Decades of prosperity and

change

From 1945 until 1970, the USA enjoyed a long period of economic growth. For the first time, the great majority of Americans could enjoy a comfortable standard of living. By 1960, 55 percent of all households owned washing machines, 77 percent owned cars, 90 percent had television sets and nearly all had refrigerators.

At the same time, the United States was moving slowly in the direction of racial justice. In 1948, President Truman ended racial segregation in the armed forces and in all federal agencies. In 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that segregation in the public schools was unconstitutional; nevertheless, southern states continued to resist integration.

In 1957, Americans learnt that the Soviet Union had launched Sputnik, the Earth’s first man-made satellite. This was a shock for the United States, a nation that had always taken pride in its technological advances. In response, the American federal government increased efforts to produce a satellite and spent more money on education, especially in the sciences.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OanIEuPyc44

In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy was elected President. Young, energetic and handsome, Kennedy promised to ‘get the country moving again’.

Complete the sentences*In 1963 Kennedy was __________ in Dallas, Texas.

*Kennedy imposed a _____ on Cuba.

*Kennedy was not a ___ _________ president, but his death was a terrible shock to the American people.

*The new President became Lyndon Johnson, who had been ______ ______ under Kennedy.