Contemporary Literature and the Events That Influenced It

Contemporary Literature and the Events That Influenced It

In the last forty years there have been some key people and events that have shaped history and in turn have influenced the works of some of literature’s most prolific writers. During this time period some of the most powerful speeches, poems, and literary protests were written. These works of literature were sometimes written out of necessity for the times and spoke out to all that read them. It all started in 1960 when John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon, become one of the youngest men ever to hold the office of president; in the eyes of many this event began a new era in history.

When John F. Kennedy was elected he inherited the task of taking over a nation that was in the middle of many tragic events. Kennedy’s ideas and dreams were summed up in this famous line from his election speech when he stated “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” In 1963, when John F. Kennedy was only in his third year as president, the young, well liked president was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president in the wake of