nd their government, and ask, as JFK put it, what they can do for their country.
             In 1962, 6.7% of could be-working Americans were unemployed. Those who did live on the minimum wage earned $1.15 an hour (roughly $6.10 today). Inflation was a mere 0.4%.
             In the House of Representatives, the Democratic Party held supremacy over the Republicans. While in the Senate, Republicans held majority over Democrats. A growing trend in the early sixties was the rise of the "Dixiecrat." Predominantly from the south, these Democrats did not agree with the party's endorsement of the civil rights movement, but they did not fully agree with Republican policy either.
             Faith was a keystone of modern American life in 1962. Most American's attended some form of mass or religious service. Just eleven years before Engel v. Vitale, the words "under god" had been added to the Pledge of Allegiance to further solidify the American institution of faith.
             In 1962, there was no federal law requiring that all public schools recite a prayer before or during the school hours. New York state law didn't require it either, yet they did permit it.
             The New York State Board of Regents, an appointed committee which oversaw and made decisions for New York public education recommended that the Regents Prayer: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country." be integrated into New York schools' daily announcements.
             In 1951, New Hyde Park, New York's school board complied with the NY State Board of Regents; directing their faculty to add the prayer into the regular school morning exercises (the pledge of allegiance, morning announcements). Students who did not agree with the prayer were given three alternatives: 1. Recite the prayer along with the class, even thought they do not agree with it's meaning. 2. Stand silent...