The United States in the 1960s was an immensely powerful and wealthy country. The dominant world power at the end of World War II (1939–45), the United States had developed the strongest military in the world during the 1950s. The military buildup was a product of the Cold War (1945–91), a long-simmering conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union that prompted both countries to maintain large armies and develop powerful arsenals of weapons. The United States was also the world's economic giant. Well-off in the 1950s, the nation became even more prosperous in the 1960s. For example, the country experienced economic growth during every month between 1961 and 1969. This American affluence was widespread, bringing such goods as televisions, automobiles, and electric appliances within reach of a large segment of the American population.

Yet all this wealth and power did not necessarily mean that the United...