In 1963 John Kennedy said: “We are concerned with a moral issue, whether all Americans are to be given equal rights and equal opportunities”. To what extent did John Kennedy solve this moral issue?
John F. Kennedy was a democratic president of the United States of America, elected in 1961 and famously assassinated in 1963. His statement referred to the equality of races and sexes. Widespread poverty which had disproportionally been effecting minorities like blacks. The economic problems of the nation had distorted economic opportunity, these problems had manifested in the shape of several recessions under Eisenhower. These had undermined the equality of opportunity of minorities and of a quarter of america which was seen as poor. J.F.K.’s social and economic reforms, with which he was planning to tackle these issues were collectively known as the New Frontier.
Unemployment had been on the rise for over a decade when president Kennedy was inaugurated. It had come as a result of automation in industry thereby reduced the number of manufacturing jobs. Farmers were hit hard by mass-distribution which many small farms were unable to compete with, their income had fallen by 25% since 1951. As a result many young farmers began moving to the cities.
Kennedy tackled this problem by drastically reducing taxes on industry, in order to stimulate economic growth, and reduce employment. He also provided training, which the uneducated unemployed manufacturing workers needed, with the Manpower Development and Training Act in 1962. The Omnibus Housing Bill in 1961 was suppose to create jobs by creating better housing, again reducing unemployment, this too stimulated the economy. To further encourage trade tariffs were also cut. The relieve of tax burden together with economic stimulus and a rise in minimum wage from $ 1.00 to $ 1.25 increased productivity, spending and unemployment. Attempts to break monopoly prices such as that of US Steel, as kennedy diapered with the...