60s Youth Movement Flashcards
What happened globally in 1968 in relation to youth movements?
Uprisings occurred in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and even behind the Iron Curtain.
How do scholars view the 1960s youth movement?
Some see it as legitimizing many social issues; others view it as a time of spoiled and erotic youth.
What idea was central to the consolidation of consumer culture in the West?
The American Dream—everyone could have the good life through tech and fair distribution of resources.
What historical events revived consumer culture after the Great Depression?
WWII and postwar economic recovery in the 1950s in the US, EU, Latin America, and East Asia.
What is embourgeoisement?
The shift where most people aspired to a middle-class lifestyle rather than a working-class one.
What caused the baby boom in the US, EU, and Japan?
(1) Delayed childbearing due to Depression and WWII
(2) Younger marriages → more time to have kids
Why did the baby boom end?
(1) Birth control
(2) Second-wave feminism
(3) Acceptance of homosexuality
(4) Decline of the Catholic Church
How did elite continuity challenge class breakdown narratives post-WWII?
Former elites returned to positions of power in bureaucracy and academia, esp. in Germany.
How did Americanization spread globally post-WWII?
Through US military presence, pop culture (fashion, music, food), and media (radio, films).
What did US pop culture promote among youth?
Rebellion, irreverence, optimism, and a challenge to older generations’ values.
What cultural tensions arose in Western societies during the 60s?
Optimism vs. suspicion of authority; backlash against consumerism and materialism.
How did modernization contribute to youth discontent?
Breakdown of family farms/businesses → loss of father’s role → weakening patriarchy.
How did youth in Germany, Japan, and France view authority post-WWII?
Jaded by recent history; saw old power structures as corrupt or authoritarian.
What was the US youth critique of the older generation?
Viewed older generation as hypocritical and imperialist (e.g., Vietnam War).
Why did universities become centers of youth unrest in the 60s?
Elitist systems overwhelmed by mass expansion due to baby boom and GI Bill.
What problems arose in universities as they transitioned to mass institutions?
Overcrowding, housing issues, alienation, poor conditions (esp. at University of Paris).
What was the significance of the University of Nanterre?
Suburban campus created to ease overcrowding, but alienated students due to rules.
How did increased diversity among students affect movements?
Brought working-class solidarity, “third world” consciousness, and push for democratization.
What were students demanding by the mid-60s?
Institutional reform, power-sharing, and recognition of broader social issues.
What were the criticisms of Western and USSR political systems by the New Left?
Viewed both as authoritarian and resistant to meaningful reform.
Who was Herbert Marcuse and what did he advocate?
Marxist theorist who supported cultural revolution and liberated spaces; inspired by Maoism.
What tactics did 60s radicals use to provoke authoritarian responses?
Sit-ins, peaceful demos, “happenings” to shock norms and expose establishment.
What made the May 1968 student protests in Paris significant?
Police repression led to massive sympathy; up to 9–10 million workers joined a strike.
What was De Gaulle’s response to May 1968?
He reasserted control, held snap elections, and won a huge majority.
