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1960s

1960s. Reaction to 50’s?. A time of political centrism Trust in govt, fear of Communists President Eisenhower (1951-1960) – “In tune with the National Mood” Rise in prosperity. So why protest if economic conditions are so good?. Per Capita income increased 35% from 1945

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1960s

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  1. 1960s

  2. Reaction to 50’s? • A time of political centrism • Trust in govt, fear of Communists • President Eisenhower (1951-1960) – “In tune with the National Mood” • Rise in prosperity

  3. So why protest if economic conditions are so good? • Per Capita income increased 35% from 1945 • Home ownership: 45% in 1945, 60% in 1960 • 10% of Americans owned a TV in 1945, 90% owned one in 1960 • 1962 – Defense = 60% of the economy

  4. Fear of Nuclear War

  5. What kind of a world are the Baby-Boomers going to inherit? • 1965, 40% of HS students attended college – Up from 15% in 1955 • Begin to question the role of universities – Are they training you to be a conformist? • Are you becoming another number in the eyes of the government? • Are racial inequalities going to rip America at the seams?

  6. Evidence of Social Change • JFK – Shot in Dallas, TX 1963 • Lyndon B. Johnson/Great Society program – Declared a “war on poverty” – Broad social reforms designed to help Americans • An est. 34.6 mill Americans living in poverty – 40% under 18. Perhaps 1/5 of America living in poverty • “Our Chief weapon will be better schools, better training, and better job opporunities”

  7. Students for a Democratic Society • Led by Tom Hayden • Called for “participatory Democracy” – search for truly democratic alternatives • Told police “the whole world is watching” as they staged protests against Vietnam, Civil Rights

  8. Are you “on the bus”? • Leftist/ anti conformist movement emerged • Heavy use of LSD, Marijuana – “The veil has been pulled back, my eyes have been opened” • Hippies try to levitate the Pentagon

  9. Vietnam • 1963-1967 = War to stop Communist aggression in the world • 1968-1973 = War of colonial oppression, and a political quagmire which we cannot win

  10. TET Offensive - 1968 • Vietcong (North Vietnam Communists) attack US troops • Operation Rolling Thunder not working • “We will win the war on the streets of NYC” – Ho Chi Minh • US press begins to turn against LBJ

  11. Civil Rights • Perhaps biggest avenue of social change lay in Civil Rights • Greensboro Sitins – 1960 • Voting drives of 1960s – Student led • Grass roots orientated

  12. Civil Rights (Contd) • Many riots filmed on TV – Northerners see the tension • March on Birmingham, AL – MLK created march on “most segregated city in America” • March on Washington, DC – 1965 • Freedom Summer 1964 • Civil Rights Act 64, Voting Rights Act 65

  13. 1968 • RFK – Shot in CA • MLK – Shot in Memphis • SDS – Led large scale revolt at Dem National Convention in Chicago • TET offensive • America EXPLODES

  14. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1973) • A political conservative who won on “the silent majority” • Pulled U.S. troops out of Vietnam • Furthered distrust between ppl and government with Watergate

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