JFK's Response to Cold War Challenges
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Presentation Transcript
JFK Lecture 4
Standard 11.10. Essential Question: How did Kennedy respond to the continuing challenges of the Cold War?
Kennedy V. Nixon • John F. Kennedy • young senator from Massachusetts • WWII Navy veteran • Richard Nixon • young senator from California • WWII Navy veteran • former vice president
The New Frontier • The New Frontier, 1961 • Kennedy’s domestic program • medical care for seniors • more educational opportunities • government help to stop recession • 1st Peace Time Deficit • integration and equality • Equal Pay Act 1963 “Ask not what your country can do for you…”
The New Frontier • Space Race • at first, the USSR was ahead • JFK promised to put a man on the moon by 1970 • Project Mercury, 1959 – 1963 • manned spaceflight • Project Gemini, 1965 – 1966 • rendezvous and docking • Project Apollo, 1961 – 1975 • moonlanding • in 1975, the US and USSR began to work together
Peace Corps • The Peace Corps, 1961 • Americans lived in over 70 countries underdeveloped to share their knowledge • education • medicine and hygiene • agriculture • changed America’s image to the world
Fidel Castro • Alliance for Progress • US gave aid to S. America • Feared Communism • Fidel Castro • led communist revolution in Cuba in 1959 • ruler from 1959 - 2008 • denounced US as evil capitalist empire • took US assets in Cuba • ally to Khrushchev (USSR) • Trade Embargo on Cuba
Bay of Pigs • Bay of Pigs, 1961 • 1,500 anti-Castro fugitives armed and trained by the CIA to invade Cuba and overthrow Castro • US did not give direct aid in order to avoid war • Further poisoned US-Cuban relations • three of JFK’s advisors resigned • Castro’s influence was even greater
The Cuban Missile Crisis • Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 • Castro tried to install soviet ABMs in Cuba • Kennedy ordered a naval blockade and demanded removal of weapons after satellite photos showed activity • Khrushchev sent ships to break through the blockade • Stalemate = 2 Weeks • Swapped Cuba for Turkey
"We are eyeball to eyeball, and the other fellow just blinked.“ —Sec. of State Dean Rusk
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 1963 • USSR and US ended atmospheric nuclear testing • “peaceful co-existence”
Berlin Wall • The Berlin Wall, 1961 • built by communists to stop flow of skilled workers from East Berlin • it stood until 1990 • Khrushchev demanded the USSR be given all of Berlin • JFK increased American troops in Berlin “Ich bin ein berliner.”
Kennedy’s Assassination • Dallas, Texas • November 1963 • LBJ sworn in on Air Force One • Lee Harvey Oswald • Shot JFK • Shot by Jack Ruby 2 days after being arrested • Died in prison a year later • Earl Warren led Investigation • Concluded he acted alone