END OF THE 1960’S

JOURNAL LIBERALISM believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems. CONSERVATISM believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

ASSASSINATION OF JFK Nov 22 nd Pres. Kennedy is shot in a motorcade. Lee Harvey Oswald, a communist sympathizer, is arrested for killing the president Oswald is shot before his trial The nation mourns for its young beloved president

LYNDON JOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETY Lyndon Johnson is sworn into office Finalizing the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act that JFK had begun. Began his Great Society Largest domestic legislative program since the New Deal Designed to end poverty and injustice Created Economic Opportunity Act

LYNDON JOHNSON’S GREAT SOCIETY War on Poverty: forty programs intended to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions and enabling people to end the cycle of poverty. Education: sixty separate bills that provided for new and better-equipped classrooms, minority scholarships, and low-interest student loans. Medicare: guaranteed health care to every American over sixty-five. Medicaid: provided health care assistance to the poor Job Corps: provided job training for young men and women (similar to the programs of the New Deal) Head Start: program for four- and five-year-old children from disadvantaged families that gave them a chance to start school on an even basis with other children.

ASSASSINATION OF MALCOM X February 21, 1965: Malcolm X is shot to death during a rally Killed by Nation of Islam leaders Had just returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca Had shifting views on Nation of Islam ideology

ASSASSINATION OF MLK April 4 th 1968: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is shot to death in his hotel in Memphis, TN. Many people believe that James Earl Ray shot King, but there are still those who doubt. Impact of his death: Moderates shift to radicals Deepened the rift between blacks and whites Whole country mourns

ASSASSINATION OF ROBERT KENNEDY June 5 th, 1968: Robert “Bobby” Kennedy is shot by a Palestinian name Sirhan Sirhan Had just won the Democratic California primary Many felt he was the only candidate who could unite the country Would make greater strides for the Civil Rights Movement

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION 1968 Aug 28 th, 1968: Protests at the Democratic Convention in Chicago. Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered to show their support for McCarthy and the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Vietnam. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley deployed 12,000 police officers and called in another 15,000 state and federal officers to contain the protesters. The situation then rapidly spiraled out of control, with the policemen severely beating and gassing the demonstrators, as well as newsmen and doctors who had come to help.

BATTLE OF MICHIGAN AVE The ensuing riot, known as the “Battle of Michigan Avenue,” was caught on television, and sparked a large-scale change in American society. Many Americans came out in virulent opposition to the Vietnam War. No longer would people give the national government unrestrained power to pursue its Cold War policies at the expense of the safety of U.S. citizens.

RISE OF CONSERVATISM After all of this social unrest, conservatism begins to look more appealing Barry Goldwater runs against Lyndon Johnson for the presidency. Goldwater challenged Johnson on.. Involvement in Vietnam The existence of communist Cuba Domestic policy Goldwater voted against the Civil Rights Act

RISE OF CONSERVATISM Richard Nixon runs again in 1968, and wins Runs on a conservative platform Said he represented the “silent majority” of conservatives Said he would scale back on the progressive reforms of the Great Society People are tired with Democrats because of Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam Nixon promised to get us out of it. Promised the return law and order to America