New Frontier Flashcards
when did JFK introduced his frontier
Kennedy introduced and explained his New Frontier in his presidential nomination acceptance speech at the DNC in July 1960
quotes from his new frontier speech
‘We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier - the frontier of the 1960s - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils’
‘the new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises - it is a set of challenges, It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them’
‘Beyond that Frontier are the uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, and unanswered questions of poverty and surplus’
poverty and surplus
He promised that if elected he would not be indifferent to poverty as Ike’s administration had been. However, much of this rhetoric was specifically targeted at fellow Democrats who doubted his liberal credentials. Kennedy was a flexible politician, quick to learn and eager and able to captivate.
peace and war
Kennedy was arguably more interested in foreign policy issues - a bifurcated president. He conducted cold-warrior campaigns that emphasised that Democrats defended the nation against evil communists better than Republicans.
a new generation of leadership
Kennedy was a master of rhetoric. He kept with his theme of change and dynamism, he needed to distance himself from the New Deal and the Fair Deal while also demonstrating his liberalism. This was brilliantly done through the New Frontier ideas, which tarnished the Ike era as one of selfish complacency and burnished the Kennedy Charisma with an idealism and dynamism that captured the popular imagination forever after. However, there are questions over the extent to which his NF was successful
economy
JFK attempted to fix the economy with a huge stimulus package based on the creation of jobs that were better paying. He instructed federal agencies to speed up their own construction projects and introduced a new housing act that created 420,000 construction jobs. There was also an increase in the minimum wage put $175M into workers pockets. $200M was spent on extra welfare benefits that applied to 750,000 children while $780M in increased unemployment benefits helped 3M unemployed americans get back on their feat. He cut corporate and individual taxes, which stimulated investment and spending which would in turn create more jobs
workers
He wanted to ensure that workers were protected in his New Frontier. He passed an executive order in 1962 which provided federal employees with collective bargaining rights and the 1962 contract work hours and safety standards act which established standards for working hours and safety. These were followed by the 1961 Fair Labour Standards Act. Programmes placed young people in jobs and training to protect them from being underpaid in the service and retail industries. Protected the salaries of nearly 2M jobs
welfare
The clearest example of Kennedy’s attempt to eradicate poverty came with changes to welfare. Social Security benefits were increased by 20% and a School Lunch Act provided free lunches and free milk for poor schoolchildren. A food stamp programme was launched which fed a quarter of a millon people. Federal retirement benefits were linked to the consumer price index, which was a huge bonus for retired government workers. There was also increased funding for foster care and the disabled. The benefits system was extended to cover 5M more Americans
health
Kennedy went further than any president before him in moving towards a system of universal healthcare
He introduced a Universal Healthcare bill for the elderly (Medicare) along with funding for nursing homes and healthcare for migrant workers
Millions of children were vaccinated through the Social Security Act of 1963 and more attention was given to those with learning difficulties and physical
disabilities
Kennedy introduced the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in 1963 tightened federal control over therapeutic drugs
education
The Vocational Education Act in 1963 increased vocational training and the expansion of scholarships and student loans
Money was provided to aid the use of television in education through the Education Television Facilities Act of 1962
The government provided grants to construct new facilities for those training to be healthcare providers and supplied loans of $2000 per annum
womens rights
Kennedy established the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women in December 1961 and asked Eleanor Roosevelt to chair it
The commission’s final report, ‘American Woman,’ was issued in 1963 and highlighted the degree of discrimination against women in the workplace
It recommended paid maternity leave, affordable childcare provision and hiring practices that promoted equality
Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law in June 1963 which allowed 171,000 women to reclaim pay amounting to 484 million over the next ten years
housing
Kennedy’s housing programme was another enormous undertaking - $3.19B was spent, with a focus on middle and low income families and the retired. Urban renewal grants went up from $2M to $4M, 100,000 new homes were built. The Omnibus Housing Act of 1961 granted $5 billion for the extension of existing programmes and gave low- interest loans to struggling middle-income families. But the act really assisted with developers far more than helping the poor.
how much did minimum wage rise by
The minimum wage rose by $0.25cents to $1.25
what act was passed in 1961
Area Redevelopment Act
when was the Area Redevelopment Act passed
1961
