The New Frontier

1402 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The 1960's in america essay

Throughout U. S. history one of the most highly important decades known as the decade of change was the 1960s.During the dawn of this decade John F. Kennedy became President, the cold war continued, and the struggle for civil rights were one of the many events that defined the ‘60s. This decade was also a decade of unfortunate losses with the loss of several prominent public figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X who were targets for assassination. With many important events that occurred this is why the 1960s was unquestionably one of the important decades in American history and in the progress of our nation. John F. Kennedy newly elected president became the youngest man to be president of the United States. He was an …show more content…

Kennedy coined the term of his new initiative “The New Frontier”. In his speech he also laid out where he wanted to get the country moving to. Kennedy states that” We stand today on the edge of a new frontier of the 1960 a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils, a frontier of unfulfilled hopes and threats”. The New Frontier provided a chance for renewal and revolution, this is what ultimately led to many of the greatest developments which helped shape America today. The promising goals of the New Frontier were to deliver funding for education, end the recession, and put an end to civil rights issues. Since his programs received little support by Congress many of his acts and bills to create change seemed to be impossible. In Kennedy’s inaugural address he recognized several public values that were critical to the United States that I will further discuss in this paper. Understanding the challenges Kennedy faced to achieve his vison of the New Frontier ties into the aspect of social equity and lastly, the ethical standing point and role …show more content…

During the early 1960s, African Americans faced discrimination in education, employment, and many other areas. This is by far not one of Kennedy’s values that he went by. Kennedy was cautious to push the agenda of the civil rights legislation at first but eventually the administration had to act on it. Herbert Parmet argues that the civil rights movement “overwhelmed” a President who was caught up in a revolution.” (Stern, 1989) This piece always ties into the famous quote of Kennedy’s on what can you do for your country, as a nation you can focus on making the country better by doing your part in support of your country and working together. Doing something is better than just doing nothing at all. It is then once you have made things right for the nation as a whole, the nation is able to regain itself and be solid in being able to take care of those who need help. Social equity is envisioned as the third pillar of public administration, and it encompasses notions such as equality in governmental services, responsiveness to the needs of the citizenry, and an approach to public administration that has practical applications, is problem oriented, and theoretically sound. (Holzer). Kennedy truly embodied the movement of equality in ways as such that he saw fit that every American should have the honor and access to enjoy all opportunities given to the next

Show More
Related

  • Strike at San Fransisco State College

    668 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1960s were turbulent years. The United States was unpopularly involved in the war in Vietnam, and political unrest ran high at colleges and universities across the country.

    Read More

  • How Did Jfk Assassination Affect Society

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    When president Kennedy became president in 1961, an abundance of African Americans in the South were denied the right to vote, and could not expect justice from the courts. In 1960 the presidential campaign, civil rights had come out as a critical issue. A few weeks later, Martin Luther King Jr was arrested for leading a group of people through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia.

    Read More

  • The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...War and the Civil Rights Movements in order to illustrate how the 1960s was a time of “tumult and change.” To Anderson, it is these events, which sparked the demand for recognition of social and economic fairness. He makes prominent the idea that the 1960s served as the origin of activism and the birth of the civil rights movement, forever changing ideals that embody America. The book overall is comprehensive and a definite attention grabber. It shows how the decade had the effect of drastically transforming life in America and challenging the unequal status quo that has characterized most of the nation's history. Despite the violence and conflict that was provoked by these changes, the activism and the liberation movements that took place have left a permanent imprint upon the country.

    Read More

  • The Life Of Robert Mammini

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    The sixties was a decade filled with major political debates that affected the entire country. By the time the sixties came around we were in the most turbulent part of the Cold War, an era of military and political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. As Dwight Eisenhower brought the fifties to a close it was time for a new president to take hold of the reigns. As the country closed in on one of the closest elections in history it was up to Democratic candidate, John F. Kennedy to compete agains...

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King and the 1962 March on Washington

    2162 Words  | 5 Pages

    Historians offer different perceptions of the significance of Martin Luther King and the 1963 March on Washington. Without examining this event within its historical context the media publicity and iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ speech can easily overshadow progress that was already underway in America. It was insisted by prominent civil rights activist Ella Baker, ‘the movement made Martin rather than Martin making the movement.’ What is important not to overlook is the significant change that took place in the United States during the previous 100 years. Such that, many influential figures in support of racial equality opposed the March. The Civil Rights Act proposed by President Kennedy in 1963 was already in the legislative process. Furthermore the Federal Government was now reasserting power over the entire of the United States by enforcing a policy of desegregation. It is important to note that these changes all took place less than one hundred years after the Thirteenth Amendment in 1965 abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth amendment in 1968 acknowledged the rights of former slaves to be acknowledged as U.S citizens. With this level of progress Kennedy was against the March going ahead due to the argument that it was limited in what it could achieve. Today, King’s 1963 Speech is viewed as one of the most iconic speeches in history. However, was it a key turning point in African Americans achieving racial equality? Federal endorsement would suggest yes after decades of southern states being able to subvert the Federal law designed to break down segregation. This support built upon the corner stones of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments in the nineteenth century. Therefore looking at the national status of black Americans fro...

    Read More

  • The Jingle Campaign Analysis

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    During John F. Kennedy’s political campaign, there were many issues present that the candidate had to address: there was tension due to the communist threat, tension among American citizens due to the Civil Rights movement, and a recent recession that was very sluggish in recovering. Relating to these issues President Kennedy’s slogan was “getting America moving again”; these topics are addressed in a fast and effective manner in his minute-long television ad that was endorsed by the group: Citizens for Kennedy-Johnson. This ad was the best way to reinforce President Kennedy’s stance on the emergence of a new frontier. He was able to depict himself as a man of change and new beginnings due to his fresh perspective and young age which was a

    Read More

  • Analysis of Slaughterhouse-Five Antiwar Sentiments

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most significant societal movements during the 1960s was the Civil Rights movement, a coalition lead by many that voiced strong opposition to the war in Vietnam. Martin Luther King Jr was a huge voice for civil liberties, and according critic Mark Barringer, “Martin Luther King Jr openly expressed support for the antiwar movement on moral grounds…asserting that the war was draining much-needed resources from domestic programs”(Barringer 3). Martin Luther King Jr had a profound effect on the 1960s civil rights movement. He was eventually assassinated for his invo...

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King´s Why We Can’t Wait

    882 Words  | 2 Pages

    In hindsight the build-up to 1963 is obvious; the tension had grown rather than diminished since the Emancipation Proclamation as new laws were enacted but slowly carried out or blatantly ignored. The centennial of the Proclamation was approaching, and the lack of follow-through by both Republicans and Democrats, in both the South and the North, brought disappointment, frustration, and anger. President Kennedy promised changes to housing discrimination but did not sign them into law until two years into his term and was not specific enough for it to bring actual change (p. 8). The black population’s faith in the government waned as they saw countries in Africa rebelling after World War II, the nearly nuclear war of the 1950s, and the Great Depression that lingered even longer for them than for the struggling white public. They were witnessing fighting and determination around the world without experiencing any liberty of their own. The struggle was a daily reality for the individual, and that fa...

    Read More

  • Jfk Response To The Civil Rights Movement

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    On June 11, 1963, John F. Kennedy made history when he pleaded for support on live television. While a majority of the American people were shocked by his plea, many Americans saw the broadcast as a spark igniting a change in the way African American’s were treated. That evening, John F. Kennedy asked the American people for their support of his Civil Rights Bill. The bill, one of the examples in which Kennedy responded to the Civil Rights Movement, would bring an end to segregation in public places, among other Jim Crow laws. However, much of his response involved the national outlook on the events that took place in the Civil Rights Movement.

    Read More

  • John F. Kennedy and the Civil Rights Movement

    2936 Words  | 6 Pages

    In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States. During his campaign he had promised to lead the country down the right path with the civil rights movement. This campaign promise had brought hope to many African-Americans throughout the nation. Ever since Lincoln, African-Americans have tended to side with the democrats and this election was no different. The Kennedy administration had noticed that the key to the presidency was partially the civil rights issue. While many citizens were on Kennedy’s side, he had his share of opposition. Malcolm X differed on the view of the President and observed that the civil rights movement wasn’t happening at the speed Kennedy had pledged. Malcolm X possessed other reasons for his dislike of John F. Kennedy and his brothers, especially Robert. The Kennedy government stood for racial liberalism and Malcolm X argued their true intentions for the civil rights movement weren’t in the best interest of the black population. This tension streamed both ways. John Kennedy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation felt that Malcolm X had become a threat to national security. James Baldwin has written essays that have included the repeated attacks on the white liberal and supports Malcolm in many of his theories and actions.

    Read More

  • John F Kennedy New Frontier Essay

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kennedy had designed an ambitious legislative agenda for the preceding years of his term. Tragically, John F. Kennedy, himself did not live to see the majority of his New Frontier enacted. However, with the enactment in 1964-1966, of Kennedy’s agenda during his final year, he acquired the respect, as a liberal force for change, following his death (U.S. Department of

    Read More

  • Students and the Civil Rights Movement During the 1960's

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1960's was a decade of tremendous social and political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Drugs In The 1960s

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the 1960s dawned on America, the bald eagle faced unprecedented threats from afar while facing a new internal struggle. As America continued their battle with the Soviet Union, it also saw a clash amongst its people. Terror was brought to the hearts of many as America was on the brink of a Nuclear Holocaust. The 60s conveyed an exploration of the universe beyond earth. A race between Superpowers America and the Soviet Union, led to the first man to ever walk the moon. Not all was bad in the 60s, people would rejoice in many new dance styles that were on the rise. With technology becoming more advance, many TV shows that portrayed American life were being aired. Life in America seemed great as it was disciplined by a great leader, John F. Kennedy. Sadly, with the loss of a great leader Americans became distraught. During the 1960s in cultural and political movements and musical movements, Americans were rebellious, enterprising, and impulsive.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Address by John F. Kennedy

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his speech Kennedy uses the approach of Logos to strengthen the idea the African Americans and Caucasian men have not been given equal right and opportunities. The way logos was used in his speech greatly assured the public that action needed to be taken immediately. He provided both reasoning and logic to better forward his point that a change needed to be made. One area specifically he states, “The Negro baby born in America today, regardless of the section of the state in which he is born, has about one-half as much chance of completing a high school”. The statistics that John F Kennedy provides seriously strengthen his argument, with logic and statistics to back up his argument it creates a stronger pull. John F Kennedy also makes the statement “…about one-seventh as much chance of earning $10,000 a year,” showing the difference in wag...

    Read More

  • The 1960’s: A Decade of Change

    2148 Words  | 5 Pages

    The first reason why the 1960’s is the decade of change is because of the political history. Some major political events included in the 60's, the decade of change is the civil rights movement, space race, and the Bay of Pigs. In the 1900's there was allot of bad stuff happening between blacks and whites. When the civil rights movement was passed it made major changes in the 1960's. The civil rights "movement began peacefully, with Martin Luther King and Stokely Carmichael leading sit-ins and peaceful protests, joined by whites, particularly Jews. Malcolm X preached about Black Nationalism. After his assassination, the Black Panthers were formed to continue his mission. In 1965, the Watts riots broke out in Los Angeles. The term "blacks" became socially acceptable, replacing Negroes"(Goodwin 4). MLK or Martin Luther King w...

    Read More

More about The New Frontier

Open Document