What was the significance of the election of John F Kennedy?
Would it be that there was a democrat back in power...
or that he supported the Civil Rights Movement...
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-ennedy-elected-president
Read carefully.
This is mainly a matter of opinion, however....
A Catholic was elected.
A Catholic and a Southerner were elected on the same ticket.
I am not so certain Civil Rights played that much in his election, remember, President Eisenhower had already sent troops to Little Rock to enforce 9 black children going to school with whites.
From my perspective, a Southerner, it was that a Yankee Catholic was elected for the first time. His being CAtholic played a lot of chatter during the election. He even had to give speeches saying he wouldn't take orders from the Pope. As if.
As a northerner in Springfield, Illinois, I was also painfully aware of the issue of his Catholic religion. We were flooded by illiterate-sounding anti-Catholic propaganda leaflets.
A large part was that he was a Democrat.
Next, Kennedy had a great deal of charisma and was a war hero. Civil rights was not a primary focus in his election; however many people were concerned at that time about his religion. Remember that was the early 60's. Cuba and Castro were a big problem and at that time considered a threat that the Republicans had not responded to.
thank you everyone!
You're very welcome! We all jumped on this one. :-)
The significance of the election of John F. Kennedy goes beyond the fact that a Democrat came back into power. While it is true that Kennedy was a Democrat and his victory heralded a shift in political power from the Republican administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower, his election was significant for several other reasons as well.
One of the major factors that made Kennedy's election significant was his support for the Civil Rights Movement. During the campaign, Kennedy emphasized his commitment to advancing civil rights and promised to take action to address racial inequalities. This resonated with many African Americans and civil rights activists, who saw hope in his election.
However, it is important to note that Kennedy's support for the Civil Rights Movement evolved over time. Initially, he was cautious about taking strong measures in this regard, fearing a political backlash. It was not until later in his presidency, particularly after events such as the Birmingham campaign and the March on Washington, that Kennedy became more publicly supportive of civil rights legislation.
To understand the significance of Kennedy's election in this context, it would be helpful to explore his presidency further. You can study Kennedy's speeches, actions, and policies related to civil rights, such as his support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additionally, examining the broader historical context of the Civil Rights Movement and other factors influencing Kennedy's decision-making will provide a more comprehensive understanding of his impact.