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Vietnam War
The Vietnam War lasted through both Kennedy and Johnson's terms and more. Kennedy believed that the United States would lose Vietnam. Johnson was not quick to back down at Vietnam and the domestic opposition he faced became the reason why he did not run for reelection. -
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The Kennedy Administration
"The New Frontier" -
Kennedy-Nixon Debate
The first televised Presidential Debate. -
The Presidential Election of 1960
The Presidential Election of 1960 featured John F. Kennedy as the democratic candidate and Richard Nixon as the republican candidate. In the months preceding, they participated in the first televised presidential debates in which Kennedy won the television audience over Nixon. On November 8th, Kennedy beat Nixon by 0.1% in the popular vote and beat Nixon 303 to 219 Electoral votes, making it one of the closest Presidential elections ever. -
The book "The Other America" is published
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John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
Newly sworn in President John F. Kennedy delivers one of the most famous inaugural addresses. He talks about his plans to further the freedom of humanity worldwide and eliminate fear from the Cold War. He also discusses his ideas about achieving world peace. -
The Peace Corps
The Peace Corps was established by Kennedy to aid struggling countries worldwide to countries that requested the support. Volunteers would be send to struggling countries in which they would help teach children and aid businesses. They also provided much needed supplies to struggling villages. Kennedy raised lots of support for this program, encouraging youth volunteers by telling them that their actions were important and that they together influence the future of the world. This program was -
Alliance for Progress
In March of 1961, Kennedy established the Alliance for Progress as stated in his inaugural address. The purpose of the Alliance for Progress was to provide aid and support for Latin America. It was primarily established to help Latin American countries combat the spread of communism. Of the $2 billion put into the Alliance for Progress, the Alliance only had a 2% effect in Latin American, and was considered to be a failure. -
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Warren Court Rules on Rights of the Accused
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The Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion, planned by the CIA during the Eisenhower administration, was presented to President Kennedy shortly after the start of his administration. The plan was to overthrow the increasingly communist government in Cuba and replace the leader with a CIA installed leader. The plans were not well planned and the US forces were met with lots of resistance from leader Fidel Castro and the US troops were under armed. The invasion was a complete failure. -
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Berlin Crisis
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The Berlin Wall is Constructed
A mass exodus of people from East Berlin were fleeing from the Soviet Union into US controlled West Berlin. The Soviets wanted to stop those people, so the Berlin wall was constructed. The wall was armed by gunman and anyone who approached the wall from the East side was shot and killed. People from the west side however were free to walk up to the wall. Kennedy thought Nikita Khrushchev was preparing for war, and therefore sent more military and called drafts to be sent to Berlin. -
Astronaut John Glenn orbits the Earth
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Baker v. Carr
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Engel v. Vitale
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The Cuban Missile Crisis
A US U-2 spy plane discovered Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba in which every major city in the United States were in range of the nuclear ICBMs. Kennedy called for a blockade of Cuba (formally calling it a "quarantine") in which Soviet ships harboring military equipment would be sent back. The Soviets complied and after much debate, the Soviets agreed to remove the missiles in Cuba in exchange for the United States to promise not to invade Cuba and to remove the Jupiter missiles from Turk -
Equal Pay Act passed
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The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
After the events of the missile crisis, the Soviets and the United States saw the importance of avoiding nuclear war. Together, the Soviet Union and the United States signed the first nuclear weapons treaty. The treaty stated that those countries would no longer preform above-ground nuclear tests. Later, 36 other nations also signed this agreement. -
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy traveled to Dallas, Texas while campaigning for reelection with his wife, Jacqueline. While riding in a roofless motorcade in a parade, he is fatally shot in the head, and declared dead approximately 40 minutes later. Lee Harvey Oswald is the suspected assassin. -
Lyndon B. Johnson becomes President
Two hours after the death of John F. Kennedy, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson was called into Air Force One. The others in government were afraid of a communist coup of the US government, and wanted to make sure there was no break in the continuity of power. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in with Jacqueline Kennedy by his side and taken immediately to Washington. -
Murder of Lee Harvey Oswald
Suspect Lee Harvey Oswald was being transferred from a Dallas holding cell when nightclub owner Jack Ruby came up and shot him in the stomach. Oswald died 2 hours later. Oswald's transfer was being televised, and therefore his shooting was on live television. Oswald was never put on trial for the assassination of President Kennedy. -
Warren Commission is Formed
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Johnson's State of the Union Address
In Johnson's State of the Union Address, Johnson declared his ideas regarding domestic policy. One of which he called the "War on Poverty". This shaped his domestic policy had foreshadowed what kinds of domestic programs Johnson planned to enact. -
The Economic Opportunity Act
Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act to train young people in attaining viable jobs. This purpose was to prepare young people in supporting themselves in the future, so that they can become productive members of society. This also helps people who already were below the poverty line attain jobs so that they can have better futures as well. The Act also introduced VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) which is similar to Kennedy's Peace Corps, except volunteers traveled to poverty str -
The Presidential Election of 1964
President Johnson runs for reelection as the democratic nominee, going up against the republican candidate, Barry Goldwater. Goldwater was an extremist, stating that the federal government was the reason for America's economic problems. Goldwater wanted to scale back the powers of the federal government and return to a "lassiez-faire" style government. Johnson played Goldwater's extremism to his advantage, and won a landslide victory, winning more than 60% of the popular vote. -
Social Security Amendments of 1965
Johnson signs a bill in Independence, Missouri that detailed amendments to the Social Security System, most importantly, it described two publicly funded healthcare provisions. Medical Care for the Aged, or "Medicare" was passed to aid the elderly who were in the Social Security System. Medicaid provides healthcare to those who cannot afford it. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Bill detailed a change in the quota system used by the American government in regards to immigrants. It abolished the old method and replaced it with a system that placed preference to immigrants with relations to US citizens and limited visas to 170, 000 per calendar year. The bill resulted in increased amounts of immigrants coming to America.
