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1960s Impact

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“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” –Martin Luther King Jr. Just as Martin Luther King Jr. had dreamed, events that happened in the 1960s still greatly impact the way Americans live today. The politics of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and the counterculture of 1960’s youth all still affect America today. The decade of the 1960s has a great impact on the United States. In the election of 1960, the candidates used television to their advantage for the first time. Presidential debates were televised, and an estimated 75 million people sat in front of their television sets to watch the presidents. The …show more content…

In 1961 Soviet Astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, was the first human to orbit the Earth. President Kennedy worried that the Soviets leading in the space race might influence the world into believing that communism was a better option than capitalism, and that would hurt America in the Cold War. Kennedy went before congress less than two months later and declared: “I believed this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon” (Appleby 604). One year later, America matched the Soviets with U.S. astronaut John Glenn orbiting the Earth. On July 16, 1969, Saturn V, the most powerful rocket ever built, lifted off carrying Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins. Four days later, Aldrin and Armstrong boarded Eagle and began the trip to the moon. Armstrong became the first human to step foot on the moon and said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” (Appleby 604). Landing a man on the moon caused America to win the space race proving our technology to be superior over the Soviets. The competition between the Soviets and the United States caused technological advances within the …show more content…

Beards, mustaches, and long hair on men was a sign of rebellion because of the popular buzz cut in the 1950s. However, what was once a symbol of rebellion became mainstream, and long hair on men became very popular. Music also experienced a change within the 1960s. Musicians used folk and rock-n-roll music to create new rhythms with heartfelt lyrics that showed their hopes for the new generation. Bob Dylan was a huge folk singer who became a big part of the movement. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who all became popular rock musicians and used amplified instruments that changed the sound of rock forever (Flower 1). The counterculture of the 1960s still affect music and fashion trends

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892 Words | 4 Pages

The 1960s in the United States was marked by many significant events, such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the rise of subculture that reshaped America’s identity. Although the Civil Rights Movement was successful in that it advanced rights for minorities, it was problematic because it created racial tension between whites and blacks and gave police the opportunity to brutalize Civil Rights advocates. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the entire world to the brink of nuclear warfare. The discovery of Cuba’s missiles created panic within the US and forced the US to compete in an intense nuclear arms race. The rise of subculture, such as the use of drugs, communal living, the feminist movement, and the rejection of

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1947 Words | 8 Pages

Stearns With the following words, President John F. Kennedy launched one of the largest endeavors that United States ever embarked upon: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon, and returning him, safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish” (Pyle). This ambitious goal declared on May 25, 1961 before a joint session of Congress, began the space program in America that would lead to the first man on the moon eight years later. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong stepped off the Lunar Module's ladder and onto the Moon's surface. Apollo 11, the most commemorated lunar mission in America resulted from a lot preliminary efforts and preparation that without, the giant leap for mankind could not have been possible.

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As the 60s continued, this style suddenly merged into “folk-rock” as electrified instruments and a more clean and advanced type of song writing was introduced (“1960s: Music”). Playing these styles, famous bands included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. These well known bands and new styles greatly impacted America. All in all, music had a great impact on America and new styles, songs, bands, and instruments highly affected

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Moreover, Kennedy's space program had significant geological indications. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a fierce competition known as the "Space Race." By committing to landing a man on the moon, Kennedy aimed to demonstrate American mechanical excellence and establish the United States as a global leader. The successful moon landing of Apollo XI in 1969 achieved that goal and compacted America's position as a powerful force in space exploration. Overall, Kennedy's help with the space program left a lasting legacy.

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The launch of the Apollo 11 made history in the 1960s. The mission set the first man on the moon, as well as putting the United States ahead of the Soviet Union in the Space Race. The crew consisted of three well trained astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. The Apollo 11 had a significant impact on the 1960s because it put the first ever man on the moon.

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The American NASA Team was quickly able to replicate all the same accomplishments the U.S.S.R. achieved, within a year timeframe no less, all the under the Presidential administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. John F. Kennedy however showed much more urgency in the matter and saw a prime opportunity to strike up and rally the nation together by instilling nationalistic pride in the need to make the first man on the moon an American. Following the return of NASA’s human spaceflight program, Project Mercury, which put Alan Shepard as the first American outside of earths orbit on May 5, 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed Congress that the U.S. would become the first country to land on the moon by the end of the decade. President John F.

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Prior to the achievements of the United States in space, the Soviet Union, a key rival during the Cold War, had succeeded in exploring space and landing in the moon. Yuri Gagarin from the Soviet Union became the first person in space (Schlesinger, 2002). For the Soviet Union leaders, the accomplishment symbolized the communist perspective that was embraced by the members.

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1960: Changing of the Times In the 1960s there was a lot of change. Starting with the civil rights movement, in which African American protested segregation. The performed sit in and freedom rides. Feminism movement was a major key in the 1960s.

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A band called the Beatles influenced this decade in ways where it led to “rebellious” teenagers and helped begin a period of “hippies.” The Beatles were a British band that very quickly captured the hearts of people all over the world because of the new sense of style. This type of music left such a lasting impression on the 60’s that people in today consider the 60’s the “Hippy years.” This type of music began to persuade people to live a different lifestyle and to “‘do your own thing’ became a common expression” (Ember, American History: The 1960’s, a Decade

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THE 1960’S The 1960’s were a decade of dramatic change in the United States characterized by changes politically, scientifically and technologically, and culturally. Undeniably, this period of our history is easily one of the most important times in the development of our modern nation. During the sixties, the United States was filled with many different movements that changed the beliefs and ideals of all types of people, primarily the younger generations.

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The 1960s was an eventful and memorable time for everyone across the globe. It was a time of civil rights, the first landing on the moon and equal rights as well as the assassination of America’s president John F. Kennedy, the start of the Vietnam war and Martin Luther King Jnr’s assassination as well as with many other events. A major event in 1960s was the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War began in 1959 and occurred in Vietnam, Southeast Asia.

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The Sixties. A time of civil rights advancement and social change, as well as the age of knowledge- with breakthroughs in the maths and sciences. A time of renewed entertainment and pop culture as well as political turmoil. The 1960’s was a decade where America saw a change in the way minorities were treated. Groups such as the women’s liberation movement, gay rights movement, and racial equality groups such as the Chicano Movement and the SNCC, all saw progress in this time.

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Rock music combined the sounds of Rock and Roll with Pop and composed of lyrics that were more harsh and self conscious. The style of music and it 's commonly played frequencies changed with an importance of prolonged instrumentals. The most famous Rock bands of the Sixties, out of many, include the Beatles, and Pink Floyd. The Beatles and Pink Floyd both became two of the greatest bands of all time. The Beatles opened the door to Progressive Rock, and inspired many new bands to begin performing.

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The Changing Sixties To this day, the impact the 1960’s is still felt. It was an era of so many changes politically, musically and culturally. It was a generation divided between hanging on to the safe, conservative 50’s and diving into the changes that the 60’s had to offer. Changes such as the stance on the war, civil rights, psychedelic music and drug use. Bob Dylan summed up the era by writing “The Times

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772 Words | 4 Pages

With the United States being the leading power in nuclear war, the Soviet Union wanted to do something bigger, but America had the same goal. They wanted to be the first to put a man on the moon, thus creating the Space Race. The U.S was always a step behind the Soviets in this race. John F. Kennedy then made the statement that America would be the first to put a man on the moon by the end of the year (History.com). After this claim, NASA’s budget was increased to over 500 percent to achieve this big American goal (History.com).

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