Student Movement Flashcards
Why did the student movement begin?
- Students wanted a greater say in the running of their uni
- Many were inspired by MLK and the civil rights movement
- A time of student protests across the world - e.g. Protests in Northern Ireland and France
- Vietnam
What does SDS stand for and who were they led by?
Students for a Democratic Society - led by Tom Hayden
What was SDS’ stance on communism?
Denounced the Cold War and adopted a position of ‘anti-anti-communists’
How many members did they have by late 60s?
In how many uni’s?
What event increased support?
100,000 members by late 60s, in 150 different uni’s
Support increased following Johnsons announcement of increased bombing raids
At what event did the SDS first achieve national prominence?
At an organised sit-in against a ban on political activities at Uni in California - 1964
How did students protest against Vietnam?
Burning draft cards, harassing campus CIA recruits and occupying university buildings
The Vietnam war was wha united students in unanimous disagreement in US presence
What happened at the 1968 Democratic Convention?
1968 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
SDS protestors created a riot in the attempt to ruin chances of pro-war candidate Hubert Humphrey - Hayden and 6 others were arrested and became known as ‘the Chicago 7’
What were the ‘Weathermen’?
A radical branch from the student movement, named after a popular protest song by bob Dylan
What caused Tom Hayden to split from the movement
It became too radical, with protestors blowing up government buildings. When 4 weathermen accidentally blew themselves up, Hayden decided to split
How many anti-Vietnam protests were there in the first 6 months of 1968?
How many students did these involve?
100 protests in 6 months, involving 400,000 students
KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
- Students held peaceful protests against Nixons decision to bomb Cambodia
- National guardsmen used tear gas to disperse protestors
- When they refused to move, shots were fired, killing 4 people
- 400 colleges closed and 2 million students went on strike
What social effects did the student movement have?
Brought about important social, cultural and political changes, with the most significant and long lasting effects being on youth culture itself
What did the student movement change in regards to the Vietnam war?
Although the movement didn’t directly bring an end to the war, it did bring a significant shift in gov policy and applied pressure to make the withdrawal of troops much more likely
How did students affect the civil rights movement?
Increased publicity
