From 1945 to 1970, the US experienced strong economic growth and rising living standards, though racial integration progressed slowly. The Soviet launch of Sputnik spurred increased US government investment in education and technology. Young and charismatic John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 on a message of revitalizing the country, but was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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.