Final answer:
John Kennedy's New Frontier focused on creating a new era of scientific and social progress, with legislative achievements like the increase in defense spending, the raise of minimum wage, and the extension of unemployment insurance. Initiatives like the Peace Corps were also part of Kennedy's vision for advancement at home and abroad.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Kennedy's New Frontier primarily focused on creating a new era of scientific and social progress. This encompassed a range of domestic policies that aimed at transforming America's political agenda into legislative action. The New Frontier aimed to increase federal funds to education, raise the minimum wage, increase social security payouts, provide more medical assistance to the elderly, create a department to help urban affairs, and pass civil rights legislation.
Despite facing considerable opposition from a conservative Congress, some parts of Kennedy's vision did materialize. Successes included a 20% increase in defense spending, a raised minimum wage to $1.25 an hour, and extended unemployment insurance. Through these measures, Kennedy hoped to usher in a new era characterized by both technological advancement, such as the space program with its goal to land a man on the moon, and societal improvement through progressive social policies.
The pursuit of the New Frontier also extended to foreign policy, where initiatives such as the Peace Corps sought to improve U.S. relations with third world countries and foster democracy. These domestic and international efforts collectively embodied Kennedy's vision for scientific and social progress under the New Frontier.