1968 Events

During the 1960s our nation was going through many important and crucial events. From the Vietnam War to national politics, and even civil rights, our country was changing a lot. In particular, the year 1968, was when our country went through a major turning point, especially when you take in consideration the major events that involved the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement such as the “Tet Offense”, violent protests, and the Civil Rights Act being passed.

The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil

The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was a wrenching national experience, conducted against a backdrop that included the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and subsequent race riots across the nation, the assassination of

The Vietnam war has been referred to by many names, one of the longer ones was 'the cornerstone of the free world southeast Asia'. It was called that by John F. Kennedy. He was talking about Vietnam being and essential country in a non-communist world. He believed that if Vietnam became a communist country, all of the surrounding countries would also become communists. This is the main reason America was involved in the Vietnam war. Another reason was that America wanted to spread their “political ideas around the globe”. They wanted to do this so that their anti-communism stance was clear. The public also wanted to keep communism from spreading. To soldiers, the war was like a crusade, a great journey to purge the communists from Vietnam.

The unrest of the 1960s reached a boiling point in 1968, a year that can be considered the most turbulent year in American history. The tumultuous events that took place in 1968 effectively transformed the face of the nation in every aspect; economically, socially, and politically. Failed military tactics, assassinations, and violent civil rights movements were the defining characteristics of 1968. Despite the few good things that came out of that year, much of 1968 was dedicated to rebuilding the country, tragedy after tragedy. The assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, involvement in the Vietnam War, and escalating civil rights movements are a few of the quintessential events that contributed to

The 1960’s era was known as being called the “Golden Age”. The 1960’s were a time for change, counter culture, and political movements. One of the most important events that occurred during the 1960’s was the presidential election between Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy. During this election, the Cold War between the Soviet Union and United States was the main focus. Also at this time there was a rise in the civil rights movement. The election of 1960 was a changing point in American history.

1968 was the year that “all hell broke loose” (Pettengill) and set the stage for political transition. First, we have the Vietnam War, which the U.S sent troops in order to stop communism. The Tet Offensive was multiple attacks by the Vietcong and North Vietnamese in the major cities where the US was usually the strongest. The American people lost trust in the government, because they were left delusional thinking they were close to winning the war when they were not. This event led to the Anti-War Movement where riots were form at The Democratic National Convention. The riots turned into a brutal tragic against the Chicago protestors and the police. Also in 1968 was the year that one of the civil right leader by the name of Martin Luther King

The Sixties were an exciting revolutionary period with great cultural change. Some people called it the “decade of discontent” (Britannica) due to the race riots in Detroit and La, and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Other people called it the decade of “peace, love, and harmony” (Woodstock 69). This decade was identified as such as a result of the peace movement and the emergence of the flower children. (Britannica) The sixties were about assassination, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and women’s liberation, Vietnam, Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug experimentation, and Woodstock. All of these components caused a revolutionary change in the

The 1960s are frequently referred to as a period of social protest and dissent. Antiwar demonstrators, civil-rights activists, feminists, and members of various other social groups demanded what they considered to be justice and sought reparation for the wrongs they believed they had suffered. The decade marked a shift from a collective view on politics, to a much more individualistic viewpoint. The 1960s could easily be characterized as a period during which political, ideological, and social tensions among radicals, liberals, and conservatives in American society are seen to have rapidly unfolded. Due to this, the decade has had an overwhelming effect on the decades that have followed. The sixties have had the greatest impact on American society out of any decade in recent history. Whether for better or for worse, the decade has had a profound influence on politics, society, foreign policy, and culture.

1968 was a year which sparked a cultural revolution throughout Europe. This spark, was a result of multiple forces culminating in unrest among youth especially, in

War and the political drama of the American government in the 1970s are comparative, and I will reveal to you why. Americans in the 1950s showed certainty that after World War II finished the future would be tranquil and prosperous in the nation. The progressing Vietnam War demonstrated them wrong and affected Americans in the 1970s. Americans attempted to maintain peace and prosperity in the future as expected by Americans of the 50s era with constant protest and demonstrations of the Vietnam War. The target of avoiding another World War II was critically important to the citizens of the 1970s, so vital that student nonconformists and demonstrators were shot and killed by authorities at Kent State University and Jackson State University.

These photographs have the power to show people the similarities of the human conditions around the world. The year 1968 in America was a year full of turmoil and political uprising. Thus it was the pivotal year of the sixties, when all of the nation's actions and impulses towards violence, idealism, diversity and inequality peaked to produce the greatest possible hope and at the same time the worst despair. The rest of the world also watched USA and South Africa struggle in the war for peace and freedom.

The world revolution of 1968 of course primarily concerned a series of major political issues: the hegemony of the United States and its world policies, which had led it into the Vietnam war; the relatively passive attitude of the Soviet Union, which the 1968 revolutionaries saw as "collusion" with the United States; the inefficacy of the traditional Old Left movements in opposing the status quo. In retrospect, 1968, the year of global revolt halfway between the end of World War II and the end of the Cold War, looked like a failed revolution. Nonetheless, the impacts of 1968 formulated ever gradually progressing definitions of today's world-system.

The Vietnam War was one of the most gruesome battles that the United States has been involved in. According to Ronald H. Spector, a writer from the Encyclopædia Britannica, around two million military men died from both the South Vietnamese and American troops. This is not counting a number of soldiers that also died from the Northern part of Vietnam. The conflict began when North Vietnam and Viet Cong planned to turn the southern portion of Vietnam communist but since they were allies with America, we interfered and sent our troops to try and help. In January 1968, North Vietnam coordinated a series of attack in more than 100 cities in South Vietnam. This became known as the Tet Offensive. It was all part of the North’s plan to create surprise attacks, create rebellion and force the U.S. and allies to scale back their involvement. Although it did not achieve military success, the Tet Offensive had unintended, negative impact on the United States citizens view of the war. (history.state.gov)

The world revolution of 1968 of course primarily concerned a series of major political issues: the hegemony of the United States and its world policies, which had led it into the Vietnam war; the relatively passive attitude of the Soviet Union, which the 1968 revolutionaries saw as "collusion" with the United States; the inefficacy of the traditional Old Left movements in opposing the status quo. In retrospect, 1968, the year of global revolt halfway between the end of World War II and the end of the Cold War, looked like a failed revolution. Nonetheless, the impacts of 1968 formulated ever gradually progressing definitions of today's world-system.