The 1960s: Ten Years of Trouble

“I Have A Dream!” These are the heart spoken words of Martin Luther King; these are words that may have defined a generation. The decade of the 60s was confined to many troubles and problems while many sought to overcome the oppression of the modern world. Men like Martin helped to bring the country together. But it isn’t the people that defined the twentieth century. It was the age of great politicians, a boom of technology, and an explosion of culture.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He was the 35th president of the United States of America. His short term lasted two years from 1961 to 1963. But what that man accomplished is simply incredible. Kennedy went to create the Peace Corps, an association in which volunteers came to educate Americans about the ways of life of other nations. Kennedy also stated that he would bring an end to racial discrimination which led to the civil rights movement. Kennedy in two short years changed America forever. Kennedy declared that we would have a man on the moon, and in his own words, “And it will be done before the end of this decade.” (Goodwin and Bradley) And so it was. But his presidency was unfortunately cut short on November 22, 1963 when he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. He was assassinated while campaigning in Dallas, Texas for a second term (Goodwin and Bradley). Five days after his assassination the Launch Operations Center in charge of the Apollo missions changed their name to the John F. Kennedy Space Center in his honor. (Dunbar) John F. Kennedy was the spark that lit the Civil Rights Movement which may have been one of his greatest achievements in his time. Civil Rights became the biggest movement of the sixties.
Civil Rights came to be the forefront of the country’s trouble. S...

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...ames for rioting and brought together a country to fight against its own people. Riots complaining of the military draft were everywhere and anyone could be found that didn’t support the way the U.S. was. Hippies were introduced into this new world order as a type of new lifestyle. The sixties changed the United States for ever. (Goodwin and Bradley)
The twentieth century was truly one to be documented in the history books of the world with all of its works and wonders in politics, technology, and culture. It brought many world leaders to their thrones and it brought them to their knees. It invented a spectacle of miracles in the scientific universe and introduced us to the final frontier. It showed them that music should be a huge part of their lives and culture. And it showed everyone that they will be remembered. For in these years of hope their dreams come true.