Unit 9... The Sixties and Beyond
History by Nicole Gallo
The world was on a path of radical change throughout the 1960's. Kennedy's plan to defeat poverty and racism in America was called the New Frontier, but unfortunately his domestic policy goals would be cut short because of his devastating assassination. However, Kennedy left a strong legacy behind him. He began plans for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a piece of legislation that wouldn't be enacted until Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency. Johnson would continue to promote Kennedy's ideas through his own domestic agenda, the Great Society. This extension was exemplified with the Voting Rights Act. Johnson placed pressure on the southern states that still denied black Americans the right to vote.
There were many other influential people who took different approaches in trying to gain rights for black citizens in America. Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized methods of non-violence, similar to those used by Gandhi. King led boycotts, marches, and sit-ins. Malcolm X and the Black Panthers utilized more violent methods.
The injustice against black Americans wasn't the only issue Americans were protesting in the sixties. They were also protesting the war in Vietnam. While the government believed the war was winnable, many thousands of Americans disagreed. Colleges all over the nation were holding rallies and protests against the war. Some of these mass protests culminated in a counterculture movement. The hippies, as they came to be known, were against conformist ideals. They grew their hair long, listened to rock n' roll music, wore flamboyant clothing, and did a lot of drugs.
As if Americans faith in government hadn't been diverted enough because of their discontent with the Vietnam War and the struggle for Civil Rights, Richard Nixon only further tainted Americas view of politics and politicians. Nixon's administration became entangled in Watergate and for the first time in American History, the President was forced to resign.
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