and his
brother are murdered (Nov. 2)
 Kennedy was assassinated just weeks
later (Nov. 22)
 Ultimately, makes it harder to simply pull
out of the war as the investment increases
Modernization Theory
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Idea that traditional societies of Asia, Africa, and
Latin America (3rd World Countries) could
develop into modern industrial and democratic
nations by following the West’s own path.
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Walt Whitman Rostow championed and gave a guide
book on how traditional societies can become mass
consumption societies in his book The Stages of
Economic Growth
Importance is that the USA used this as the
underlying principal to their aggressive foreign
policy of the Cold War period.
Cuba, Bay of Pigs, and the Missile
Crisis
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhFBy
QpYvp4&safety_mode=true&persist_safet
y_mode=1&safe=active (Cuba Missile
Crisis, documentary, 60 minutes long)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKOs0s
SxvJY&list=PLxeXlDDGUP1vr7Ew6lKtD1r
ZqMijd8jvZ&index=2&safety_mode=true&
persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active (Bay
of Pigs Declassified, History Channel)
Civil Rights and Kennedy

Kennedy campaigned strongly to attract the
black vote.
 However, once in office, he moved slowly to
actually sign any laws concerning civil rights.
 Consequently, he received thousands of pens at
the White house because he campaigned to end
discrimination in housing with a stroke of the
pen.
 However, politics made him tread lightly. Mostly,
he won by a small amount and had weak control
of Congress. To get the Southern Democrats to
support his economic and social legislation, he
had to sit on Civil rights legislation.
Freedom Riders
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Freedom rides were organized by supporters of
Civil Rights to end segregation in facilities
serving interstate bus passengers.
 But in Anniston Alabama, a bus was torched by
a white mob.
 A representative of Robert Kennedy was beaten
severely in a Freedom Ride riot in Montgomery.
 Southern officials proved unwilling and unable to
stem the violence, so the federal government
sent in federal marshals to protect the Freedom
Riders.
Civil Rights and Kennedy
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Consequently, Kennedy was now attached to the
civil rights movement as a result of the Freedom
Riders.
 RFK had Hoover wiretap King’s phone in 1963,
due to the fact that some of his associates were
Communists.
 With help of RFK and financial backing from
Kennedy-prodded private foundations, SNCC
and other civil rights groups organized the Voter
Education Project to register southern blacks.
Civil Rights and Kennedy
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Ole Miss
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James Meredith, a 29
year old Air Force
veteran attempted to
enroll at Ole Miss in
October 1962. He
encountered violent
opposition.
Kennedy sent in 400
marshals and 3,000
troops to enroll
Meredith.
Birmingham, Alabama
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Most segregated city in America, blacks made up nearly
half of total population, but only 15 of total registered
voters
Since 1957, 50 cross burnings occurred and 18 bomb
attacks when people made attempts to eliminate racial
barriers.
King organized protests, and the world was horrified at
the police response:
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Attack dogs and cattle prods used to attack protestors
High pressure water hoses also used on civil rights protestors.
Some houses strong enough to knock bricks from a house or
strip bark from a tree. Little children were even attacked.
In response, Kennedy made a memorable speech and
said the nation needs a solution to the moral issue of
racism. Called for new legislation to protect black
citizens
March on Washington
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In support of Kennedy's
speech, King organized
200,000 marchers (black
and white) to the Lincoln
Memorial, where he
made his famous “I Have
a Dream” speech.
However, violence
continued.
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Medgar Evers was shot
and killed
Sept 63, explosion at a
Baptist Church in
Birmingham killed four little
girls
Kennedy Assassinated
 November
22, 1963, President John F.
Kennedy was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
(who was then killed by Jack Ruby) in
Dallas, Texas.
 Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated on an
airplane on a flight to Washington,
 Johnson pledged an easy transition and
kept most of Kennedy's team in place and
\vowed to carry out his agenda.
LBJ
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He hailed from West Texas. Was first sent to Washington
in 1937 as a 29 year old congressman.
He looked up to FDR as his political mentor and
supported many of the New Deal measures.
But in 1941, LBJ lost a Senate race and learned that
overtly liberal politics in West Texas do not get you
elected, so he moved to the center.
In 1948, he was elected to the Senate.
In the Senate, he was known as a wheeler and dealer.
Became Democratic Majority leader in 1954, and had
enormous power in Washington.
He was famous for the Johnson treatment-backslapping,
hobnobbing, handshaking, pressing and arm-twisting to
get his agendas passed.
LBJ
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As president, LBJ
moved back to the
left.
 He pushed
immediately, to honor
Kennedy, to have the
Civil Rights Bill
passed. He
succeeded and it was
passed in 1964.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Banned racial discrimination in most private
faculties open to the public
Strengthened Federal governments power to
enforce desegregation
Created Federal Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission.
Also included was Title VII, which helped
eliminate discrimination against women and
supported gender equality.
In 1965, Johnson ordered federal contractors to
take affirmative action against discrimination.
LBJ
 In
addition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
Johnson also:
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Rammed through Congress Kennedy's tax
bill.
Added proposals for his own billion dollar
“War on Poverty”, especially in Appalachia.
Johnson dubbed his domestic policy “Great
Society”
• Sweeping set of New Dealish economic and
welfare measures aimed at transforming American
life.
1964 election
 Johnson
obviously nominated by
Democrats. Their platform was most
liberal since Truman’s Fair Deal.
 Republicans nominated Senator Barry
Goldwater of Arizona.
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Republicans said they need to offer a clear
choice between liberalism and conservatism
Democrats made Goldwater appear to be a
trigger happy cowboy who was ready to bring
US into WWIII
Daisy Presidential Commercial
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Used to attack Goldwater as a trigger happy
cowboy ready to start World War III.
Only aired once, but was broadcast on the news
programs.
Some considered it influential in securing victory
for Johnson
Also showed a shift in how ads would be used
for presidential campaigns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Id_r6pNsus&
safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe
=active
1964 Election
Tonkin Gulf Affair
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U.S naval ships were aiding South Vietnamese
in raids on North Vietnam.
Night of August 2 and 4th, two American
destroyers were fired upon by North
Vietnamese.
Johnson uses this to his advantage in the
election and also to launch air raids on North
Vietnam
Also passage of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution,
essentially giving the power the war-declaring
power of Congress.
Johnson said:” It was like grandma’s shirt, it
covered everything.”
The Great Society
Johnson’s huge victory also saw the same
results in Congress and the coalition of southern
Democrats and Republicans was also crushed.
 Consequently, Johnson was able to pass many
bills for his Great Society agenda with a very
sympathertic and supportive Congress
 Couple that with a resounding victory in the
elections and a growing economy, Johnson felt
little stood in his way of making sweeping social
reform as promised by the Democrats
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Great Society
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Agenda
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2 billion appropriated to the War on Poverty (Office of
Economic Opportunity)
1 billion appropriated to the Appalachia area
Two new cabinet positions: Department of
Transportation and Department of Housing and Urban
Development
• Named first black cabinet member, Robert C. Weaver
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Other laws established the National Endowments for
the Arts and Humanities (lift level of American Cultural
Life)
Big Four
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Aid to Education, Medicare (health care for
elderly), immigration reform, and new voting
rights bill.
 Medicare and Medicaid
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Became a reality in 1965
Created “entitlements” like Social Security
Basically meant it conferred rights to certain
Americans in perpetuity
Part of expanding “rights movement” that was
designed to improve the life of millions of Americans
However, increased the size and deficit of the federal
budget
Big Four
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Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
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Abolished national origins quota of 1921
Doubled the amount of immigrants allowed to enter
annually (290,000)
Set limits on immigrants from the Western
hemisphere (120,000)
Allowed close relatives of U.S. citizens to enter
outside the numerical restrictions (family unification)
Immigration soared as a result
Also, immigrants came more from Latin American and
Asia as opposed to Europe
Big Four
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Conservative Complaints:
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However, positives:
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Conservatives argued that billions of dollars was
simply flushed down the drain as the Democrats
attempted ‘social engineering”
Poverty rate declined in the next decade
Medicare helped reduce poverty amongst seniors
Head Start helped reduce poverty amongst
underprivileged students
Infant mortality rates fell
Of course Johnson was not 100% victorious in
the War on Poverty, but he did win some battles
and made a dent.
Big Four
 Voting
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Rights Act of 1965
Civil Rights Act gave government power to
desegregate schools and curtail racial
discrimination, but pesky problem of voter
rights remained
Mississippi, only 5% of eligible black voters
were registered.
This was similar throughout the South
Ballot Denying Devices:
• Poll tax, literacy tests, violence and intimidation
• Mississippi law made it necessary to publish name
of black voters for two weeks prior to election,
which meant intimidation and economic reprisals.
Black Voting Rights
24th Amendment- banned the poll tqax in federal
elections
 Freedom Summer of 1964
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White and blacks went to Mississippi to register
voters and soothe generations of racial bigotry
One black and two white civil rights workers were
killed in Mississippi. White jury refused to convict the
murderers.
Mississippi Freedom Democratic party was denied
seat at Convention and only a handful of black voters
were registered.
Black Voting Rights
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Further Violence (1965)
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In Selma, King organized a protest and peaceful
demonstration in support of voting rights
In Selma, only 1 percent of blacks were registered to
vote, even though they made up 50% of the
population
IN march to Montgomery, police used tear gas and
whips to assault King and the protestors.
A preacher also killed and a Detroit woman was shot
and killed by a Klansmen near Selma
Johnson responds with an important speech to
all Americans stating that what is occurring in
Selma and Mississippi concerns all Americans
 In action, Johnson pushes through Congress the
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Voting Rights Act of 1965
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Outlawed literacy tests and also sent federal
voter registrars into southern states
 King always stated, “Give us the ballot and the
South will never be the same again.”
 King was right, as blacks started to register to
vote without fear of reprisal. Overtime, White
candidates courted the black vote and business
as never before.
 Since Emancipation, there was a reverse
migration back to the South for many blacks.
Change in Civil Rights Movement

After 1965, there was a shift in the Civil Rights
movement from the non-violent and legislative
movement in the South that looked to integrate
blacks into the American life to a more violent
and reactionary movement.
 August 1965, Watts Los Angeles.
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A huge riot occurred in which 31 blacks and 3 whites
died, thousands were injured, and hundreds of
buildings destroyed or burned.
Watts signaled the move to a more violent
movement that was led by militant
spokespersons aiming not at interracial
cooperation, but at black separation.
Black Power
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Malcolm X
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Born Malcolm Little, he later converted to Islam and
became a follower of Elijah Muhammed, leader of the
Nation of Islam
X was chosen to show his lost African identity in
America
A charismatic and inspirational speaker, Malcolm X
spoke in favor of black separatism
Later, Malcolm distanced himself from the Nation of
Islam and became less extreme in his beliefs,
especially after his visit to Mecca on the Hajj.
In 1965, Malcolm X was shot dead by rival Nation of
Islam gunman.
Black Power
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Black Panther Party
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Openly brandished weapons in Oakland
In 1966, Stockely Carmichael taught the idea of Black
Power
“will smash everything Western Civilization has
created.”
2 sides
• One was it was meant as a slogan to enforce civil rights laws
and also speed the integration of blacks into American
society.
• Others stated it was a black nationalist movement (Marcus
garvey) that emphasized African American distinctiveness
and to champion their African identity.
Black Power
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As civil rights legislation passed, the nation was rocked
by other riots:
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Detroit 1967: 43 people died and federal troops were called in to
restore order
Newark 1967: 25 lives lost
Many whites in the North were confounded by the riots
that occurred. Many believed that racial issues were a
southern problem.
Black Power movement was less about civil rights and
more about economic opportunity
Black unemployment was double white unemployment
and nearly half of the black population lived in the North.
As economic opportunity remained elusive for many
blacks, it was unlikely that the problem would be solved
peacefully.
Assassination of MLK
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April 4, 1968
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A sniper’s bullet silenced the charismatic and
peaceful leadership of MKL in memphis, Tennessee
The death of King robbed America of a voice of
reason and leadership when it was needed most.
Triumphs of King:
• His legacy endures and in the short run, in late 1960’s
several blacks elected to public office and two black mayors
were elected in Cleveland and Gary
• By 1972, half of the South’s children sat in integrated
classrooms
• 1/3 of black families were part of the middle class