Social Issues of the Seventies

726 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Kent state massacre essay

The 1970s can be best understood as a transitional period in America. Starting in the 1950s, the power of the youth was on the rise, through civil rights activism and anti-war protests. This decade’s ideal citizen seemed to be the person helping others. Then the 1980s are more financially centered and individualistic. This decade’s ideal citizen is the one who measured success by how much money they made. The 1970s proved to be a time of bitterness, cynicism, and increased interest in one’s self for most of the people in America. Some of the events that contributed to this were the Kent State Massacre, Roe v. Wade, and the economic stagflation that happened in the latter part of the decade. President Richard Nixon announced on April 30, 1970 that the United States was going to invade Cambodia as part of the ongoing war in Vietnam. This announcement triggered huge protests, especially on the college campuses around the nation. At Kent State University in Ohio on the next day a protest started that consisted of around 500 students. This was a relatively peaceful protest. A few acts of vandalism and rioting happened that night and some students went into town the next day to help with the cleanup efforts. The vandals then set the ROTC building ablaze the next day, which prompted the Governor of Ohio to send in the National Guard to restore peace. Over the next few days the protest grew to 1500 demonstrators and about 1500 bystanders and tear gas was often used to disband the crowds. All these events culminated on May 4 when the National Guard troops began to fire into the demonstration on the common grounds of the university. A group of 28 members of the National Guard fired over 60 shots into the students, killing 4 a... ... middle of paper ... ...nts along with Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War turned the public from being filled with hope and fighting for each other’s rights to being disillusioned and filled with cynicism. American citizens were worried about and looked out for each other in the 1960s and then they started to worry more about themselves in the 1980s. This loss of American’s confidence in their Government and in each other can still be seen in today’s society. The way to restore this confidence still remains unanswered. Works Cited Gordon, William A. “Four Dead in Ohio: Was There a Conspiracy at Kent State?” El Toro, Ca: North Ridge Books, 2011. Print. “Roe v. Wade: Its History and Impact.” Plannedparenthood.org. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 2013. Web. 2 Dec. 13 Amadeo, Kimberly. “Stagflation.” USeconomy.about.com. About.com, 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Kent State Shooting Research Paper

    1606 Words  | 4 Pages

    On May 4, 1970, the shooting on the Kent State campus took place. The National guard shooting of the students at Kent State University occurred as a result of the students protesting the bombing of Cambodia, which caused the war to expand. The U.S president Nixon sent troops into Cambodia after he promised to withdraw them from Vietnam. On April 30, 1970, when Nixon gave a speech announcing the invasion of Cambodia, anti-war factions rose up across the United States. The speech caused a significant reaction from the American college student population and led into great controversy and heated debates.On May 2, 1970, several unknown students burnt down the ROTC building, which directly caused the military actions they were so vehemently protesting against. Also, more than a thousand protesters gathered

    Read More

  • The Kent State Massacre

    994 Words  | 2 Pages

    In order to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the Kent State Massacre, it is important to back track several days and establish a timeline of events leading up to the massacre. On April 30, 1970, then-President Richard Nixon announced to the American public his decision to send US troops into the nation of Cambodia. The first protest against this decision was held the following day, May 1, on the campus of Kent State University. However, due to class schedules, the protest had to end prematurely, with the organizers agreeing to reconvene and continue their protest on May 4. That evening, things got out of control when several hundred people launched violent acts in the street surrounding Kent State. The police arrived within an hour to quell the violence; however, in that brief period, many fires were set and looting was rampant.

    Read More

  • Kent State Shooting Essay

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    No criminal charges were filed against the guardsmen who shot the students. to increase instability in the nation, rumors that president nixon try to cover up the incident spread “substantial evidence indicates that the Nixon administration attempted to obstruct the investigation of the case and prosecution of the guardsmen” (Kent State Shooting). After several weeks of intense protests, the nation’s economy went on a downfall and President Nixon immediately withdrew thousands of troop from vietnam.

    Read More

  • Abortion, Public Policy, & Texas

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1973, in what has become a landmark ruling for women’s rights, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a woman’s right to an abortion. Ever since, individual states have adopted, altered, and/or mutilated the edict to fit their agendas – Texas included. However, the decision made by the justices in Roe v. Wade didn’t set clear cut, inarguable demarcation lines, which has allowed the fiery debate to consume the nation. Rather than establishing a legal ruling of what life is, or is not, the Supreme Court has remained silent on the issue.

    Read More

  • Watergate Scandal: Shaking American Trust in Government

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1970’s was a time of change marked with scars following the end of the Vietnam War and the ever shifting race relations. The unsettled times led to Americans beginning to question their trust in the American government and the politicians in office. In “The Post-Traumatic Decade,” Keys et al. writes, “Watergate… undermined the nation’s sense of purpose in the world and inspired a search for moral renewal that shaped political, social and cultural discourse throughout the decade.” This quote shows how the turbulence felt by the shocking events of the Watergate scandal changed the views of American citizens in regards to the government. After putting so much trust in the government in previous years people

    Read More

  • The Impact Of The Social Gospel Movement

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many problems arose in the 1970’s due to conflict of interest. The social upheaval in America was caused by the Vietnam War was not favored by the people of the US because it was not a war that was necessary for them to be in and because the looks of them not winning did not appeal to them. This caused them to lose respect in what decisions the country was making. In addition to the war, there was the youth rebellion and the contr...

    Read More

  • Conservatism In The 1970's

    805 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the 1960s, the American government under Lyndon B. Johnson had produced an outburst of leftist, liberal in American vocabulary, policies, or the Great Society, that had involved high government spending, active economic regulation, and reduction of wealth inequality. By 1980 the steam of liberalism had given way to Reagan and the resurgence of conservatism, characterised by a dedication to minimal state intervention in economic activities as well as individuals’ financial condition. Between those two landmark decades stood the 1970s, the era more famous for inflation, the Watergate Scandal, and the energy crises than for a dynamic political significance. The decade, however, occupies a special position in American history as

    Read More

  • Planned Parenthood of PA v. Casey

    1705 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... The Web. The Web. 18 Mar. 2010. http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/10rguments.htm>. “Roe v. Wade.”

    Read More

  • The Watergate Crisis In The 1970's

    399 Words  | 1 Pages

    By the end of the 1970's, individuals seemed to have equal rights between each other and this was America's goal. There were many positives coming about from the social reform quest and various gains were made over the years. For example, school desegregation and voting rights were two of the most significant gains that were made during this time. Although there may have been negatives that occurred during the quest, the positives overruled the negatives. Additionally, education made significant changes because of the multi-cultural education being emphasized. For all of these reasons and more, I consider the quest for social reform a success

    Read More

  • Police Aggression In Kent State's Ohio

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    An anti-war rally had been held, and another was going to be held on May 4th. Campus officials had attempted to stop the rally from happening, telling students it was against the rules, but they did not listen (Grace 18). The gathering had an estimated 3,000 students participated to protest against the war, while another estimated 150 Ohio national guardsmen stood across the courtyard carrying deadly military rifles, ready to fire if the crowd began to riot (Eszterhas and Roberts 39). Many now state the protest took place because of the guardsmen being on campus, rather than the war, though it is still unclear which is true (Grace 17). Regardless, around 11:50 a.m. on May 4, 1970, a Kent State police officer demanded protestors to stop protesting; the students didn’t listen, as stated in Joe Ezterhas and Michael D. Roberts’, “Thirteen Seconds: Disagreement at Kent State (Eszterhas and Roberts 41).” The officer’s car was even hit with rocks after he asked again for the students to leave. After this, the police began to

    Read More

  • Abortion

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Roe v. Wade and Beyond: Forty Years of Legal Abortion in the United States | Dissent Magazine." Dissent Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Anti War Movement Research Paper

    541 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over 100,000 protesters gathered at the Lincoln Memorial and around 30,000 of them continued to march on to the Pentagon. After a brutal confrontation with the soldiers and U.S. Marshals protecting the building, hundreds of protesters were arrested. Another push during the antiwar movement , was in 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. became part of the main stream effect in the movement. Another main factor in the anti- war movement were the younger generations. College students were beginning to from protest groups on their college campuses and standing up. One of these groups was called the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). This was a student based activist movement that was a main representation of the new left. Although the protests were aimed to be peaceful, some often turned violent. On Monday, May 4th, 1970 members of the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University in Ohio opened fire during a mass protest against the bombing of Cambodia by United States military forces. Approximately 67 rounds were fired over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others. This is just one example of how these peaceful protests ended in multiple

    Read More

  • Roe Vs Wade Research Paper

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    The decision reached in Roe vs. Wade had a significant impact on history. The decision to legalize abortion also has a profound impact on society today. Abortion remains a highly debated issue in the U.S. that continues to define politics in the 21st century. Following the Roe vs. Wade decision, 1.6 million women per year underwent abortion procedures. In the 1990’s, ⅕ of women over the age of 15 had an abortion. Abortions are still very common in the U.S today. Roe vs. Wade didn’t end the abortion debate in the U.S. Pro-life and pro-choice movements formed after Roe vs. Wade, and still exist today. They continue to try to get abortion policies to reflect their interests. Many people still have a strong opinion on abortion, and consider themselves

    Read More

  • Social Issues In The 70's

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the late 60’s and early 70’s there were many social issues, and political hardships. This is the time when America had to deal with some of it's greatest challenges. Like The Vietnam War, The Civil Rights Movement, Drug Abuse, and The Women's Movement. All of these issues have made an Impact in the world today, especially America. The Vietnam War has made one the greatest history in the world.

    Read More

  • One Must Never Mistake Movement For Achievement Essay

    666 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 1970s, U.S. President Richard Nixon orders an invasion of Cambodia, widening the war in Vietnam. In protest, millions march across the U.S. University campuses are shut down by student strikes resulting in 4 protesters being killed by National Guard troops. The Pentagon Papers were published detailing the military's secret, negative assessment of the Vietnam War. Yet another scandal plagues the nation when 5 men are caught breaking into the Watergate Complex where the Democratic Party offices

    Read More

More about Social Issues of the Seventies

Open Document