Unit 18Unit 18The Sixties: Coming ApartThe Sixties: Coming Apart

IntroductionIntroduction

The 1960s have become synonymous with wide-The 1960s have become synonymous with wide-reaching change… a remarkable departure from reaching change… a remarkable departure from the social norms and values of the 1950s. The the social norms and values of the 1950s. The 22ndnd half of the decade witnessed at the same half of the decade witnessed at the same time exciting, radical, and subversive events time exciting, radical, and subversive events and trends of the period, which continued to and trends of the period, which continued to develop in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond. develop in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and beyond.

In the second half of the decade, young people In the second half of the decade, young people began to rebel against the conservative norms began to rebel against the conservative norms of the time. A new of the time. A new "counterculture" "counterculture" sparked a sparked a social revolution throughout much of the social revolution throughout much of the western world.western world.

It began in the US as a reaction against the It began in the US as a reaction against the materialism and social conformity of the 1950s, materialism and social conformity of the 1950s, and the US government's extensive military and the US government's extensive military intervention in Vietnam.intervention in Vietnam.

The youth involved in the popular social The youth involved in the popular social aspects of the movement became known as aspects of the movement became known as “hippies”. “hippies”.

The counterculture created a movement toward The counterculture created a movement toward liberation in society, including the sexual liberation in society, including the sexual revolution, questioning authority and revolution, questioning authority and government, and demanding more freedoms government, and demanding more freedoms and rights for women, homosexuals, and and rights for women, homosexuals, and minorities.minorities.

Let’s get specific…

Quick Review: 1960 - 1963

The Kennedy years: hope and optimism– Man on the Moon– Confronting social problems: racism, poverty,

environment’s destruction– MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech

JFK’s assassination was “like a national car crash”…hope & optimism replaced by lingering sense of anxiety about the future

A Central theme: VietnamA Central theme: Vietnam The Vietnam War occurred The Vietnam War occurred

in Vietnam, Laos and in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia from 1954 to Cambodia from 1954 to April 30, 1975. April 30, 1975.

The war was fought The war was fought between between communist North communist North Vietnam, Vietnam, supported by its supported by its communist allies, and the communist allies, and the government of government of South South Vietnam, supported by the Vietnam, supported by the United States.United States.

Quick history:Quick history:

Former French colony…in the continuing Former French colony…in the continuing war for their own independence, the war for their own independence, the Viet Viet MinhMinh drove the French out in 1954 drove the French out in 1954

US stepped in…who else would halt the US stepped in…who else would halt the spread of communism? spread of communism? (domino theory)(domino theory)

Ike sent in a few military advisorsIke sent in a few military advisors Over time, more “advisors” were sent…Over time, more “advisors” were sent…

JFK continued the trend…at the time of his JFK continued the trend…at the time of his assassination, ~ 15,000 U.S. troops thereassassination, ~ 15,000 U.S. troops there

Escalation: more troopsEscalation: more troops Incident in the Tonkin Gulf Incident in the Tonkin Gulf

(1964)(1964)– USS MaddoxUSS Maddox– Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionGulf of Tonkin Resolution

Notice to report for Army physical

Go to UNIT 18 Worksheet 1 (P. 980-84)

1. Work with a partner to answer the questions

• You have 20 minutes of class time…finish for HW

• Graded today for on-task effort• Final grade for completeness & accuracy

Public Opinion in 1965Public Opinion in 1965 Public largely supported U.S. involvement Public largely supported U.S. involvement

at 1at 1stst

– 1965 poll: 61% backed LBJ’s Vietnam 1965 poll: 61% backed LBJ’s Vietnam policy of “escalation”policy of “escalation”

U.S. troop strength: U.S. troop strength: – end of ’65 = 180,000end of ’65 = 180,000– end of ’67 = 500,000end of ’67 = 500,000

ImagesImages

““Americanizing the war…”Americanizing the war…”

Sec. of Defense Sec. of Defense Robert McNamara Robert McNamara andand Gen. William WestmorelandGen. William Westmoreland advised LBJ to advised LBJ to increase troops on the ground…increase troops on the ground…

To stop N. Vietnam from supplying the To stop N. Vietnam from supplying the Vietcong in the South, LBJ orders sustained Vietcong in the South, LBJ orders sustained bombing of the North…bombing of the North…

““Operation Rolling Thunder”Operation Rolling Thunder”LBJ ordered the high altitude heavy bombing of targets in North Vietnam. Assumption: our superior military weapons would be decisive…

Flawed military assumptionsFlawed military assumptions

Nature of the fighting…not like Nature of the fighting…not like past warspast wars

Enemy’s tactics negated our Enemy’s tactics negated our superior tech & weaponssuperior tech & weapons

Nature of the War:Nature of the War: Guerilla war Guerilla war

VC used a complex Tunnel system

Nature of the War

We underestimated VC’s resolveWe underestimated VC’s resolve““Search and destroy” missions Search and destroy” missions

RESULT: RESULT: SINKING MORALE SINKING MORALE AS TIME WENT ONAS TIME WENT ON

By 1967, as U.S. casualties mounted and with no real

progress in sight, many Americans became increasingly

more disillusioned with the war…

Go to UNIT 18 Worksheet 2 (P.985-91)

1. Work with a partner to answer the questions

• You have 25 minutes to get it done!• Graded today for on-task effort• Graded on quiz day for

completeness & accuracy

The Anti-War Movement gathers momentum

A A CountercultureCounterculture comes of age: comes of age:

Webster’s: Webster’s:

counterculturecounterculture n. n. A culture, especially of A culture, especially of young people, with values or lifestyles in young people, with values or lifestyles in opposition to those of the established opposition to those of the established culture.culture.

Origins:Origins:

1950’s: the “Beats” (short for “beatniks”) 1950’s: the “Beats” (short for “beatniks”) protested the materialism of the 1950sprotested the materialism of the 1950s

The civil rights struggle to bring about The civil rights struggle to bring about changechange

The Free Speech Movement (UC at The Free Speech Movement (UC at Berkeley, 1964)Berkeley, 1964)

Deepening involvement in VietnamDeepening involvement in Vietnam

In the early 60s music was pretty innocent…Popular themes: typical teenage issues - love, cars, having fun

Music began to change…Music began to change…

the Beatles arrived in ’64…led the “British Invasion”the Beatles arrived in ’64…led the “British Invasion” Their earlier music was about typical youthful Their earlier music was about typical youthful

concerns…all very innocent enoughconcerns…all very innocent enough

The Beatles 1st Appearance on Ed Sullivan

While a lot of “bubble gum” While a lot of “bubble gum” music still sold, more and music still sold, more and more more

music had a music had a messagemessage…an edge……an edge…an attitudean attitude

Eric Clapton with Cream: 1967

Jimi Hendrix

The Who, in "My generation", Live, Monterey International Pop

Festival.

Jimi Hendrix

Cream 1967

The Byrds

Byrds - Eight miles high 1966 - YouTube

Increasing drug useIncreasing drug use Dope is no longer an “urban, Dope is no longer an “urban,

ghetto problem”….it has moved ghetto problem”….it has moved out to suburbia and college out to suburbia and college campusescampuses

Marijuana and hashishMarijuana and hashish Hallucinogens…LSD, mescalineHallucinogens…LSD, mescaline

– Timothy Leary, former Harvard professor Timothy Leary, former Harvard professor advocated taking psychedelic drugs to advocated taking psychedelic drugs to “expand the consciousness”…he urged “expand the consciousness”…he urged American youth to American youth to “turn on, tune in, and “turn on, tune in, and drop out”drop out”

The “Generation Gap”The “Generation Gap”

Youth felt alienated… disconnected from Youth felt alienated… disconnected from their parents’ generationtheir parents’ generation

Rejected parents’ values…criticized Rejected parents’ values…criticized materialism, racism, pollution…everythingmaterialism, racism, pollution…everything

““Don’t trust anyone over 30”Don’t trust anyone over 30” was a was a popular notionpopular notion

Haight-Ashbury District, San Francisco

Became a Mecca for America’s counterculture…

1967 was the “Summer of Love”: free love, drugs, “doin’ your own thing”…

Protesting the WarProtesting the War

Drawing from the experience of the civil Drawing from the experience of the civil rights movement, many protests were rights movement, many protests were non-violent:non-violent:

Sit-insSit-ins

Members of the military police keep back Vietnam War protesters during their sit-in on October 21, 1967, at the Mall Entrance to the Pentagon.

Rallies / SpeecheRallies / Speechess

Protest Marches and RalliesProtest Marches and Rallies

Percent of Americans Approving Troops in Vietnam

1965-1971

So…the war that was supported by a majority of Americans in 1965 was becoming increasingly less popular, particularly with America’s younger generation.

But the worst still lay ahead for America…the pivotal year

1968Go to the next Powerpoint presentation (“Show 2”) on my webpage