The New Frontier was part of a speech that President Kennedy gave when he was chosen to run for the Democratic Party in the presidential election of 1960. The speech seemed to be like a beginning a revolution or a new start.
"We stand on the edge of a New Frontier—the frontier of unfulfilledhopes and dreams, a frontier of unknown opportunities and beliefs in
peril. Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space,
unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered problems of ignorance
and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus."
The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1961 in order to increase the minimum wage. This act also created the time and a half. So if you work overtime then you can be payed one and a half times as much as you usually get payed.
The Omnibus Housing Bill was also created in 1961. This was made so more affordable houses could be built, and hopefully that could speed up the economy. The bill also stated that much of the old urban design should be preserved instead over just tearing everything down.
The Manpower Development and Training Act was signed in 1962. This act focused on retraining workers so they could work using physical labor too, since they were so used to all of the new technology coming around. It was mainly intended for the struggling areas. This bill seems surprising, coming from a Democratic government.
Another act was passed to help with the mentally challenged. This provided better care for the mentally challenged and better facilities. Kennedy had a sister with mental problems.
Equal rights for women was another big obvious push that Kennedy made for his reform. He wanted equality for women in the workplace, in education, and under the law. He and his wife pushed for better wages and hours, better legal representation, and better education. In the early 1960's, women were paid about sixty percent of what men received.
The U.S. special forces also made great leaps during this time period. The Navy Seals and the Air Force Commandos were formed.
I think that these bills made quite a bit of sense compared to some of the bills passed today. I think a lot of good was done during this time period.
Sources-
http://ndn1.newsweek.com/media/65/Obama-liberal-kennedy-NA05-wide-horizontal.jpg
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/207152main_vonbraun-kennedy-516.jpg
http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-120.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Frontier
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