1960s

The years of 1960-1969 are the 7 th decade of 1900s, where people wanted rights and equal treatment of all American citizens. The election of 1960 between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy was a new kind of campaign for the time. After the election Kennedy won and took over in 1961. When Kennedy became president of United States of America on 1961, a conflict between communists and non-communists in South and North Vietnam began. Racial segregation and the feminist movement were issues during this decade as well.

The 1960 election was shown through broadcasts, televisions, and radio spots. Not all the citizens of America were happy with this type of campaign because they think that they treat each candidate as products. Kennedy would ultimately win the election. He was inaugurated in January 20, 1961, but prior to that he promised that racial segregation will stop. At the age of 43 he is the youngest president that was ever elected. World War II began when John F. Kennedy wanted to invade Cuba. Kennedy had ideas for the country; he struggled with the congress for hiding domestic programs, but he wasn't able to convince them. In the end, the congress was overpowered by Kennedy's proposals: health insurance, Department of Urban Affairs, and federal aid for education. This was his agenda, called "The New Frontier". He was able to improve the nation's economy and had also helped women make strides during 1960s. In 1963, he signed the act called Equal Pay Act for the women. A tragic event happened on November 22, 1963; President Kennedy was with his wife traveling to Texas. They had a motorcade, when citizens suddenly heard a gun shot. They later saw that the president shot in his throat and head. The whole country was horrified at what had happened to the president. They rushed him to a hospital, but they were too late. He was pronounced dead.

Before the horrible event happened to President Kennedy, the Vietnam War started on 1959 and ended by the year of 1975. This war was between the communist in North Vietnam, with communist allies, and non-communist South Vietnam, United States of America, and members of an organization called Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). When this war started another war was already occurring. This war was called the Cold War. It was between the Soviet Union and the United States of America. This had a big effect with the country for it had caused big damage; a lot of soldiers lost their lives and civilians lost their homes.   After President Kennedy was assassinated and then President Johnson Nixon took over. By 1975, President Nixon decides to end the war with the North Vietnam.

An issue that happened during this decade is racial segregation. One person who changed our country and had removed racial segregation is Martin Luther King, Jr. He stood up and fought for what he believed in. He protested the Civil Rights Movement, so that all colored people should be treated equally. He organized non-violent marches to protest segregation. Martin Luther King, Jr. was also a part of a conference called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference where he encourages African Americans to vote. In spring 1961, a group of people with different colors set out to change the south. During this year, one of the Core leaders named James Farmer organized a group where both whites and African Americans will travel in a same bus. They were called Freedom Riders. May 14, 1961, when the bus was traveling, outside of Alabama, there were angry town's people who set the bus on fire. Some of the riders including whites were beaten to death. By 1964, Civil Right Bill was passed as a law and it was illegal to segregate people by race during travels. But the federal government had never enforced this law in the south; black and whites were still kept apart especially in interstate buses.   Martin Luther King made a speech called "I have A Dream", and this speech built a strong foundation and was able to support the Civil Rights Bill.

            The 1960-1969 decade was all about equality where in people fought for their rights and for them to be treated equally. This shows when Marin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy fought for what they believed. King and Kennedy both fought for equal rights and for Kennedy, he was also able to fight for women's rights. This Decade shows how a person can make a big difference by believing in yourself and fighting for what is right.

Bibliography

Appleby, Joyce. The American Vision . The McGraw Hill Companies.Inc. 2006

Callan, Jim. American in 1960's. New York: Facts on File, 2006.

Feinstein, Stephen.   The 1960's: from the Vietnam War to Flower Power. Berkley Heights: Enslow Publisher. Inc. 2000

The Groovy 1960's . http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1960.htm

Vietnam War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/vietnam_war