The Student Union Development in 1960's and 1970's
In the 1960's the USA was benefiting from post war affluence. People had more money because their wages had increased. This meant that parents were able to give their children "pocket-money". Children were then able to spend this money on the things that were available at the time. These were things like going to the cinema. In the cinema they could see films made by Hollywood about daredevil young men living on the edge. The films gave the impression it was good to live for the moment, "live fast, die young" This was just what happened to young film star James Dean, he died while driving a very fast car. Films were becoming more adventurous. Sex
…show more content…
The parents of the fans often disagreed with the influence of Elvis in their children's lives because of his sexually fuelled performances. The Beach Boys began recording music that appealed to teenagers at school. The Beatles, from England, burst into popularity with innovative rock music that appealed to all ages.Bob Dylan was also another artist from the 1960's. In his songs he would sing about subjects like, nuclear war, racism and the waging of war.
The 1960's was also a decade of social unrest, many people were not happy. Many people were campaigning for civil rights and many people were also protesting against government policies. Many students were affected by the campaigning and so many of them joined in with the campaigns. This began to start a lot of political activity within the country's colleges and universities. Students began to join groups; they were able to do this because they had more freedom, for example, in 1967 the oral contraceptive pill became legal, this gave women to option on when they wanted to have children. The students knew that they were going to be the next generation of the country and they wanted to change the way that things were at the time. It was no surprise that by the mid 1960's a lot of the students were heavily involved in the protests.
The American president John F. Kennedy was seen by many
The main reason of the rise of labor unions was the quick industrialization of the US economy. During the post-Civil War period, the US economy became extremely industrialized. This meant that more and more people were working in factories owned by large companies rather than working in small shops for themselves or for small businesses. In addition, large numbers of immigrants were coming to the US. They created a huge pool of labor that made labor prices go down and the quality of working conditions.
Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.
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 hippie movements of the sixties were driven by a plethora of factors. There were many new technologies that were being introduced in this period, a war against Communism around the globe, internal struggles against several types of injustices, a growing drug culture, and several other important developments. To say the least, it was a volatile period in American history and many sub-cultures were actively seeking to carve out new paths that were starkly different than the traditional norms. These generations who rejected traditional culture helped carve out a new trajectory for the United States and the movements influences can still be felt to this day.
Within such a short time period you see so much anger, violence, triumphs, heartbreak, and social change. The author explicit states each of his central concepts such as the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and student action making it easier for the reader to follow along and understand the importance these movements had in motivating and changing America. He divulges great evidence to support his central topics with sit-ins that occurred during the south, recollection of horror stories told by soldiers coming back from the war, and the amount of college protests that lit up America from California to Chicago. The evidence given it not only adequate but helpful in adding to the readers understanding about what the sixties truly
Even Though the 1960’s were very controversial,I believe these events caused Americans to become more united. One of the most watched events during this era was the Civil rights movement. For years now african americans had been fighting for equal rights. Over this time period the movement had started to gather a lot momentum especially when the moment to started getting support from other people besides african americans. As shown in the image in document A you see a white man helping up a black man. This image could easily represent how white people were starting to help african american fight to achieve equal rights. Civil rights leader were starting to see this including Malcolm X. Malcolm X had been seen as very strong supporter for black
Various different groups sought to redefine American democracy during the 1960s but most of the groups had a common goal, to be treated better and fairly. From Women, African Americans and even Mexican Americans they all fought for their rights and wanted to be treated better. With all these groups protesting and revolting it put a lot of pressure on the government to satisfy
The problems teenagers in the 1960s versus teenagers today are both similar but also different in several ways. The first and most extreme difference would have to be social media and its effect on the people that choose to abuse it. Social media when used as a negative venue for manipulation or bullying can have devastating outcomes to those made a target. An example of Cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumor sent by email, or posted on social networking about the victim. However, teenagers in the 1960s faced different forms of peer pressure, such as, the need to belong to a certain clique or social group. The means they chose a lot of the time resulted in physical violence to prove their loyalty to pledged groups. The similarities
The sixties seemed to challenge basic American assumptions; the value of hard work and of traditional family values. “Middle” America formed 55% of the population, earning between $5000 and $15000 p.a. They lived between the city slums and the affluent suburbs, and were usually up to their eyes in debt. They wanted the law to protect them and their property. They believed in good manners, in respect for authority and the flag. The changes of the sixties left many of them confused and angry. They were not sure who to blame for social unrest. They were the silent minority that Nixon appealed to in his election campaign, and they helped him to victory. They were the resentment and reaction byproduct of social unrest. They worked to ensure their property and found it unfair that the government gave money to the people that did not work as much as they did. They wanted law and order. They wanted a state that provided security, response to the insecurity they felt in face of the students movement and the liberal culture. They felt ignored by the democrat government because they did not benefit from the financial help, house and health security.
These teenagers swayed the fashion, the fads and the politics of the decade. They no longer was content to be imaged of the generation ahead of them, young people wanted change. The changes affected education, values, lifestyles, laws and entertainment.
The Nineteen Sixties were a time of grand turmoil in the United States. The nation almost came apart at the seams many times throughout the decade. The government was involved in a plethora of things at the time that the general population did not agree with. The most important was the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War was the most publicly protested war in the history of the country. There were many new forms of protesting used at this time. The most mainstream and effective way of protest was through song. The lyrics of the songs of the sixties were laced with anti-government and anti-war messages that were sometimes hidden and sometimes direct. The generation responsible for the new music was the Baby Boomers. These were the
The Hippie Movement changed the politics and the culture in America in the 1960s. When the nineteen fifties turned into the nineteen sixties, not much had changed, people were still extremely patriotic, the society of America seemed to work together, and the youth of America did not have much to worry about, except for how fast their car went or what kind of outfit they should wear to the Prom. After 1963, things started to slowly change in how America viewed its politics, culture, and social beliefs, and the group that was in charge of this change seemed to be the youth of America. The Civil Rights Movement, President Kennedy’s death, new music, the birth control pill, the growing illegal drug market, and
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.
During this decade, the Civil Rights movement continued to gain momentum. The black community was continually persecuted and discriminated against by prejudice white individuals and figures of authority. Blacks everywhere struggled to end discrimination. They demanded the right to vote, to receive quality education, and to become respected individuals in the community which shunned them. (Sitkoff 35) Students, in particular, played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960's. Many college students were outraged by
America in the 50’s and early 60’s was a conservative country having recently been involved in World War II and the Korean war, and now facing the rising tide of communism. Americans were missing that little bit of excitement in their lives and people were very inhibited. They needed an outlet to let their suppressed feelings out. Then came four lads from England that would soon shock the world, who called themselves the Beatles. The Beatles in the 1960’s positively impacted America by changing the music industry and American youth culture, so that young people became more politically involved, freethinking, and independent. The Beatles legacy continues to affect society today by giving the young people a voice to be heard and influencing the way they live and view society today.