THE CENTURY: AMERICA’S TIME



THE CENTURY: AMERICA’S TIME

POISONED DREAMS

The first few years of the 1960s promised a greater, stronger and more unified America

than ever. America, as the undisputed leader of the free world, straddled the globe like

Colossus. But within a few years the optimism of the first years of the decade would

vanish, only to be replaced by the uncertainty of a new and unfamiliar world, and the

national mourning of a fallen leader. This episode covers the years 1960-1963, and

examines the events of the era such as the lunch counter sit-ins at Greensboro, North

Carolina, the Kennedy years, the Cuban Missile Crisis and America’s increasing

involvement in Vietnam. The episode ends with the assassination of Kennedy and the

loss of American innocence.

OBJECTIVES

Students will analyze the effects of the twentieth century on American life, political

institutions, economics, foreign policy and culture. They will also investigate how events

in the twentieth century influenced America’s position as a world leader, and how global

and domestic events created change, and sometimes turmoil, in America itself.

NATIONAL HISTORY STANDARDS

Poisoned Dreams fulfills the following National Standards for History for grades 5-12:

Chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation,

historical research capabilities, historical issues-analysis and decision-making.

PRE-VIDEO QUESTIONS:

1. The early 1960s were unique in that it was truly a youth culture. List some ways in which this

is evident.

2. Describe why John F. Kennedy was described as a cold warrior?

3. Why do you believe JKF was so popular?

4. How did television influence the 1960 presidential election?

5. Why did the Soviet Union erect the Berlin Wall?

6. Why was JFK’s assassination the day America “lost its innocence?”

DURING VIDEO QUESTIONS:

1. Who were the presidential candidates in 1960?

2. What did studies after the debate say about who won?

Why?

3. Give a few examples why JFK was so well-liked and respected.

4. What did Soviet Yuri Gagarin do in 1961?

How did the US respond 3 weeks later?

5. How did JFK react to Khrushchev’s request that all Allied forces leave Berlin?

6. What did U-2 planes over Cuba discover in 1962?

What did it cause?

7. What did JFK do to try to persuade the USSR to keep the missiles out?

What was the result?

8. What was the domino theory in Southeast Asia?

10. How did Buddhist monks protest in Vietnam?

11. What did the JFK and Khrushchev agree on in 1963?

12. What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?

POST VIDEO QUESTION: Write your answer below.

Which event from the video do you think was the most important or had the greatest impact on America. Explain your answer and provide at least two supporting facts.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download