Transcript 1960s

1960s
Chapter 38
“I Can” Statement
• I can consider the views of reformers and
traditionalists from the 1960s.
• I can infer the intent of government officials in
their response to the civil rights movement,
the Cold War, and poverty.
New Frontier
• John Kennedy became the youngest president
ever elected (42, TR was 41).
• Named his program the “New Frontier”
• Appointed bright people to cabinet (Robert
Kennedy Attorney General, Robert McNamara
Sec. of Defense)
• Created Peace Corps: young volunteers go to 3rd
world nations to bring medical, agricultural, and
educational advice.
– Dual purpose: 1. Aid those in need 2. Containment of
communism.
President Kennedy Timeline
• 1961- Peace Corps
–
–
–
–
Berlin Wall built
Alliance for Progress
Bay of Pigs
Freedom Rides
• 1962- Cuban Missile
Crisis
– Meredith enters “Ole
Miss”
• 1963- March on
Washington
– Birmingham campaign
– Assassination
New Frontier
• Southern Democrats
begin to break ranks
and join Republicans in
opposition of Kennedy’s
stance on Civil Rights
and federal spending.
• Very few of Kennedy’s
initiatives, including
health care and
education reform
passed Congress.
• Stimulated the
economy by cutting
taxes.
• Began the Apollo
program in NASA to
send humans to the
moon.
Cold War
• The Marshall Plan lead to
a flourishing economy in
Western Europe.
• East Germans, caught
under the wrath of
communism, often
escaped by moving to
West Berlin.
• The population decrease
was a poor advertisement
for communism.
• In 1961, Soviet premier
Nikita Khrushchev
ordered the construction
of the Berlin War around
West Berlin.
• The barrier stood as a
physical symbol of the
Iron Curtain that divided
the world.
Flexible Response
• Kennedy feared increased
“Brushfire Wars” in small
nations battling
communism.
• Laos’ civil war nearly saw
American forces aiding
the pro-democracy
Laotians.
• Flexible Response
became a multi-option
plan for fighting the Cold
War.
• Nuclear missiles would be
stationed on the ground,
in submarines, and on
planes scattered around
the globe.
• Also, Kennedy created the
Special Forces (Army
Green Berets, Navy
SEALS).
• These specially trained
“super soldiers” could be
inserted into situations
instead of mounting an all
out invasion.
Vietnam
• What Eisenhower
• In 1961 Kennedy
began, Kennedy
increased to number of
increased.
US soldiers in Vietnam
to 15,000.
• The Ngo Diem regime in
South Vietnam was
• Their mission was to
brutal, especially
train the South
toward practicing
Vietnamese soldiers to
Buddhists.
fight their own civil war,
but Americans quickly
• Diem was disliked by
became involved in
most Vietnamese, even
combat.
in the South.
Vietnam
• Diem became less like a
present, and more like a
dictator.
• By 1963 Kennedy
authorized a coup by
the South Vietnamese
Army that would
assassinate Diem.
• Weeks later, Kennedy
died from an assassins
bullet.
• The US was becoming
more heavily involved in
Vietnam, and there
didn’t appear to be a
way out.
Latin America
• Kennedy created the
Alliance for Progress, an
aid program to Latin
America.
• Never enough funding,
did little to build goodwill with our southern
neighbors.
• Kennedy also had to deal
with Fidel Castro and a
communist Cuba 90 miles
away.
• In 1961 Kennedy agreed
to aid pro-democracy
Cuban exiles in an
attempt to overthrow
Castro. (Bay of Pigs)
• At the last minute
Kennedy backed out,
stranding the exiles who
were massacred by
Castro.
• The attempted invasion
drove Castro closer to the
USSR.
Cuban Missile Crisis
• 1962: USSR begins placing
nukes in Cuba.
• Kennedy had the 1. leave
nukes 2. Military
operations 3. blockade
• 1. would put US in
constant close-range
danger
• 2. would mean WWIII
with USSR
• He chose the blockade,
and a tense standoff
developed between USSR
and US: Would the USSR
run the blockade.
• After a week of USSR
ships approaching the
blockade, whey turned
and headed home.
• US agrees to remove
nukes from our ally
Turkey, USSR removes
nukes from Cuba.
Civil Rights
• Kennedy needed the
support of southern
Democrats in order to
push through civil rights
legislation, they refused.
• Freedom Riders: protest
interstate bus segregation
by riding through south
(whites and blacks)
• Mobs beat and bombed
Freedom Riders until
Kennedy sent marshals to
escort them.
• Kennedy and Martin King
were tight, but FBI tapped
King’s phones (believed
commie connection)
• SNCC: Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee
(young people push for
reform)
Civil Rights
• College integration begins
violently in south
– James Meredith is
protected by US Army at
Ole Miss, still shot!
• Birmingham Campaign
– King uses TV to show
brutality of segregation.
– Children and others
practice peaceful
demonstrations, attacked
by dogs and cops
• Kennedy calls for a new
civil rights law, but
without southern
Democrats it dies.
• 1963: King gives “I have a
dream” speech on Lincoln
Memorial – violence
continues
• Medgar Evers (AA civil
rights worker in MS) shot
in front of children
• Bomb at Birmingham
Church kills 4 AA girls
Kennedy Assassination
• Nov. 22, 1963
• Kennedy, wife, and VP
Johnson visit Dallas, TX
• While riding in a
convertible (Remember
Archduke Ferdinand!)
Kennedy was shot by
Lee Harvey Oswald
• Entire nation sees
Kennedy die on TV, the
nation grieves.
• Oswald was murdered
while being escorted
from jail by Jack Ruby
(TV)
• Many think conspiracy,
little evidence turned
up.
• Lyndon Johnson sworn
in as 36th president
President Johnson Timeline
• 1963- Kennedy assassinated
• 1964- 24th Amendment
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
Freedom Summer
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
Johnson reelected
Civil Rights Act
1965- Voting Rights Act
1966
1967- 6 Days War
1968- Tet Offensive
– King Assassinated
– Robert Kennedy assasinated
– Nixon elected
• 1969
From JFK to LBJ
• Kennedy had high hopes
and ideas, but Congress
didn’t cooperate
• With Kennedy dead, the
nation grieved, great time
for Johnson to make
Kennedy’s ideas come to
life
• Johnson urged Congress
to pass the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 to honor
Kennedy’s memory
• Law banned
discrimination and
segregation in public
(libraries, hospitals,
restaurants, etc.)
• Also created the Equal
Opportunities
Commission for fairness
in hiring
Gulf of Tonkin
• 1964: US ships off coast
of North Vietnam claim
they are attacked under
stormy condition.
• Johnson needed to look
tough on communism
(election year!) went to
Congress to ask for
increase in military in
Vietnam
• Congress signs the Gulf
of Tonkin Resolution.
• Resolution not a
declaration of war, but
gives the pres. Full
authority to use any
force necessary in
Vietnam.
• Congress foolishly
expands executive
authority.
Great Society
• Johnson envisioned a
“New Deal” like plan to
end poverty in the US.
• His Great Society
attempted to increase
education, decrease
disease, and bring
everyone up to the
middle class.
• Programs
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Job Corps
VISTA
Medicare
Medicaid
HUD
Head Start
Civil Rights legislation
Voting Rights
• Kennedy’s legacy help
usher in the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (ended de
jure segregation in public
accommodations,
employment).
• The 24th Amendment
banned poll taxes, but
many southern AA were
still denied suffrage
(literacy tests,
intimidation).
• 1964: Freedom Summer
– Hundreds of AA and white
northerners descend upon
Mississippi to register AA
voters.
– 2 white and 1 AA
volunteers disappear, and
are later found murdered
(along with 8 other AA
men)
– FBI sends 150 agents to
investigate.
– 21 arrested, including
sheriff; little jail time
served
Freedom Summer
Voting Rights
• 1965: Selma Campaign
– Dr. King marches
peacefully to draw
attention to suffrage in
Alabama.
– AL state troopers and
Klansmen attack and
protesters, killing 2 (both
white)
• Due to the civil
disobedience, violent
response, and television
coverage of Selma and
Freedom Summer
Congress finally acts.
• The Voting Rights Act
of 1965 finally enforced
the 15th Amendment.
AA could now vote in
the South.
Selma Campaign
Black Power
• King’s nonviolence
seemed too slow for
Baby Boomer AA.
• Some AA began to
promote "Black Power”,
a philosophy that
advocated violence and
black separatism.
• Malcolm X
– Follower of the Nation of
Islam (Not mainstream
Islam)
– Called whites “devils”,
denounced King’s
tactics.
– Later converted to Islam
and promoted peace.
– Killed by fellow Nation of
Islam follower.
Black Power
Malcolm X
Stokely Carmichael
Black Power
• Black Panther Party
– Armed militants in
California
– Openly clashed and
attacked police
• Stokely Carmichael
– Leader of SNCC
– took group into a violent
direction
• Black Power launched a
wave of riots in AA
neighborhoods in the
north and west.
– Los Angles
– Detroit
– Newark
• Hundreds killed (AA and
white), AA
neighborhoods and
businesses destroyed
Watts 1965
Reaction to Black Power
• Moderate whites
recoiled at the violence
associated with Black
Power.
• Further potential
progress was slowed as
nation moved focus
from Civil Rights to
Vietnam.
• Accomplishments of
Civil Rights
– Ended de jure
segregation
– AA suffrage not
prohibited
– Increased educational
opportunities
– Less AA in poverty
– Many AAs in
government
Dr. King Assassination
• King still held onto his
nonviolent tactics,
opposed Black Power.
• 1968 he turned toward
helping those in
poverty.
• Planned a march in
Memphis to promote
unionization
• Shot and killed by
James Ray.
• His death lead to more
violent riots.
• Became a martyr for
the cause of Civil Rights.
• Did his dream become a
reality???????
Fighting Communism
• Dominican Republic
– 1965
– Threat of “Cuba-like”
revolution in DR
– Johnson orders Army to
invade island
– End of “Good Neighbor
Policy”, return to
Roosevelt Corollary
(Gunboat Diplomacy)
• Six Days War
– 1967
– Egypt , backed by USSR
invaded Israel (US
support)
– Israel wins, takes land
from Egypt
– 1 million Arabs under
Jewish control
– Middle East becomes
Powder Keg waiting to
explode
Vietnam
• Terms
– Viet Cong: South
Vietnamese that supported
North Vietnam
– Operation Rolling Thunder:
1965 aerial bombing
campaign of North
Vietnam
– Escalation: gradual
increase of troop numbers
– 1968: 500,000 troops
• Napalm: Sticky,
flammable jelly used for
bombs, created
widespread destruction
• Agent Orange:
Deforestation chemical
used to destroy jungles
that provide cover for the
enemy, also causes
cancer, birth defects.
Agent Orange
Antiwar Protests
• As escalation increased,
so did dove activism
• Drafted men usually
served proudly.
• Others fled to Canada
or burned draft cards
• Muhammad Ali went to
prison
• Baby Boomers lead
demonstrations
• Defense Sec. McNamara
opposes increased
involvement, resigns.
• LBJ repeatedly tries to
convince public of good
intent. In fact the
majority of Americans
support the efforts.
• FBI and CIA spy on
antiwar movement.
Johnson Breaks
• Vietnam personally
affected LBJ
• He open wept over the
American losses
(58,000)
• 1968: Tet Offensive
– Viet Cong attack 27 US
military bases in SV.
– Catches US off guard, US
wins battle.
• Communists win a
political battle.
• TV reports demonstrate
that the communists
won’t back down in the
face of US military
superiority.
Johnson Breaks
• 1968 an election year
• Doves like Senator
Eugene McCarthy and AG
Robert Kennedy enter
race; campaign to end
war.
• LBJ shocks nation when
he refuses to run for
reelection.
• Begins to negotiate for
peace.
1968 Election
• VP Hubert Humphrey
– Dem; Hawk
• Sen Eugene McCarthy
– Dem; Dove
• Sen Robert Kennedy
– Dem; Dove
– Brother of JFK, former
Attorney General
– Front runner, until his
assassination
1968 Democratic Convention
• Chicago
• Thousands of antiwar
protesters gathered in
streets
• Protesters became
violent, attacked police
• Police fight back, caught
on tv; public believes
too brutal.
• Humphrey selected as
Dem candidate
• Humphrey campaigns
on his pro-war agenda
• To most of the nation,
and world Democrats
look disorganized,
fighting amongst
theirselves.
1968 Democratic Convention
3rd Party
• Alabama Governor
George Wallace
• Pro segregation
– “Segregation now!
Segregation tomorrow!
Segregation forever!”
• Hawk: “bomb them
back into the stone age”
Who did we leave out?
• The Republicans
• Low key campaign in
1968
• Nominate VP Richard
Nixon
• Nixon:
– Hawk, but willing to
negotiate
– Anticrime, appealed to
masses upset with
hippies, black power
1968 Election
LBJ Reflection
• Toward his last days he
tried to negotiate a
peace with North
Vietnam, failed
• LBJ wanted to be
remembered for civil
rights, war on poverty
• His Great Society is
largely forgotten today,
funds were diverted for
military
• Was LBJ a great
president?
• Should he have
escalated Vietnam?
• What about Tonkin? Did
it really happen?
• Died 4 years later.
Counterculture
• 1960s: Birth of
Conservative v. Liberal
views
• Gap widens between
older generation and
Baby Boomers
• Church attendance drops.
• Evangelical Christians
grow, become quite
defensive of ways.
• Trust in authority
vanished (government,
church, parents, schools)
• Gap between rich and
poor widened despite
War on Poverty
From Beatnik to Hippies
• Leather clad outsiders of
50s morphed into long
haired followers of 60s
• Youth active in Civil
Rights, Anti Vietnam,
Feminism, and gay rights
movements
• Many “dropped out and
turned on” to drugs
• Haight-Ashbury district of
San Francisco
Sexual Revolution
• 1960: birth control pill
approved
• Women had more
control over their lives
• “Feminine Mystique”
written by Betty Friedan
influences women to
remain single, push for
equal rights.
Gay Rights
• Homosexuals became
more open about their
lifestyle
• 1969: Cops and gays
clash in the Stonewall
Riots in NY
Organizations
• SDS: Students for
Democratic Society
• Lead many protest
including 1968
Democratic Convention
• Often resulted to
violence, terrorism
• Many members became
heavily affected by drugs
• AIM: American Indian
Movement
• Youth influenced by Civil
Rights, fought to get
recognition of treaties
• Captured Alcatraz for
months, largely ignored
• Wounded Knee 2Hostage and militant
stand off on Wounded
Knee Reservation
Counterculture Reflections
• Counterculture had an
impact- Civil Rights
achievements,
government corruption
exposed.
• Awakened the Silent
Majority of America that
wanted values and
conservative agendas
• Lead directly to
conservative revolution of
1980s----------