Transcript Kennedy, Johnson, and the Cold War US vs. USSR

Kennedy, Johnson, and
the Cold War
US vs. USSR
Never any “hot” military combat
between countries, more of a
political (cold) stand-off.
Kennedy and the Cold War
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JFK wanted to fight:
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the spread of communism with
democracy
poverty in Third World countries of
Africa, Asia and Latin America
Bay of Pigs planned under
Eisenhower Administration
but not executed
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CIA developed a plan to invade
Cuba and overthrow Castro
Kennedy did not want to appear
soft on communism ~
unsuccessfully executed
Cuban Missile Crisis
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closest to nuclear war
Fidel Castro had set up a
communist government
in Cuba
USSR was building
nuclear missile sites in
Cuba
13 days of intense FEAR
Nikita and John F. Kennedy
Kennedy and the Cold War
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set up the Peace
Corps
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send American
volunteers to
developing countries
assist economically,
educationally and
politically
Alliance for Progress
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be good neighbors to
Latin America… not
successful
John F. Kennedy in Office
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Promised Americans a “New Frontier”
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Improve economy, education, healthcare, civil rights and
space exploration (domestic issues)
Poverty …increased minimum wage, extended Social
Security benefits, and improved welfare
Equal Pay Act (equal pay for women) was passed
Space Race: Russia’s Sputnik led to America’s NASA
trying to land on the moon…
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John Glenn was the first to orbit planet Earth
Neil Armstrong successfully landed on the moon in 1969
Lyndon B. Johnson in Office
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Sworn into office after Kennedy was assassinated
Urged for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in
memory of JFK
Then declared War on Poverty in which he would train
the jobless, educate the uneducated, and provide
healthcare to those in need
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Created the Job Corps to train young workers
Set up VISTA to send volunteers into poverty-stricken
neighborhoods to help solve problems
Head Start helped underprivileged children prepare for
elementary school through daycare and play groups
Johnson’s Great Society
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Johnson’s vision for America included an end to poverty
and racial injustices and opportunity for every child
 Set up Medicare to give basic healthcare to the elderly
 Set up Medicaid to give basic healthcare to the poor and
disabled
 National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities
provided assistance to artists and scholars
 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
provided financial help to low-income families and
encouraged construction of low-income housing