During the 1960’s young adults began to challenge traditional social norms through new forms of self-expression and opinion. New organizations arose to provide a platform for social change and the realization of new agendas to include the fight for free speech and the breakdown of segregation. Throughout the 1960’s more than 70,000 participated activism throughout thirteen states (Anderson 47). Over the course of the sixties many activist organizations fought side by side for their rights as a full American citizen. The sixties was also a time of unmourns growth in population size. In 1964 and 1965 the first babies born after World War II were celebrating their 18th birthdays. Postwar birth rate resulted in the largest generation in history, just over 70 million (Anderson 89). The sixties generation included baby boomers and their older siblings born during World War II who were referred as the “first wave”. With a great economy, new technology and post war validation, these young baby boomers brought new life to America. New adventures like Spring Break offered many new adventures for young guys, in search for “beach, broads and booze” (Anderson 89). Furthermore, birth control also became available for married women in the sixties. Although most single women wore their friend’s wring in order to get their monthly prescription. “Sexy” was the new fashion during the sixties. Media quickly changed the way women dressed, instead of high bobby sox; women felt comfortable showing more skin without feeling objection (783). Postwar era also saw a big change in the number high school students that went to college. College attendance nearly doubled and a college education became critical marker of entry into the middle clas... ... middle of paper ... ... was definitely one of the most important time of country. Realizing that without the fighting for our Constitution rights and the breakdown of segregation the United States would not be what it is today. Although there plenty of other political organizations supporting different ideas, all these groups had one thing in common; the rights for American citizens. Works Cited Anderson H. Terry. The Movement and the Sixties. New York: Oxford University, 1995. Print. Catsam, Derek Charles. "'Mister, This Is Not Your Fight!': The 1961 Montgomery Freedom Ride Riots." Studies in the Literary Imagination 40.2 (2007): 93+. Academic OneFile. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. Hewitt A. Nancy and Steven F. Lawson, Exploring American Histories. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2013. Print. Weinberg, Jack “The Free Speech Movement and Civil Rights.” fsm-a.org . n.p. Jan. 1965. Web. Apl,13.
During the post WWII period in America, the face of the nation changed greatly under the presidency of Truman and Eisenhower. America underwent another era of good feelings as they thought themselves undefeatable and superior over the rest of the world. Communism was the American enemy and American sought to rid the world of it. Because of the extreme paranoia caused by Communism, conformity became an ideal way to distinguish American Culture from the rest. Conformity became a part of every American Life to a large extent. It became evident through the medium of culture, society and politics throughout the era of the 50s.
Henretta, James A., Rebecca Edwards, and Robert Self. America: A Concise History.( Boston: Bedford, St. Martin's, 2006),
The 1950’s have received a reputation as an age of political, social and cultural conformity. This reputation is rightfully given, as with almost every aspect of life people were encouraged to conform to society. Conforming is not necessarily a negative thing for society, and the aspects of which people were encouraged to conform in the 1950’s have both negative and positive connotations.
One cannot undertake any study of the 1960s in America without hearing about the struggles for social change. From civil rights to freedom of speech, civil disobedience and nonviolent protest became a central part of the sixties culture, albeit representative of only a small portion of the population. As Mario Savio, a Free Speech Movement (FSM) leader, wrote in an essay in 1964: "The most exciting things going on in America today are movements to change America" ("Takin' it to the Streets," 115). His essay is critical of those that maintain the status quo and oppose change in America. It seems quite obvious that change has occurred as a result of the efforts of this highly vocal minority and few would argue that these changes were not good and just, yet historical perspective allows us to also consider the "flaws" and contradictions of this sixties subculture.
Henretta, James A., Robert O. Self, and Rebecca Edwards. America a Concise History. Vol. 1: To 1877. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2013. N. pag. Print. Pages 195, 196, 198-199
The 1960’s was a happening decade. It was a time when many people came together for a common good and stood against injustice. The 60’s is often recalled as the era of the peace sign, one ridden with hippies, marijuana and pacifism. While true of much of the era, some of the movements calling for immense social change began as non-violent harbingers of change and later became radicals. The reason for this turn to radicalism, as seen in the case of the Students for a Democratic Society, and as suggested by the change between this organizations earlier Port Huron statement and the later Weatherman Manifesto, is due to the gradual escalation of the Vietnam war.
Henretta, James A and David* Brody. America: A concise History . Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Document.
The 1960's was a decade of tremendous social and political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society.
the civil rights movement dramatically changed the face of the nation and gave a sense of dignity and power to black Americans. Most of all, the millions of Americans who participated in the movement brought about changes that reinforced our nation’s basic constitutional rights for all Americans- black and white, men and women, young and old.
“Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” (Kennedy 916). With these words, John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address in 1961 described the 1960’s decade. This era in American history encapsulated a belief in the power of young people to change the world, a desire to help others globally and accept their differences, and a war that would eventually destroy all that America stood for. It was a time for new ideas in all aspects of life. This shift in thinking is apparent when looking at the happenings in society, the younger generation, and the media. The sixties were the beginning of many great revolutions in society.
... Great Society and Obama’s health care reform came into existence. Without the socialism/labor movement the civil rights, women’s rights and peace movements and their lasting impacts on society would never have happened.
Although the sixties were a decade in which the United States became a more open, more tolerant, and a freer country, in some ways it became less of these things. During the sixties, America intervened in other nations and efforts were made to stop the progress of the civil rights movement. Because of America’s foreign policy and Americans fight against the civil rights movement, it is clear that the sixties in America were not purely a decade of openness, tolerance, and freedom in the United States.
There is many decades that people would call the Decade of change but the 1960’s is the decade that changed the most. The 60’s was a very crazy and wild time because of the historical events that happened. Everyone was starting to experiment with LSD and Other kinds of drugs. There was also a huge surge of musical history that had happened in the 60’s that changed the History of music forever. The 60’s is what I like to call the best decade in history. The 60’s is the decade of change because of the political, technological, and Musical advances that happened in America. The music industry went from poor to the number one hit in America. The technology went from nothing to systems that would change the world, and last but not least America went from a place where blacks were not accepted to everyone getting along. It is crazy to see how the 60’s changed the history of America.
The 50s were a period of unprecedented social and political conformity, marked by fear of the Soviet Union due to the Cold War. Americans avoided dissent due t fear of being labeled a “communist”, a label which could end careers and tear apart families. It is thus surprising, at first glance, that an era of mass protests rose from a period of such conformity. America in the 1950s was in a sustained economic boom, and the American Dream seemed accessible to everyone. In truth, this fact largely contributed to civil rights momentum. However, the seeds for change in America were planted a decade prior, after World War Two, when thousands upon thousands of African American soldiers returned
America in the 1950s is often characterized with many important social, political, cultural, and economic events. Many aspects of life changed in the 1950s with the ending of World War Two causing veterans to return home, but also the country continued some of its long time traditions. As veterans returned home, men returned to their job, the economy began to boom, and large families began to move to the suburbs. Socially, culturally, economically and politically America in the 1950s challenged, more than embraced the status quo.