Kennedy

Question 1

What was THE NEW FRONTIER?

Answer 1

THE NEW FRONTIER
A programme of reform and chance in which Kennedy hoped to make the USA a fairer society by giving rights to African Americans.
He implemented major changed to the central government, for example,
BRAINS TRUST - he hired young fresh minds straight from uni to work in government and come up with exciting new ideas

Question 2

What was JFKs stance on civil rights?

Answer 2

A mixed record -seemed somewhat hesitant as he didn’t want to alienate southern voters

Question 3

What did KENNEDY achieve in terms of civil rights?

Answer 3

• Appointed 5 federal judges including leading civil rights activist Thurgood Marshall
• Threatened legal action against state of Louisiana for refusing to fund desegregated schools
• OCTOBER 1962 - send gov troops to ensure that black student James Meredith could study at uni of Mississippi
• Attempted to bring equality for African Americans in housing but was defeated by congress

Question 4

What did JFK achieve in terms of the economy?

Answer 4

• Introduced a general tax cut to amplify consumerism
• Introduced public works programmes costing $900 million
• Gave technology grants to high tech companies, which would create jobs
• Limited prices and wages in an attempt to control price inflation

Question 5

What are the economic ‘however’s’ of JFKs presidency?

Answer 5

HOWEVER…

Unemployment within the old industries remained a problem as they began to decline

Question 6

What social reform did JFK introduce?

Answer 6

• Increased minimum wage to $1.25 an hour
• MANPOWER AND TRAINING ACT - offered retraining for the unemployed
• HOUSING ACT - cheap loans
• SOCIAL SECURITY ACT - helped elderly and unemployed
• Social security benefits extended to each child who’s father was unemployed

Question 7

What were the limitations of JFKs social policy?

Answer 7

He had planned to start Medicare - state health insurance - but was blocked by congress