History- A “new frontier”

• New Frontier


  Kennedy's vision for America in the 1960s, a new era of reform and change
• John F. Kennedy


  • Young and charismatic candidate for president
  • Narrowly won election against Richard Nixon
  • Inaugurated as president in 1961
  • One of the youngest US presidents
  • First Catholic president
  • Lyndon B. Johnson as running mate and vice president
• Kennedy's New Frontier

  1. Slogan used in 1960 campaign

  2. Developed into policies for reform and change

  3. Encouraged optimism about the future

  4. Looked to science and technological innovation

  5. Attempted to confront problems of poverty, inequality and prejudice
• Kennedy achieved few of his New Frontier plans
• When Kennedy became president in 1961, the US economy was suffering a major recession
• The unemployment rate reached a peak of around 7.1 per cent in 1961
• Kennedy's actions to address poverty


  1. Made millions of dollars available to businesses to create new jobs

  2. Increased the minimum wage from $1 per hour to $1.25

  3. Increased social security benefits

  4. Got a Housing Act passed to enable people in deprived areas to access loans to improve their housing

  5. Established the Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity
• Kennedy's proposed tax cut to stimulate growth was opposed in Congress but was passed after his assassination
• Kennedy's minimum wage reform only benefitted those who were in employment
• The CEEO only helped people who already had a government job and not the unemployed or those in other industries
• The use of new technology meant fewer workers were needed so there was still high unemployment, especially among African Americans
• The Housing Act was limited and the poorest people could not afford to repay the loans
• Healthcare in America


  • Largely a private system, Americans had to pay directly for medical treatment
  • Mental health was often neglected, with those with mental illnesses placed in state institutions
• Kennedy's actions on healthcare

  Set up a research task force to provide recommendations on improving mental healthcare provision
• Peace Corps


  • Organisation that sends volunteers abroad to assist people in less economically developed countries
  • Volunteers worked as teachers, doctors, nurses and technical advisers
  • Established by Kennedy in 1961
  • Remained popular and successful
• Kennedy wanted to introduce an education law that would increase federal aid to schools
• Kennedy's actions to protect university student James Meredith


  Sent in troops and federal marshalls to protect Meredith, the first African American to enrol at the University of Mississippi, who faced violence from racists
• Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963
• Most of Kennedy's focus as president had centred around the Cold War
• Kennedy's policies related to US society are often criticised for not achieving much
• After his death, Kennedy was widely mourned as he had attempted to address issues such as poverty, inequality and prejudice
• Kennedy spoke about his commitment to civil rights
• Kennedy's planned civil rights bill became law, after his death, with the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act