Politics
Who became president after the 1960 election and who was his opponent?
John F. Kennedy became the 35th U.S. president after defeating Richard Nixon
Who gave the famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 and where did this person perform the speech?
In 1963, Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. gave this speech at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC.
What health care programs were started for seniors and the poor in the 1960s and who passed the law to establish them?
Lyndon B. Johnson through his 1965 Social Security Act established Medicaid and Medicare
What program sent young Americans to help poor countries?
The Peace Corps
What law ended segregation in public places in 1964?
Passed by Lyndon B. Johnson, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 officially ended segregation in public places.
What group of people did Cesar Chavez fight for?
Farm workers, especially Latino workers
What was LBJ’s goal with the “War on Poverty”?
To help poor Americans with programs like education and job training.
What 1962 crisis almost caused a nuclear war?
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Name Lyndon B. Johnson’s plan called to improve life in America and provide two details about the goal of this plan.
LBJ's plan known as The Great Society aimed to eliminate poverty, reduce racial justice, expand social welfare, and initiate economic reforms.
Name the word that describes the youth movement that rejected traditional values in the 1960s and name two of their ideals.
Known as the Counterculture movement, the youth normalized drug use, rock music, and self-indulgence
What government program gave food help to low-income people?
Food stamps
What were the reasons for which Anti War Movements grew?
Americans argued that the Vietnam War was an unjust act of violence and that resources should be focused at home.
Why was the 1960 election important in terms of television?
It was the first televised debate; Kennedy’s appearance and confidence helped him win support.
How were Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X different in their methods?
MLK believed in peaceful protest, while Malcolm X supported more direct action and self-defense.
Name 3 ways the Great Society helped Americans.
free school lunches, better housing, healthcare, reduced poverty rate, diminished racial segregation, civil rights
What did the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allow the president to do?
Send more troops to Vietnam without declaring war.
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do, and why was it important?
It protected African Americans’ right to vote by banning literacy tests. It helped end discrimination in voting.
Name two youth activist groups that emerged in the 1960s and briefly describe their purpose
1. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS): aimed to create a more democratic and just society through participatory democracy, social activism, and direct action, particularly against the Vietnam war and for Civil Rights
2. New left: Criticism of the Cold war, campaign for issues such as feminism, drug policy reforms, and gender relations
3. Young Americans for Freedom: Advocated for limited government interference in social welfare, anti-war and support for ending racial injustices.
How did the Vietnam War affect the economy in the late 1960s?
It cost a lot of money, which led to higher prices (inflation) and less money for programs at home.
What was the Tet Offensive, and why did it shock Americans?
A big attack by North Vietnam during a holiday. Many Americans saw it on TV and started doubting the war was going well. The event made it clear that a U.S. victory in Vietnam was not imminent, and the American public's support began to wane