Kennedy and the New Frontier

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Name______Class______Date______An Era of Social Change Lesson 1 Kennedy and the New Frontier

Key Terms and People John F. Kennedy 35th president of the United States New Frontier The name given to Kennedy’s domestic program mandate An overwhelming show of support by voters Peace Corps A program that enlisted volunteers to help in poor countries Alliance for Progress A program that supplied aid to Latin America Warren Commission The body that investigated the assassination of President Kennedy

Before You Read In the last lesson you read about Americans who were not part of the American mainstream. In this lesson you will read about John F. Kennedy’s election, domestic agenda, and assassination.

As You Read Complete a chart about Kennedy’s New Frontier programs.

THE ELECTION OF 1960; THE response to the arrest of Dr. Martin CAMELOT YEARS Luther King Jr. in October 1960. How did Kennedy win the election? Kennedy called King’s wife to express In 1960 President Eisenhower’s sympathy, and Robert Kennedy second term ended. By then, many persuaded the judge to release King Americans were worried about the from jail. These actions won him the future. The economy was in a recession, support of African Americans. and the Soviet Union was gaining President Kennedy and his wife strength. Some people worried that the Jacqueline fascinated many Americans. United States was losing the Cold War. The Kennedy Administration reminded John F. Kennedy and Richard M. some of a modern-day Camelot, the Nixon faced off in the 1960 presidential mythical court of King Arthur. election. Kennedy was a Democratic Kennedy surrounded himself with senator from Massachusetts. Nixon was advisers that one journalist called “the Eisenhower’s vice-president. Kennedy best and brightest.” won the election by a slim margin. Two 1. What two factors helped Kennedy main factors led him to victory. win the 1960 presidential election? During a televised debate, Kennedy impressed viewers. He looked and spoke better than Nixon. The second factor was Kennedy’s

THE PROMISE OF PROGRESS abroad, President Kennedy began to What were Kennedy’s domestic focus on this and other issues at home. plans? In 1963 he asked for a “national assault President Kennedy called his domestic on poverty.” He also wanted to deal with program the New Frontier. However, he discrimination, so he told the Justice had a difficult time getting Congress to Department to look into racial injustices support it. Conservative Republicans in the South. He also sent a civil rights and southern Democrats blocked many bill and a tax cut proposal to Congress. bills, including bills to provide medical 2. Name two successful programs of care for the aged, to rebuild cities, and the Kennedy administration. to aid education. One reason for Kennedy’s difficulties was that he was elected by a small margin. As a result, he lacked a popular mandate, or a clear indication that the voters approved of his plans. So TRAGEDY IN DALLAS Kennedy rarely pushed hard for his bills. Who killed President Kennedy? Kennedy did succeed with some plans. On November 22, 1963, President and To help the economy grow, his advisers Mrs. Kennedy arrived in Dallas, Texas. pushed for the use of deficit spending, Kennedy had come there to improve which occurs when the government relations with the state’s Democratic spends more money than it receives in Party. Large crowds greeted the taxes. Kennedy hoped that increased Kennedys as they rode along the streets spending and lower taxes would boost of downtown Dallas. Then, rifle shots the economy. Congress increased rang out. Kennedy had been shot. He defense spending and the minimum died about an hour later at a nearby wage. It extended unemployment hospital. insurance and provided help to cities The tragic news spread across the with high unemployment. nation and the world. Americans Kennedy introduced the Peace Corps, watched on live television as Dallas a program of volunteers working in police charged Lee Harvey Oswald with poor nations around the world. Its Kennedy’s murder. On November 24, purpose was to decrease poverty abroad. Americans watched him being It was also meant to increase goodwill transferred in jail as a gunman shot and toward the United States. The Peace killed Oswald. Then on the next day, Corps was a huge success. People of all Kennedy’s funeral was held and the ages and backgrounds volunteered. By nation mourned. 1968 more than 35,000 volunteers had The events seemed too strange to served in 60 nations around the world. believe. Many people wondered if The program continues today with Oswald had acted alone, or with others. volunteers using technology in their Chief Justice Earl Warren headed a work in the world’s countries. A second commission to investigate the program was the Alliance for Progress, assassination. The Warren Commission which gave economic and technical aid determined that Oswald acted alone. In to Latin American countries. 1979 another investigation said he was In addition to addressing poverty part of a conspiracy. Other theories

exist, but none have ever been proven. 3. What did the Warren Commission The assassination taught Americans determine? that their system of government could survive an upset. Lyndon Johnson took office after Kennedy’s death and

promised to carry on his programs.

As you read this section, take notes to answer questions about President Kennedy’s attempts to solve domestic and international problems.

The New Frontier: Fulfilled Promises Problems What did Kennedy believe the What programs, laws, and government could do to solve accomplishments resulted from the problem? Kennedy’s beliefs? 1. Economic recession

2. Poverty abroad

The New Frontier: Unfulfilled Promises Rejected Proposals Later Proposals 3. What reform proposals did Kennedy 4. In 1963, what proposals did make that were rejected by a Kennedy make but never have the conservative Congress? chance to guide through Congress?