09-60年代.pptVIP

An Introductory Course on American StudiesLecture 7: The Issues of the 60s Events precedent to the 60s International issues cold war -- arms race -- Cuba -- Vietnam Domestic Issues Civil Rights movement -- Campus upheavals Prelude to the 60s end of WWII and beginning of Cold War the Chinese and Korean Wars the complacent and stagnant decade of the 50s From Eisenhower to JFK JFK beats Nixon by 120000 votes, 0.17%; Personality: a better TV performer Economy: a handicap for party in power Religion: Catholic voters vs Protestants JKF’s promise for a New Frontier ? “get the country moving again” ?Peace Corps: constructive or destructive competition; ?Space Program: constructive competition appealing to wounded pride ?Arms race ?1961 invasion of Cuba ?1962 Cuban missile crisis ?the Quagmire of Vietnam Cold war mentality (1) campaign oratory: 1860--whether the nation could exist half-slave and half free; 1960--whether the world will exist half-slave and half free accusation of Truman of “losing” China to Communism; of Eisenhower of “losing” Cuba Cold war mentality (2) the fear of political future for Democrats the competition with and containment against Russia the Domino Theory “if we do not stop the Reds in Vietnam, tomorrow they will be in Hawaii, and next week they will be in San Francisco” The War against Cuba 1961 invasion of Cuba: April; landing at the Bay of Pigs; Hoped-for anti-Castro movements: failure; CIA effort to topple Castro even by assassination and enlisting Mafia 1962 Cuban missile crisis; eyeballing tactics in response to challenges The Quagmire of Vietnam Johnson: “would not be the president who saw Vietnam go the way of China”; Ask for “free hand” from Congress; a blank check; Military build-up: 180000 by 1965; 500000