The 1960's and the 1970's
21 years. That is how long the conflict in Vietnam lasted, 21 grueling years. This conflict was as simple as communism vs. capitalism, a conflict that has been the most scrutinized conflict in American history, veterans being called 'baby killers" and such. Vietnam consumed a generation, created controversy, and would further go against Wilson's wishes of the cease of all imperialism.
Political
1.)The Kennedy Space Program was created during this time period. Kennedy had visions of putting a man on the moon, and his plan did follow through, but not until seven years after he was assassinated. His speech given on September 12, 1962 really talked about how beneficial it would be to put a man on the moon.
2.)Lyndon B. Johnson created all of these Great Society programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and more. Medicare helps elderly people, and it is a type of health insurance. Johnson sought ideas for equal right, equal opportunities, and had visions of a great society.
3.) In 1973 was when the Watergate scandal took place. Richard Nixon used people to break into the Watergate Hotel, which was where the Democratic National Convention was taking place, his opponent in the presidential running's convention. In 1974, he went on trial for this and was supposed to be impeached, but resigned before his impeachment was supposed to happen. His famous quote is "I am not a crook!" The Vietnam War ended in 1975. The Vietnam War was an undeclared war.
Economic
1.)The only real financial problems going on during this time were all of the debts from the war. So many weapons, beds, and more were bought for the war, and there was so much debt from it. This was a big difference from the previous decade where money was no problem at all.
2.) U.S. Soldiers and the Draft, During the Vietnam War, there were a lot of U.S. soldiers over in Vietnam. research shows that around 76% of men sent to Vietnam were from middle/working class backgrounds. Also, the education of men played a huge role in who went over seas to Vietnam or not. 79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better, when they entered the military service. Only 23% of college students were drafted.
The draft was an unfair system during the Vietnam War. It shows how men did not normally go into war unless they had been educated, this proves to show that men were not good enough to go into the war, believed they weren't smart enough. Only men with a good education and a good income were allowed to go into the war.
Social
1.)The counter culture, also known as hippies, were very popular during the 60's. These people believe in no war, and peace and love. They were all about going with the flow, and their lifestyles were heavily influenced by drugs and sex. Anti war protests were popular and happened often while the Vietnam War was going on. Hippies and anyone against war would protest for how they felt and what they believed in. The Vietnam War was the first televised war and when the soldiers who fought in Vietnam arrived home, they were treated poorly.
2.) Kennedy created the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps was an organization where volunteers sign up to travel to third world countries to help out in anyway they could. For example, they help out with AIDS treatments, educate children, nurse the sick, provide food, and much more. Kennedy sought to encourage mutual understanding between Americans and people form other countries. He wanted to bring everyone
together and live happily.
Progress?
Vietnam/Watergate was not progress. The war shook the nation's confidence level in the government and led to some having a feeling of isolation from knowing what's going on within the Capitol and the White House. Years after the war, Americans didn't want to become involved in affairs with other nations. The Vietnam War made Americans doubt the government, add that in with Watergate and many Americans began to have the sense that the government was corrupted. But on the other side, progress was evident in the 1960's and the 1970's. With the conclusion of the space race coming in 1969 when America landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon, the first in the history of man. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X paved the way for future black generations when they fought for their civil rights. In 1964, both achieved their ultimate goal even though they had very different opinions on how to achieve the goal. We also saw the evolution of what a president could be with the election of the young JFK. JFK's election set the bar high for the youth in society, to aspire to achieve whatever goals they have, and to do so with haste because time does not wait, time only goes forward and that's what the 1960's and the 1970's were a time of, forward thinking and change.