Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Kennedy’s New Frontier: social welfare and unemployment programmes;…
Full specification wording
Affluence and conformity, 1955–63: Kennedy’s New Frontier: social welfare and unemployment programmes; environmentalism and expansion of the National Park system; the Peace Corps; the space programme; extent of Kennedy’s domestic achievements.
Kennedy's New Frontier promised domestic reform.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Kennedy's New Frontier promised domestic reform. Social welfare and unemployment programmes included the Area Redevelopment Act (1961) and Manpower Development and Training Act (1962), targeting depressed regions and jobless workers, though many bills stalled in Congress. Environmentalism advanced through the Clean Air Act (1963) and expansion of the National Park system, protecting new areas and adding to federal conservation. The Peace Corps (1961) sent American volunteers abroad to aid development, projecting Cold War soft power. The space programme accelerated after the Soviet Sputnik success, with Kennedy's 1961 pledge to land a man on the Moon before 1970, boosting NASA funding. Overall, Kennedy's domestic achievements were limited: tax cuts and civil rights legislation passed only under Lyndon Johnson, so assessment must weigh ambition against congressional obstruction.
What earns the marks
- Explains the purpose and impact of social welfare and unemployment programmes such as the Area Redevelopment Act and Manpower Development and Training Act.
- Describes environmental measures, including the Clean Air Act and expansion of the National Park system, and their significance.
- Analyses the aims and achievements of the Peace Corps as an instrument of foreign policy and volunteer service.
- Assesses the space programme's development, including Kennedy's Moon pledge and increased NASA funding.
- Evaluates the extent of Kennedy's domestic achievements, considering congressional opposition and legislation completed under Johnson.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming Kennedy's social welfare programmes were fully successful.
Put it right: Note many were blocked or watered down by Congress.
Confusing the Peace Corps with military intervention.
Put it right: Present it as a volunteer development and soft-power programme.
Attributing the Civil Rights Act and tax cuts entirely to Kennedy.
Put it right: Recognise they were completed under Lyndon Johnson.
Exam tips
- Use specific legislation and dates to support judgements about the New Frontier.
- Balance ambition against achievement when assessing Kennedy's domestic record.
- Link each programme to its wider Cold War or social context to show understanding.
Try the lesson
The start of the Affluence and conformity, 1955–63: Kennedy’s New Frontier: social welfare and unemployment programmes; environmentalism and expansion of the National Park system; the Peace Corps; the space programme; extent of Kennedy’s domestic achievements. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which New Frontier programme sent American volunteers abroad to work on development projects in poorer countries?
Listen
Kennedy's New Frontier promised domestic reform. Social welfare and unemployment programmes included the Area Redevelopment Act (1961) and Manpower Development and Training Act (1962), targeting depressed regions and jobless workers, though many bills stalled in Congress. Environmentalism advanced through the Clean Air Act (1963) and expansion of the National Park system, protecting new areas and adding to federal conservation. The Peace Corps (1961) sent American volunteers abroad to aid development, projecting Cold War soft power. The space programme accelerated after the Soviet Sputnik success, with Kennedy's 1961 pledge to land a man on the Moon before 1970, boosting NASA funding. Overall, Kennedy's domestic achievements were limited: tax cuts and civil rights legislation passed only under Lyndon Johnson, so assessment must weigh ambition against congressional obstruction. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the purpose and impact of social welfare and unemployment programmes such as the Area Redevelopment Act and Manpower Development and Training Act. Describes environmental measures, including the Clean Air Act and expansion of the National Park system, and their significance. Analyses the aims and achievements of the Peace Corps as an instrument of foreign policy and volunteer service. Assesses the space programme's development, including Kennedy's Moon pledge and increased NASA funding. A common slip: Claiming Kennedy's social welfare programmes were fully successful. Instead, note many were blocked or watered down by Congress. Exam tip: Use specific legislation and dates to support judgements about the New Frontier.
See it
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Area Redevelopment Act targeted depressed regions
- 2. Clean Air Act advanced environmentalism
- 3. Manpower Development and Training Act helped jobless workers
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Federal social reform
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Environmental conservation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Cold War soft power
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Space race and technology
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Federal social reform
- Social welfare and unemployment programmes, including the Area Redevelopment Act and Manpower Development and Training Act, targeted depressed regions and jobless workers, though many bills stalled in Congress.
- Environmental conservation
- Environmentalism advanced through the Clean Air Act and expansion of the National Park system, protecting new areas and adding to federal conservation.
- Cold War soft power
- The Peace Corps sent American volunteers abroad to aid development, projecting soft power during the Cold War.
- Space race and technology
- The space programme accelerated after the Soviet Sputnik success, with Kennedy's pledge to land a man on the Moon before 1970, boosting NASA funding.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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