I would like to begin by saying that I have many reflections. I’ve taken in so much from this class and I believe I’ve actually taken a different look on certain topics and grown to have a better understanding of some of our nation’s history as well.

The most significant events that I would like to reflect on include the assassination of President Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement (which emphasized equal rights for all) and the Vietnam War. All of these events resulted in major changes in American society in terms of policies as well as public support for government.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy had a large impact on our nation when he modernized the presidency. Both he and his wife even influenced fashion trends. The White House also became a place to celebrate American history, culture, and achievement during his time. He put forth a strong effort in putting an end to racial discrimination, allotted federal funding for education, and greatly improved healthcare for the elderly. Considering these, his assassination had a defining impact on the nation and our world.

An important consideration about the effects of JFK’s death was the effects that Lyndon B. Johnson had on the country. The liberal movement of the early l960s was very promising because it was the time when Lyndon Johnson used the legacy of John Kennedy and his own political skill to erect his Great Society and fight the war on poverty with programs for health, education, job training, and urban development. These new directions were evident in John Kennedy's New Frontier program. The elements added to Kennedy's program was done by Lyndon Johnson's Great Society proposals, and the significance of the strategies employed by LBJ to pursue his program (Country Studies). In effect, Kennedy’s death had a positive consequence (which I believe) on society because of the implementations that resulted from Johnson’s rise to presidency. Additionally, I believe Johnson’s rise also resulted in improvements in a number of organizations that supported Johnson’s political career (Brown). Overall, though, Kennedy’s assassination resulted in considerable decline in public confidence on the strength of society in terms of maintaining security. It also resulted in considerable increase in fear regarding national security.

When America emerged in the l960s through various significant events, there were many problems at the time. I want to emphasize the preceding decades and the political and social aspects of the country prior to the l960s. One important point is the “Good Times,” which occurred in the l950s. The l950s was an important basis for our class studying America in the l960s. In the l950s, America experienced what many considered good. It was in the l950s that economic development was significantly high. Along with this, social and political conditions were maintained. America also experienced the baby boom and rapid suburban growth as a result of people flocking into the cities. African Americans experienced increased freedom and recognition of rights. These conditions were, according to David Farber in “The Age of Great Dreams,” the foundation for the l960s. The decade was also marked by the rapid increase of television and advertising. These conditions of the “Good Times” seemed just right for a better l960s. However, in spite of apparent positive development, there were many problems underlying America of the l950s. And it was these problems that exploded in the l960s, resulting in the troubles and problems the people experienced in the sixties.

“The role of the mother being the homemaker, taking care of the kids while supporting her husband who brings home the "bacon" is the visual you have when you think of the 50's,” (Eddie said on January l6th). However, the family unit began to transform into something different. Traditional families were beginning to fade and when I say traditional, I mean the “Beaver Cleave” style. Separation of families became more prevalent along with seeing more and more single parents trying to carry the load of two parents. Additionally, gender roles began to change and many women chose to work outside the home and contribute the family income. "We all belong to a family. Our family bonds gives us identity; a way to recognize ourselves with a culture and heritage all our own. We support each other, depend on each other, respect each other and comfort each other. We are also members of larger families; our community, the human family, and the family of life on Earth. We accept the responsibilities of being a part of these families, only receiving what we need so that others may have their share, and helping to strengthen the family through our service,” (Chancy cited this website: http://www.learningfamily.net/about/values.htm). I often wonder if our society would be different if we had truly focused on the family bond, not only with our immediate families but our families of the world as well. Little did our nation know there were problems on the horizon. In the l960s, America was marked by increasing troubles in politics, particularly with regards to government actions that the people decided to go against. The racist troubles all over the country resulted in violence. The government, in its effort to address such problems, passed legislation after legislation, attempting to curb the crises that were arising here and there. American society was then characterized by increased public awareness on political and social issues, mainly through the rise of the television. It was also characterized by increased capitalism. It was also during this period that many people started adopting narcissism and neo-conservatism (Farber).

The people became much divided. As a result of the country’s participation in the Vietnam War, there was a gap created between some people and the government, many of whom were against the US being in Vietnam. There was a gap between the older Americans (parents of the baby boomers) and the younger generation. Many of the older generation, many of who fought in the World War II and Korea wars had a sense of patriotism, while the younger generation took a strong stand against what many of their parents believed. The Vietnam conflict was definitely not an episode of nation building. Lives were lost and Vietnam was destroyed.

The Civil Rights Movement, which some people refer to as the Equal Rights Movement, was another important account to the condition of the American society. Even though it started in the l950s, the Civil Rights Movement spanned across the l960s and even into the l970s. The main battles in the history of the movement were centered on equality among all people, regardless of gender or race. In the l960s, America’s political system was already quite stable and the country had reached the point at which all citizens had equal rights under the law. However, the discrimination was still out of control in the country. Despite equal treatment by the state, equality was still not achieved because of unequal treatments by the people themselves. For example, there was so much discrimination against African Americans everywhere. This discrimination hindered civil liberties. It was in the l960s that finally, the US started acting upon discrimination through the introduction of legislation that aimed at eliminating discrimination that is based on gender or race. The Civil Rights Movement therefore was marked by battles for ethnic integration, equal liberties for African Americans and American Indians, as well as gender equality. It was a set of events and reform efforts that aimed at eliminating both public and private gender discrimination and racial discrimination, which was especially prevalent in the southern part of the country. Another point in the history of the Civil Rights Movement was the division on the subject of the Vietnam War. Many protested against America’s involvement in the war, which led to great casualties on the part of our country. In the mid l960s, Martin Luther King started expressing doubts regarding American involvement in Vietnam. He spoke against this, and argued that America was in the war in order to gain Vietnam as a colony. He pointed out the unnecessary violence that the US was creating, and argued that there is a need for large scale moral changes.

The protest movement was a combination of protests that started in the l960s in the US. The protests can be categorized as those arising from racial troubles, and those resulting from the revolutionary principles of the New Left, which was characterized by protests against the US involvement in Vietnam and US imperialism in general. One important point in the protest movement was the protests for racial equality for African Americans were all over the country, especially in the cities. Eventually, the protesters, dissatisfied with how American society was adjusting to legislation on racial and ethnic equality, resorted to riots, which plagued many cities in the US. Americans were slow at adjusting to the equality legislation. Violence from African Americans groups soon erupted in New York, Chicago, Detroit and other important US cities. The late l960s is considered the most violent year in the history of the Protest Movement. The assassination of Martin Luther King in l968 led to even greater violence from among the African American groups in cities all over the country. Another point in regards to the history of the Protest Movement was the New Left, which was composed of different groups that were united in their ideals of rejecting traditional American politics and the belief in the importance of direct action. The New Left was considerably anti-American, suggesting that the US was exercising mere imperialism in Vietnam. Even though the Protest Movement was marked by violence from many groups, there were also the Hippies, who protested against American society through peaceful means. The Hippies were people who simply separated themselves from society by forming groups that functioned as self sufficient communities.

The Nixon administration is my last important point regarding the l960s-l970s. This administration can be referred to as “the politics of deception” (Farber). This was because it was during Nixon that anomalies in the government activity were exposed and uncovered scandals such as Watergate. Because of this, Americans, who were already against the government in many aspects, further lost their trust and confidence in the government and the political system, and this was how people viewed their government in the l970s. Despite such adverse developments in the US in the l960s through the l970s, at present, big improvements in legislation and the implementation of which, as well as law enforcement, have led Americans closer to and more confident in their government.

I have learned an incredible amount of information over the last several weeks with the discussions and reading on what everyone has to say. But where I’ve learned the most is reading and discussing different topics with the class, my other classmates have taught me things I’ll never forget.

Works Cited Brown, William. “Friends in high places: The wealth effects of JFK's assassination on the assets of LBJ's supporters.” Public Choice, 86 (3-4): 247-256.
Country Studies. “Kennedy and the New Frontier.” Country Studies, 2008 http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-l20.htm
Farber, David. The Age of Great Dreams: America in the l960s. Hill and Wang, l994.