Kennedy 1960-63. DOMESTIC POLICY Flashcards
The Omnibus Housing Act
1961
$5 billion for the extension of existing programmes
low interest loans for struggling middle income families
but Congress helped developers and unions instead of poor to get America out of debt
The Manpower development and training Act
1962
trained or untrained unemployed
by December 351 approved programmes, 12,600 trainees in 40 states
however, only trained people it didn’t decease unemployment that much
The Minimum wage act
25 cents to $1.25 an hour
3.6 million covered
half a million of the poorest still didn’t receive this
150,000 laundry workers didn’t receive (black women)
Clean air act
1963
expanded national parks
doubled funding for prevention of water pollution
Education
1/3 of the new frontier was focused on education
vocational education act- 1963
expansion of scholars and student loans
educational televisions act 1962
Healthcare
New universal healthcare bill introduced for elderly with funding for homes and healthcare for migrants
social security act 1963- millions of children received vaccinations
food, drugs and cosmetics act 1963- regulations on drugs
Freedom Rides
spring 1961 a repeat of the journey of reconciliation
the north was inter-segregated the south wasn’t
waiting rooms, restaurants, toilets
13 riders- 7 black, 6 white led by James Farmer
was all over the media worldwide
Bobby Kennedy called for ICC to enforce ruling
Albany
3 SNCC members went to challenge Albany segregation (Sherrod, Reagon, Jones)
Laurie Pritchett the police chief studied the groups tactics (create drama)
so allowed demonstrations but split up
ensured local jails had space
treated King well when he arrived
King arrived and was arrested Pritchett knew this would draw attention so called for release. King (SCLC) left but SNCC stayed and within a year segregation laws were removed
James Meridith and the University of Mississippi
local black university was bad so applied for white
rejected so NAACP and Supreme Court ruling helped
Bobby Kennedy sent 500 marshals to help him enrol
Mobs shot 2, 1/3 of marshals injured
JFK then sent the national guard
George Wallace
felt he was ‘out-niggered’ in his first election in Birmingham
blamed inter-segregation for unemployment
close with KKK
won the election by the biggest margin ever
Jan 1962- ‘segregation now, tomorrow, forever’
Birmingham
SCLC needed a success so King chose Birmingham as he felt it was by far Americas worst big city for racism
whites were split some felt racism held the city back while extremists castrated a black man, protested negro music and a book with black and white rabbits
public safety commissioner ‘Bull’ Conor attracted attention
King was arrested but JFK obtained release
lacked support so children were enrolled
hoses and dogs were used attracting the media
Civil rights in the north
Malcolm X thought it was time for blacks to fight back
had access to de jure rights but de facto still existed
held back by poor housing, education and no right to vote
March on Washington
27th August 1963 200,000 marchers wanted to pressure JFK to press ahead with civil right legislation 'I have a dream' speech no marchers were arrested
JFK responses to pressures for change
Created 40 new black jobs in the FBI
1 being press secretary and 5 judges
only give contracts to non-segregated companies- EEOC
Bobby threatened Louisiana to employ blacks but not Mississippi
invited NAACP to white house
