The 1960s in the United States of America

Extract

[...] Kennedy in 1961 symbolised the conventionalism of the era. Racial segregation persisted legally in many southern states, and African-Americans occupied subordinate social roles. The archetypal American family of the time was made up of white suburbanites living in comfortable homes with picturesque lawns (=peloues pittoresques), embodying the nation's idealised way of life. Internationally, the United States faced extreme tensions with the Soviet Union. The crash of a U2 spy plane in 1960 and the political fallout that followed underlined the precarious nature of the Cold War. [...]

[...] They also made history with the first human spacewalk by Alexei Leonov in 1965. However, their lunar program couldn't keep up with the success of the Apollo missions. Legacy The race to the moon had a lasting impact on history. It inspired people worldwide to dream of space exploration. It led to new technologies, important scientific discoveries, and showed what humans could achieve in space. Today, new moon missions by governments and private companies continue the spirit of the lunar race, inspiring humanity to explore the universe. [...]

[...] About 7,000 National Guard and U.S. Army troops were called in to help. The Detroit riots were one of the most violent and damaging events in U.S. history. The Kerner Report had a clear message, warning that America could become two separate and unequal societies if nothing changed. However, it also offered hope by suggesting that these problems could be fixed. It recommended that the country take strong action to promote racial integration and fair distribution of resources. 1968: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. [...]

[...] ex : in Detroit's Virginia Park neighborhood, predominantly inhabited by African-Americans, some 60,000 low-income residents lived in the neighborhood's 460 acres, mostly in small subdivided apartments 1967: The Kerner Commission and Racial Unrest In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Kerner Commission to investigate the causes of racial unrest in American cities. The report pointed out serious problems of discrimination, segregation, economic inequality, and police violence. It showed a country divided by race, with black communities suffering from poverty and isolation. [...]

[...] This event pushed the United States to take action. American efforts The United States began the Mercury and Gemini programs to develop technology and skills for human spaceflight. President John F. Kennedy's 1961 speech was a turning point. He promised that America would land a man on the moon and bring him back safely before the end of the decade. Apollo program The Apollo program was the main focus of America's moon ambitions. Its biggest success was the Apollo 11 mission. [...]