Social Divisions and Protest Movements (1963-1968)

Question 1

What is counterculture?

Answer 1

A lifestyle and set of attitudes opposed to or differing from the mainstream culture

Question 2

Why did Kennedy’s death lead to the emergence of counterculture?

Answer 2

He had promised a great deal for the young people, but after his death not much was achieved and people were left dissatisfied

Question 3

What were the attitudes of young people after Kennedy’s election?

Answer 3

Before, social issues were largely ignored, but Kennedy’s presidency stimulated youth interest in politics

Question 4

What were some methods of student protest in the 1960s?

Answer 4

• Students barricaded themselves in the president of Colombia University’s office
• there were 221 major demonstrations in universities in the first half of 1968
• Chants against LBJ (Hey, hey, LBJ!)

Question 5

Who were some popular artists amongst the youth?

Answer 5

• Bob Dylan
• The Beatles

Question 6

What was the Woodstock music festival?

Answer 6

It was a historic 1969 event featuring major rock and folk musicians, symbolising the peak of the 1960s counterculture movement

Question 7

What were some pro-feminist books and articles in the 1960s?

Answer 7

• Gloria Steinem, 1969, ‘After Black Power, Women’s Liberation’
• Betty Friedan,1963, ‘The Feminine Mystique’ (first paperback run sold over 1.4 million)

Question 8

What was NOW and when was it founded?

Answer 8

The National Organization for Women (NOW) is a feminist organisation founded in 1966 to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality

Question 9

What were some pro-feminist protests?

Answer 9

• In 1968, a group called ‘Radical Women’ crowned a sheep as Miss America
• Bra burning
• Groups like SCUM (the Society for Cutting Up Men) and WITCH (Women’s International Conspiracy from Hell) were founded

Question 10

What was the impact of the growing feminist protests in the 1960s?

Answer 10

• Although they didn’t achieve much political success until the next decade, they drove attention away from the Civil Rights Movement
• LBJ signed Executive Order 11375 which added ‘sex’ to the list of things that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had banned discrimination against

Question 11

Why did Civil Rights groups begin to radicalise?

Answer 11

• They realised non-violent protests couldn’t take them any further in 1965
• Stokely Carmichael began radicalising SNCC after taking control in 1966
• CORE also began to radicalise in the same year

Question 12

What was MLK’s reaction to the radicalisation of Civil Rights?

Answer 12

He feared it would decrease white sympathy and funding
His fears were sparked by the 1966 Meredith March

Question 13

What were some positive reactions to ‘Black Power?

Answer 13

• More African American youths began to associate black with beauty
• In 1968, James Brown released a song called ‘Say it Loud I’m Black and Proud’

Question 14

When were the Black Panthers created and what were some of the things they did?

Answer 14

Created in 1966, they advocated for African American rights, operated community programs like free breakfasts for children, and monitored police activities to prevent brutality

Question 15

What were some anti-war movements?

Answer 15

• May 12th 1964, young men in New York publically burnt their draft cards, and this was replicated around the country (leading to Congress criminalising the action)
• In 1965, Norman Morrison burnt himself to death outside the window of Robert McNamara’s office in protest of the war
• Muhammad Ali refused the draft in 1961
• In October 1967, 70,000 anti-war activists ran battles with the police and National Guard in Washington