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CHAPTER 29
A New Frontier and a Great Society, 1960–1968
TRUE/FALSE
1. By the time of the 1960 presidential race, John F. Kennedy had far more experience in
national politics than did Richard Nixon.
2. Kennedy’s father played a major role in getting the young president elected, such as by
engineering his public relations campaign and instructing him to focus on image over substance.
3. From the beginning of his presidency, Kennedy vigorously supported black civil rights.
4. Due to his concerns that he came across as weak during the Vienna Summit with Nikita
Khrushchev, John F. Kennedy felt a sense of urgency to make America appear tough, which
escalated tensions in Berlin.
5. The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee sought to intensify and expand on the demonstrations inspired by
the Greensboro Four.
6. John F. Kennedy tried to discourage the Freedom Riders from continuing their protests
because he believed their efforts would embarrass him during his summit meeting with Nikita
Khrushchev.
7. The Freedom Summer volunteers avoided any violent attacks, in contrast to what happened to
the Freedom Riders years earlier.
8. By 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. had become a leading spokesman for “black power.”
9. President Johnson was far less adept at handling Congress as President Kennedy had been.
10. Barry Goldwater said, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.”
11. Johnson’s Great Society programs helped reduce the number of people living in poverty,
but did so by providing payments rather than jobs.
12. Congress narrowly defeated President Johnson’s request in 1964 for authorization to
“take all necessary measures” to prevent further aggression in Vietnam.
13. The Tet offensive undermined the American public’s confidence that the United States was
winning the Vietnam War.
14. Lyndon B. Johnson appealed to what he described as the “silent majority” of Americans when
he campaigned for the presidency in 1968.
15. Richard Nixon violated the Logan Act in order to aid his campaign for the presidency in 1968.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is one thing John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy
all had in common, and what does this suggest about the 1960s?
a.
All were Second World War veterans, suggesting how important the military had become as a
standard for American leadership.
b.
All were equally invested in the civil rights movement throughout their careers, suggesting how
most individuals at the time were activists.
c.
All were advocates for black nationalism and followers of Marcus Garvey, suggesting the
prominence of “black power” in the 1960s.
d.
All were elected to political office and came from working-class backgrounds, suggesting how
politics was no longer the realm of the social elite.
e.
All were important leaders who were assassinated, suggesting the social turbulence that
characterized the 1960s.
2. What was the idea behind the New Frontier according to John F. Kennedy?
a.
Eisenhower had already served as a trailblazer and set most of Kennedy’s proposed policies in
motion in such a way that Kennedy felt they were America’s for the taking.
b.
The term called to mind pioneer times in America and, thus, encapsulated Kennedy’s strong
preference for domestic over foreign issues and reluctance to become very involved abroad.
c.
The metaphor lent itself to Kennedy’s intentions for America to explore science and space, embark
on issues of poverty and surplus, and be more aggressive in waging the cold war than Eisenhower.
d.
The United States, Kennedy believed, was destined to finally become a transcontinental power that
would soon pursue colonialism on the world stage, especially in Latin America and Africa.
e.
The old frontier of the cold war had been conquered and, in its place, a new set of issues for
Kennedy to tackle during his presidency had emerged, such as the war on discrimination at home.
3. Which of the following accurately describes Richard Nixon in the years leading up to the 1960 presidential election?
a.
He had no political experience when he ran for president, which gave most voters reservations.
b.
He had a reputation for hardline anti-communism and a tendency to conceal his real ideas.
c.
He, like John F. Kennedy, came from a wealthy family and relied on his father’s political guidance.
d.
He had a close relationship with Eisenhower, which ultimately damaged his presidential prospects.
e.
He was far better at maintaining outward appearances and giving warm speeches than working on
policy.
4. What was one way in which the televised debate between Kennedy and Nixon was significant?
a.
Nixon had been far less prominent than Kennedy in the national conversation, so the debate
propelled him to notoriety.
b.
Kennedy and Nixon’s rapport on screen resulted in their being grouped as running mates on a
winning ticket.
c.
The debate grew so heated and almost violent that the two parties panicked and considered trying
out different candidates.
d.
The visual nature of the debate played to Kennedy’s strengths, especially as Nixon was sick with a
virus.
e.
Kennedy proved so successful in the debate that he only felt the need to invest in a small campaign
and traveled little.
5. Which of the following statements accurately describes the result of the 1960 election?
a.
It was likely determined by African American votes in a few key states.
b.
It was a popular vote landslide victory for John F. Kennedy.
c.
It saw Democrats regain control of the South.
d.
It was determined when John F. Kennedy swept the West Coast.
e.
Many Republicans challenged it in the courts.
6. Which of the following were among John F. Kennedy’s shortcomings?
a.
limited outward self-confidence and a lack of conviction that reinforced the idea that he was a
political amateur
b.
his reliance on the guidance of academics and preoccupation with becoming one of the most
professorial presidents
c.
his sometimes overly self-assured disposition that bordered on cocky, and the fact that much of the
glamour surrounding him was cosmetic
d.
his reluctance to breach the topic of foreign affairs in public speeches due to his fixation on
domestic affairs
e.
his underestimation of the dangers of communism and refusal to perceive it as a threat early in his
term
7. Which of the following was John F. Kennedy careful to conceal from the public during the
1960 campaign?
a.
his Roman Catholicism
d.
his war record
b.
his marriage to Jackie Kennedy
e.
his personal health
c.
his family wealth
8. What obstacles did John F. Kennedy face in terms of enacting his domestic programs?
a.
Legislators successfully prevented the approval of his efforts to increase the minimum wage and
fund new public-housing projects.
b.
Congress was unwilling to fund space exploration efforts and, thus, the president turned solely to
private corporations for such funding.
c.
Brown v. Board of Education had been so successful at ending racial segregation on its own that the
president’s efforts were deemed ineffective.
d.
Conservative southern Democrats joined with Republicans in blocking efforts such as those to
increase federal aid to education.
e.
The American space program had peaked too early by launching the first-ever manned space flight
and quickly fell behind the Soviet program.
9. Which of the following statements accurately summarizes John F. Kennedy’s stance on civil rights?
a.
He took a drastically more active approach than either Franklin D. Roosevelt or Dwight
Eisenhower had in terms of civil rights.
b.
He celebrated racial equality but was reluctant to promote it himself due to the fear of alienating
potential political allies.
c.
He worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. on legislation, leading the activist to commend him
for his “moral passion.”
d.
He was far less supportive of the civil rights movement than previous presidents had been, leading
his popularity levels to plummet.
e.
He refused to direct any promotional efforts toward African American voters during his campaign
but gradually came to work with them during his presidency.
10. Which of the following was true of the Bay of Pigs invasion?
a.
It was Kennedy’s original idea.
b.
It was thoroughly bungled and embarrassed Kennedy.
c.
It proved Kennedy’s competence in foreign policy.
d.
It weakened the Castro regime.
e.
It inspired the United States and the Soviet Union to improve relations.
11. Which of the following did Nikita Khrushchev do in 1961 in response to John F. Kennedy’s decision to send
members of the Army Reserve and National Guard to protect West Berlin?
a.
He imposed another Soviet blockade of West Berlin.
b.
He sent spy planes over West Germany.
c.
He put nuclear missiles in East Berlin.
d.
He erected the Berlin Wall to separate East and West Berlin.
e.
He walked out of a summit conference in Vienna.
12. What was the main reason the Soviets placed missiles in Cuba?
a.
to deter another American-supported invasion of Cuba
b.
to initiate a large-scale attack on South America
c.
to launch an attack upon the United States
d.
to make Castro more dependent upon the Soviets
e.
to get Kennedy to grant the Soviets control of West Berlin
13. Which of the following is true of the Cuban missile crisis?
a.
It led to a U.S.-backed invasion of Cuba.
b.
It showed Kennedy’s tendency to back down in a tense confrontation.
c.
It marked the end of the cold war.
d.
It brought the United States and the Soviet Union close to nuclear war.
e.
It saw the United States destroy some missile sites with precise air strikes.
14. John F. Kennedy described which country as the “cornerstone of the free world in
Southeast Asia”?
a.
Hong Kong
d.
Thailand
b.
Burma
e.
South Vietnam
c.
Cambodia
15. Which of the followings statements describes the state of South Vietnam in the early 1960s at
the beginning of Kennedy’s term?
a.
Ngo Dinh Diem’s land reforms were undercutting the efforts of Communist insurgents to such a
degree that Kennedy felt comfortable withdrawing troops.
b.
Kennedy was increasing the number of American military “advisers” there because the Viet Cong
had been undermining the government of Ngo Dinh Diem.
c.
The United States had begun distancing itself from the conflict in Vietnam because it was seen as
unrelated to the cold war, and Kennedy wanted to focus all attention on the Soviets.
d.
Ngo Dinh Diem’s installation of a representative government brought him the support of the
Buddhist majority and ensured that he would remain in power.
e.
The French had returned to assist the South Vietnamese and, in return for their military support,
reestablished the region as a French colony.
16. Which of the following statements accurately describes the state of South Vietnam in the
weeks before John F. Kennedy’s assassination?
a.
Kennedy was more confident than ever in the abilities of South Vietnamese rebel generals to
prevent the spread of communism because they had followed his orders to murder Diem.
b.
A massive war had erupted involving the South Vietnamese government, the Soviets, the
Americans, and the French, as all vied for control over the region.
c.
South Vietnam was essentially an American colony, and despite doubts in the U.S. ability to prop
up the South Vietnamese government, Kennedy reiterated his adherence to the domino theory.
d.
Kennedy had withdrawn all U.S. troops and cut off all financial support from the South Vietnamese
government because he believed it was faring far better than it had under Diem.
e.
South Vietnam had become an official Communist state after attempts by Kennedy to work with
Vietnamese rebels to restore Diem to power had failed.
17. What protest tactic did black students in Greensboro, North Carolina, initiate?
a.
the sit-in
b.
the occupation of campus administration buildings
c.
the March on Washington
d.
street theater
e.
the freedom ride
18. Violence erupted in 1962 when James Meredith attempted to integrate
a.
the University of Alabama.
d.
the University of Mississippi.
b.
Louisiana State University.
e.
Texas A&M University.
c.
the Georgia Institute of Technology.
19. In what city did police chief “Bull” Connor order officers to unleash their dogs and clubs on
civil rights demonstrators?
a.
Birmingham, Alabama
d.
Charlotte, North Carolina
b.
New Orleans, Louisiana
e.
Houston, Texas
c.
Memphis, Tennessee
20. Martin Luther King Jr. took which of the following approaches in writing his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”?
a.
He denounced the actions of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
b.
He announced that he was abandoning nonviolent tactics.
c.
He expressed intense anger at being locked up.
d.
He declared his preference for nonviolent civil disobedience.
e.
He showed hatred toward racist whites.
21. The governor of Alabama who stood in the door to prevent black students from entering,
proclaiming “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” was
a.
Strom Thurmond.
d.
Stokely Carmichael.
b.
George Wallace.
e.
Orville Faubus.
c.
Harry Bird.
22. Which of the following did the Warren court do in its controversial Miranda v. Arizona decision?
a.
It required that an accused person be informed of certain basic rights.
b.
It made abortion legal.
c.
It banned prayer in public schools.
d.
It protected job rights for homosexuals.
e.
It gave police more power to search without a warrant.
23. What did the events in the neighborhood of Watts reveal about the state of the civil rights
movement in 1965?
a.
The civil rights movement had taken off to such a degree that racism was now limited to the South,
and African Americans who had moved to urban areas enjoyed unprecedented full equality.
b.
The civil rights movement had managed to stop the continuation of race riots and relied solely on
legal discourse as a means of expressing the needs and demands of African Americans.
c.
The civil rights movement was more united than ever, as all African American organizations came
under the direct leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. based on the results of an election.
d.
The civil rights movement had a long way to go in terms of achieving racial equality; however, it
had managed to end all violence perpetrated against African Americans by the Ku Klux Klan.
e.
The civil rights movement had begun to fragment, and what came to be called “black power” was
competing with the integrationist, nonviolent philosophy of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
24. Which of the following statements accurately describes Malcolm X?
a.
He promoted militancy and black nationalism in response to racism.
b.
He rose to prominence only to lose all followers after his assassination.
c.
He headed the Black Panther party and became active in politics.
d.
He supported the nonviolent tactics of Martin Luther King Jr.
e.
He put a violent, false spin on Christianity and took it to extremes.
25. By 1966, black leaders like Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Brown were proponents of
what they termed
a.
passive nonviolence.
d.
black capitalism.
b.
black communism.
e.
black power.
c.
massive integration.
26. What constructive developments can be attributed to the Black Panthers?
a.
They reshaped the American political party system for years to come, as the 1960s saw tight
presidential races among the candidates from the Republican, Democrat, and Black Panther parties.
b.
They led Martin Luther King Jr. to focus his own attention entirely on the South because he felt
they could handle bringing equality to the North and that their message would resonate there.
c.
Despite the prejudice they showed individuals based on gender and sexual preference, they
collaborated with the FBI to outlaw racism shown toward African Americans in the Deep South.
d.
Despite their violent tendencies, they affirmed that the necessary first step for African Americans
seeking true equality was first to learn to love oneself and then to love and protect each other.
e.
They popularized the idea of nonviolent civil disobedience and merged with the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee to organize the March on Washington.
27. In part because of the Black Power movement, by the mid-1960s, Martin Luther King Jr.
had decided to
a.
emphasize the need for economic uplift for the black urban poor.
b.
adopt much of the rhetoric and tactics of militancy.
c.
retire so that younger leaders could move to the forefront.
d.
focus on his opposition to the war in Vietnam.
e.
declare that the fight for black equality was largely won.
28. Which of the following statements accurately describes Lyndon Johnson?
a.
He, like Kennedy, refused to have extramarital affairs with women.
b.
He cared little in regard to civil rights because it would not help him politically.
c.
He was humble and had no intention of creating new programs upon taking office.
d.
He, like Kennedy, had been born into wealth and privilege.
e.
He yearned to be recognized as a transformational leader.
29. President Johnson’s first priority on the domestic front was to
a.
balance the federal budget.
b.
give more power to the states.
c.
get Kennedy’s legislative program through Congress.
d.
raise tax rates to jumpstart the economy.
e.
stall Kennedy’s civil rights legislation.
30. Which of the following is true of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
a.
It outlawed segregation in public facilities on the basis of race, sex, or national origin.
b.
It strengthened the Democratic party in the South, allowing for the passage of similar legislation.
c.
It had the unintended consequence of making the hiring process more discriminatory.
d.
It limited the power of the federal government in terms of enforcing civil rights.
e.
It ended racism in the United States, signaling the close of the civil rights movement.
31. Which of the following created the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission?
a.
the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965
b.
the Area Redevelopment Act of 1961
c.
the Civil Rights Act of 1964
d.
the Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965
e.
the Trade Expansion Act of 1962
32. Michael Harrington’s book The Other America influenced President Johnson to declare
war on
a.
racism.
d.
poverty.
b.
teen pregnancy.
e.
drugs.
c.
illegal aliens.
33. Which of the following statements accurately describes Republican nominee Barry Goldwater
during the 1964 campaign?
a.
He promised to manage New Deal programs more effectively than Democrats had.
b.
He emphasized that his strategy would be to use diplomacy to settle the conflict in Vietnam.
c.
He was refreshingly candid, but his call for the wholesale bombing of North Vietnam worried
voters.
d.
He endorsed Johnson’s achievements on civil rights and ushered in a new period of bipartisanship.
e.
He represented “moderate Republicanism” in the style of President Dwight Eisenhower.
34. Which of the following occurred during or as a result of the 1964 election?
a.
Republicans continued to make gains in the Deep South, highlighting the region’s shift to that
party.
b.
Republicans made gains in both houses of Congress, stymying Johnson’s legislative efforts.
c.
Voters approved of Johnson’s pledge to escalate the war in Vietnam through atomic weapons.
d.
Goldwater lost but did better than expected in one of the closest races in American history.
e.
As Johnson correctly predicted, the American people overwhelmingly demanded massive domestic
reform.
35. What did President Johnson label his overall program of domestic reform?
a.
the True Deal
d.
the Great Society
b.
the New Frontier
e.
the New America
c.
the New Beginning
36. Johnson’s Medicare program provided medical benefits to
a.
the unemployed.
d.
single mothers and their children.
b.
all Americans.
e.
the handicapped.
c.
the elderly.
37. Which of the following statements accurately describes changes in terms of immigration
due to the passage of the Hart-Celler Act?
a.
The law favored immigration from Europe as compared to other parts of the world.
b.
The law, which was supported by both parties, removed quotas based upon national origin.
c.
The law removed annual limits on how many immigrants could enter the United States.
d.
The law, which was only supported by Democrats, decreased foreign immigration.
e.
The law was predominantly designed to increase American access to cheap labor.
38. Which of the following statements accurately describes the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
a.
Congress passed the law discriminating against African Americans over the opposition of Johnson
and Martin Luther King Jr.
b.
The law signaled the end of black protest movements, as the primary demand of the civil rights
movement had been met.
c.
The law ensured all citizens the right to vote, resulting in the dramatic expansion of black votes in
the South.
d.
The South became more strongly Democratic as a result of the law, for southerners tended to vote
for the same party regardless of race.
e.
The law was part of the public backlash against Great Society legislation and marked a step back
for civil rights.
39. In retrospect, what was an effect of Johnson’s approach to addressing poverty in the United States?
a.
It lowered the cost of medical bills due to Medicare’s focus on cost incentives for hospitals.
b.
It generated middle-class resentment that benefited the Republican party.
c.
It kept the United States from devoting sufficient funds to the war in Vietnam.
d.
It had practically no effect on poverty levels, beneficial or otherwise.
e.
It inadvertently led to an increase in infant mortality and malnutrition.
40. The guerilla fighters in South Vietnam who sought to overthrow the U.S.-backed government
were known as
a.
the Viet Minh.
d.
the Khmer Rouge.
b.
the Viet Cong.
e.
Contras.
c.
Bolsheviks.
41. What prompted Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
a.
a North Vietnamese attack on an American airbase at Pleiku
b.
the movement of Chinese troops on the border between China and North Korea
c.
evidence that the Soviets were supplying the North Vietnamese with aircrafts and weaponry
d.
false reports that the North Vietnamese had fired on two American naval ships
e.
the overthrow of the Communist government in North Vietnam
42. Which of the following statements accurately describes an effect of the Tonkin Gulf resolution?
a.
Because it was in response to a Viet Cong attack upon an American military base, members of the
American military quickly became experts in guerrilla warfare.
b.
Because the resolution deeply divided Congress and almost failed to pass, Johnson took great
caution and deferred to Congress for other military decisions.
c.
Because nearly all senators supported the resolution, Johnson took their approval as reason to use
the resolution as a substitute for a declaration of war.
d.
Because the resolution authorized American naval aggression off the coast of North Vietnam, the
war was soon limited only to a northern front.
e.
Because the resolution was an attempt at diplomacy, Johnson began to take steps to de-escalate the
Vietnam War and had a certain number of atomic weapons destroyed.
43. Which of the following complicated American efforts to defeat the Viet Cong in South Vietnam?
a.
The Viet Cong had better weapons and technology than the Americans.
b.
The number of American troops was small in comparison.
c.
The Viet Cong were made up of men and women who blended in among the civilian population.
d.
American forces sympathized with nationalist goals of the Viet Cong.
e.
The Americans had difficulty coordinating air, land, and sea resources in Vietnam.
44. Though Johnson believed the United States had an obligation to keep its promises to South Vietnam, another reason
why he committed American forces to combat operations was to
a.
“Americanize” the war and avoid the political damage of seeming soft on communism by losing.
b.
stimulate the economy by increasing the number of defense contracts and using nuclear weapons.
c.
make the political maneuver of distancing himself from “dove” Democrats who called for peace.
d.
draw public attention away from his Great Society initiatives, which had failed on a grand scale.
e.
conquer North Vietnam so that the entirety of Vietnam would be an American colony.
45. By 1968, how did Johnson see his position in relation to the Vietnam War?
a.
He believed he was on the verge of a major victory and securing the future of an independent South
Vietnam.
b.
He felt trapped in that he saw neither a clear path to victory nor a way to withdraw without
appearing weak.
c.
He largely ignored the war and instead focused on promoting the successes of his domestic social
programs.
d.
He relied on both the use and threat of nuclear weapons to avoid American casualties that could
turn public opinion against the war.
e.
He saw it as his duty to admit defeat and began to pull American troops out of combat soon after
beginning the war.
46. What was one impact of the Tet offensive?
a.
It resulted in Johnson’s adoption of a hands-off approach to the war, as he felt confident enough to
rely on his military generals to make major decisions.
b.
Because it was a major victory for the Viet Cong, Johnson formally agreed to give up on the war
and withdraw large numbers of troops.
c.
It made most activists fearful enough of losing to call for Johnson to put funds into the war that he
would have put toward the war on poverty.
d.
It inspired Johnson to run for another term as president so that he could properly finish what he had
started.
e.
In part due to its scope, intensity, and surprise nature, it decisively turned public opinion against
Johnson’s war policy.
47. In early 1968, what was one result of increasing opposition to the war within Johnson’s own party?
a.
It only increased Johnson’s determination to win in Vietnam.
b.
It ultimately led Johnson to opt out of the presidential race.
c.
It caused Johnson to lose the presidential election at the last minute.
d.
It allowed the war on poverty to officially begin.
e.
It caused most Americans to rally around Johnson.
48. In 1968, James Earl Ray assassinated the famed civil rights leader ________ outside of a
hotel in Memphis, resulting in rioting in many major American cities.
a.
Martin Luther King Jr.
d.
Diane Nash
b.
Malcolm X
e.
Medgar Evers
c.
John Lewis
49. Which of the following statements accurately describes the 1968 Democratic National
Convention in Chicago?
a.
It was a gathering during which Nixon was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
b.
The events surrounding it showed the patience of Mayor Daley and the Chicago police.
c.
Anti-war protests outside it turned into massive riots following the arrival of police.
d.
It demonstrated how quickly the country had moved beyond the Vietnam War.
e.
The events surrounding it successfully appealed to the values of “middle America.”
50. In the election of 1968, Richard Nixon appealed to those he described as the ________ of
working- and middle- class Americans who viewed protesters of the time with contempt.
a.
stalwarts
d.
moral faction
b.
Lost Generation
e.
silent majority
c.
Great Society
51. During the election of 1968, candidate George Wallace hoped for what scenario?
a.
a clear electoral majority for the American Independent party
b.
the split of the Democratic vote between himself and Humphrey
c.
the absence of an electoral majority for Humphrey and Nixon, resulting in the election going to the
House of Representatives
d.
the split of the Republican vote between himself and Nixon
e.
the promotion of the idea that there should be a stronger third party presence in American politics
52. Which of the following did Richard Nixon do in order to undermine the Democrats and increase
his own chances of winning the election in 1968?
a.
He secretly contacted the South Vietnamese government and offered better terms for peace
negotiations, hoping to sabotage Johnson’s efforts to end the war sooner.
b.
He had aides spread confusing information about voter registration in rural communities throughout
the South to cut down on the number of overall votes.
c.
He hired a private investigator to dig up negative information on Humphrey and accused him of
being an adulterer.
d.
He promised to repeal the Hart-Celler Act, which had been incredibly unpopular and partisan, as a
means of stealing part of Humphrey’s base.
e.
He hired actors to admit that they had been Communist spies within the Democratic party and
sparked a new Red Scare.
53. Richard Nixon’s victory in the election of 1968 was made possible by what shift in
voting behaviors?
a.
African Americans turned on the Johnson administration and predominantly voted Republican.
b.
White wage earners from both the North and South were increasingly voting Republican instead of
Democrat.
c.
Southern whites were increasingly voting Democrat, mainly due to issues surrounding foreign
affairs.
d.
Young adults failed to turn out to vote, and as a result, liberal candidates experienced a lack of
support.
e.
Most voters relied on information in television ads, and Nixon focused most of his efforts on a
major television ad campaign.
ESSAY
1. Compare the philosophies and methods of Martin Luther King Jr. and the leaders of the black
power movement. Which was more successful and why?
2. Did the Great Society live up to its name? In what ways was it successful and in what ways
was it a failure?
3. How and why did Lyndon Johnson’s presidency mark a turning point for American
involvement in Vietnam?
4. In what ways is the civil rights movement of the 1960s similar to protests and demonstrations
today? In what ways is it different? Were civil rights activists ultimately successful?
5. How did the 1960s change the political positions and philosophies of the Democratic and
Republican parties?
6. Describe the Warren Court’s impact on American life in the 1960s.
7. Was the success of the civil rights movement more “top down” (driven by federal authority
and action) or “bottom up” (driven by local and individual action)? Why?
8. How did the cold war change under John F. Kennedy? Be sure to consider policy as well as
areas of conflict.
9. To what extent did the year 1964 represent a turning point for American politics and society?
10. The year 1968 has been called the most turbulent year of the 1960s. Explain why.
MATCHING
Match each description with the item below.
a.
was an openly racist Alabama governor who vowed to protect segregation and later ran for
president on the American Independent Party ticket
b.
won California’s Democratic primary in 1968 but was assassinated that night by Sirhan Sirhan out
of resentment for his support of Israel
c.
was an African American air force veteran whose efforts to attend a southern university were met
with a white mob, resulting in the arrival of National Guard troops
d.
was an outspoken activist on racism, sexism, the “prison-industrial complex,” gay/lesbian rights,
and the Vietnam War
e.
wrote the best-selling book The Conscience of a Conservative (1960) and won Arizona in the 1964
presidential race
f.
was a Freedom Rider who recruited new members upon hearing about the violence perpetrated
toward Freedom Riders in Birmingham
g.
was elected vice president under John F. Kennedy in 1960 and later on developed programs that
would exceed Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal in scope
h.
was secretary of state during the Cuban missile crisis and told reporters to say that the Soviets
“blinked first”
i.
was an American army commander in Vietnam who focused on waging a war of attrition and using
overwhelming firepower
j.
became a major spokesman for the Black Muslim movement and expressed the emotions and
frustrations of the inner-city African American working poor
1. Angela Davis
2. Barry Goldwater
3. Diane Nash
4. Lyndon Johnson
5. Robert F. Kennedy
6. Malcolm X
7. James Meredith
8. Dean Rusk
9. George Wallace
10. William Westmoreland
