John F. Kennedy

Space Race NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) (1958) – formed to compete with the Soviet Union’s space program Space Programs – Kennedy was a huge advocate in increasing America’s Space Program John Glenn – became the first American to orbit the Earth on Feb. 20th 1962

Buzz Aldrin (and Neil Armstrong) first humans on the moon

Education National Defense Education Act (1958) – act that increase funding in education, especially in math, science, and civics

Music Rock n’ Roll – new musical era that combined blues, jazz, and Southern gospel Ex: Elvis Presley and Little Richard British Invasion (1963-64) – term referring to the popularity of British musicians like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones

Election of 1960 Election of 1960 – election held between Democrat Kennedy and Republican Nixon This election was the first to have televised debates

New Frontier New Frontier – name given to JFK’s domestic and foreign programs Focused on the economy, education, poverty, crime, military, medical care, and women’s rights

Peace Corps Peace Corps – organization that sent young men and women to perform humanitarian aid to nations in need

Response to Communism Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev takes over after Stalin’s death in 1953 He constructs the Berlin Wall to block out U.S. in 1961 Now have physical barrier marking the “Iron Curtain” (all nations East of the Berlin Wall)

Fidel Castro Fidel Castro – Communist Cuban Dictator Cuba only 90 miles away from Florida, too close for American comfort Castro formed alliance with Khrushchev

Bay of Pigs Invasion, 1961 C.I.A. began training Cuban exiles for invasion of Cuba at a place called the Bay of Pigs JFK approves invasion by Cuban exiles to overthrow Castro’s government and set up a new government that was not communist Invasion fails horribly

Cuban Missile Crisis 1962: U.S. spy planes discovered missiles in Cuba Kennedy televised announcement stating the Soviet Union had placed long-range missiles in Cuba Kennedy issued a naval blockade of Cuba After 7 days, Soviet leader Khrushchev offered to remove their missiles if U.S. removed their missiles from Turkey

JFK Assassination President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas Lee Harvey Oswald found guilty