|
Learn History |
||
|
Topics
Interact
|
USA - A Divided Union 1941-80
Key Question: How did young people rebel in the 1960s?
|
Quick Links - WWII - Women, Blacks, Economy; Women in 1950s, McCarthyism, Civil Rights Reasons, Montgomery, Little Rock, Tactics, Successes; Black Power, Youth and Students, Women's Movement, JFK's New Frontier, Johnson's Great Society, Watergate |
|
What
you need to know about…………. Protest
Movements in the 60s and early 70s The
Youth Revolt During
the tale 1960s many young people turned against the lifestyle of
their parents. Some turned to radical politics. Parents found it
difficult to understand their children, some of whom wore hippy
clothes, long hair, followed eastern religions, used drugs (LSD/acid and
cannabis) and had
liberal sexual attitudes. Most of them were white middle class college
students who: ·
Were angry over the war in Vietnam ·
Rejected the idea of getting a well-paid job “Tune
in, turn on, drop out” was a famous slogan. Some lived in Hippy
communes, inspired by San Francisco where the “flower power”
idea had started. True hippies were non-violent, some came into
confrontation with the police especially when anti-Vietnam
demonstrations turned into physical conflict. Many students went on
strike or took over their own universities demanding a say in how they
were run.
The high point of the youth revolt came in 1969 with the Woodstock Festival – a massive 3-day rock event that attracted over 500,000 young people. Youth revolt carried on until the end of the Vietnam War when it split into diverse groups. Traces of hippy ideas can be seen in the environmental movement today. The Student Movement This mainly developed due to the Vietnam War. Many students felt the war was immoral and America was acting like an empire. They wanted a greater say in how education was run. The SDS - Students for a Democratic Society was set up. Protests against the war were very angry and in 1970 at Kent State University in Ohio four students were shot dead by National Guardsmen. Nixon shocked the world when he described the protestors as 'bums' (layabouts).
|
Web Links
Recommended Revision Guide £5.99
|
|
