The Kennedys: America in the 60s

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The Kennedys were at the heart of America in the 1960s, shaping much of the nation's social, political, economic, foreign policy and spiritual values. Theirs was an extraordinary decade in history, and the social and political change it experienced continues to reverberate. Abroad, the United States experienced major collisions of the Cold War, escalated its involvement in the Vietnam War, and committed deeply to the Space Race. At home, conservatives were confronted by the civil rights movement, the rise of the Left, youth rebellions, the anti-war movement, a 'war on poverty' and a 'sexual revolution' - all of which radically changed America. Students of this course will find that the story of the Kennedys - America's most iconic family - opens a window to the nation's story at its most critical chapter.