The shots that rang out in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963 were the ones that would change America forever. The victim was one of the most controversial presidents in American history: John F. Kennedy. Born in May 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy was known by many as the youngest man ever elected president of the United States. His family, unsurprisingly, had had a long and illustrious history in politics. Kennedy's maternal grandfather, John "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald, had been a Democratic mayor of Boston. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy, served as ambassador to Great Britain under the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. With these accomplishments representing his family, Kennedy grew up in an atmosphere of wealth and privilege. He served in the Pacific theater as a Marine lieutenant during World War II, but decided to begin his political career soon after. He ran for the House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1946 and was re-elected in 1948 and 1950 to the position. In 1960 he earned the title of President of the United States, defeating his opponent Richard Nixon only by a small margin of two-tenths of a percentage point of the popular vote. However, the years that followed during his presidency were ones that would have a lasting impact on America. His assassination, in particular, was a traumatizing event for many people. The social and political stress that the nation was experiencing during this time was shown to be linked to his death. From the Bay of Pigs invasion to the civil rights movement, these controversies reflect the passing of the president. As a result, the assassination of John F. Kennedy shows the growing social and political tension of America during the 1960s. During the first two years of...... half of document......educational: Primary Sources: Assassination of JFK”, it is clear that Americans were absolutely horrified by the assassination. The situation caused much chaos across the nation, further demonstrating the changing social status of the country. All in all, it becomes clear that the assassination of John F. Kennedy portrays the political and social tension of America in the 1960s. Whether it was the struggle to stop the spread of communism or to achieve racial equality, all of these events have proven to be associated with the event that occurred on November 22, 1963. It was during this decade that society and politics began to change, with many Americans dissatisfied with the country's status. It was perhaps this dissatisfaction that led to the assassination of the 35th President of the United States, a truly unforgettable moment in American history..