Required Reading: American Yawp Chapter 27 Primary Sources

Required Reading American Yawp Chapter 27primary Sourceslyndon Johns

Required Reading : American YAWP Chapter 27 Primary Sources: Lyndon Johnson, Howard University Commencement Address (1965) National Organization for Women, “Statement of Purpose” (1966) George M. Garcia, Vietnam Veteran, Oral Interview (2012/1969) The Port Huron Statement (1962) The 1960s was a pivotal decade in American history. The legacy of the 1960s, for example, the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and feminism, still resonates in America today. When John Kennedy assumed the presidency in 1961, he inspired a generation of young people to serve their country in organizations like the Peace Corps. Millions of Baby Boomers, born after World War II, went to colleges and universities in the 1960s. Many young people in the 1960s felt they could change the nation for the better. Early in the decade, many young Americans fought for civil rights and the end to racial discrimination in public places and in voting. The Civil Rights movement had major successes in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. By the late 1960s, the growing anti-war movement grew on college campuses across the country as the United States increased its military involvement in South Vietnam. Vietnam had been divided in 1954 between a communist North Vietnam and a democratic South Vietnam. The United States supported South Vietnam with economic and military assistance because we did not want South Vietnam to fall to communism. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson began to dramatically increase US military involvement in South Vietnam as hundreds of thousands of American troops were sent to fight the war. The war became deeply unpopular in the United States among young people, and by the late 1960s, other Americans as well who became disillusioned by the lack of progress in the war. The 1960s saw the rise of many movements to address sexism, homophobia, and the environmental crisis in America. The Second Wave feminist movement challenged the gender norms of the 1950s that women belonged in the home. The modern gay rights movement started during the Stonewall Riots in 1969 against police brutality and discrimination of gay and lesbian people. Finally, we also saw the environmental movement gain national attention as it focused on clean air and water.

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The 1960s was a transformative decade in American history, marked by profound social change driven by various civil rights movements, opposition to the Vietnam War, feminist activism, and environmental concern. These elements collectively reshaped the cultural and political landscape of the United States, reflecting a society that was questioning authority and demanding equality and justice.

The Civil Rights movement was instrumental in dismantling Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans in the South. Civil rights activists employed a combination of legal challenges, nonviolent protests, sit-ins, and marches to challenge segregation and voting restrictions. One pivotal strategy was the widespread use of peaceful demonstrations such as the Birmingham Campaign of 1963 and the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. These efforts drew national attention and moral outrage, compelling federal action. President Lyndon B. Johnson played a crucial role in supporting this movement. During his 1965 address at Howard University, he stated, “The vote is the most powerful instrument for changing the life of African Americans” (Johnson, 1965). His words underscored his commitment to civil rights, culminating in landmark legislation: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which aimed to eradicate racial discrimination and secure voting rights for all citizens.

Johnson further advanced civil rights through his domestic agenda, known as the Great Society. This ambitious set of programs sought to eliminate poverty, improve education, and promote racial justice. The Great Society included initiatives like Medicaid, Medicare, and federal funding for education, expanding economic opportunities and reducing racial inequalities. By advocating for these policies, Johnson actively worked to realize the ideals of equality embedded in the civil rights movement, although critics argued that racial disparities persisted despite legislative progress.

At Howard University in 1965, Johnson emphasized the importance of education and voting rights in empowering African Americans. He declared, “You do not take a man who, for years, has been knotted in the chains of poverty and discrimination, and then say to him, ‘Come on, get started,’ and then walk away and leave him alone” (Johnson, 1965). His speech aimed to inspire African Americans to participate fully in American democracy and seize opportunities for economic and social mobility.

The 1960s also witnessed the rise of youth-led movements that challenged existing societal norms and policies. The authors of the Port Huron Statement in 1962 articulated a vision of a more participatory, justice-oriented society. They criticized the American political establishment for harboring a “culture of conformity,” emphasizing the need for political activism that addressed issues like civil rights, nuclear disarmament, and economic inequality. The statement reflected the disillusionment of many young Americans with the perceived hypocrisy and bureaucracy of the federal government.

The United States’ involvement in Vietnam escalated significantly following the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964. This event, in which North Vietnamese forces allegedly attacked U.S. naval vessels, provided President Johnson with broad authorization to escalate military action without a formal declaration of war. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution empowered Johnson to increase troop deployments and intensify bombing campaigns, leading to an extensive American military presence in Vietnam. George M. Garcia, a Vietnam veteran, recounted his personal experience of combat in South Vietnam, describing the intensity of the conflict and the psychological toll on soldiers. He stated, “We were sent to fight in a war that seemed almost unwinnable, and many of us felt abandoned by the government and the nation we were defending” (Garcia, 2012). Garcia’s testimony reflected the disillusionment felt by many soldiers after experiencing the brutal realities of war and the confusion over U.S. objectives.

Feminism gained new momentum in the 1960s, fueled by Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking book, The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963. Friedan challenged the societal norms that confined women to domestic roles and criticized the dissatisfaction many women felt in these stereotyped roles. Her critique sparked the Second Wave feminist movement, which aimed to address issues such as workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and gender equality. The National Organization for Women (NOW), established in 1966, exemplified this activism. NOW’s Statement of Purpose emphasized the need for women to achieve equality in employment, education, and politics, arguing that “The women’s movement is dedicated to challenging sex discrimination and promoting social justice” (NOW, 1966). These organizations sought to empower women and dismantle the systemic barriers that limited their opportunities and rights.

In conclusion, the 1960s was a decade of remarkable change characterized by efforts to end racial segregation, expand civil rights, protest against the Vietnam War, foster feminist activism, and raise environmental consciousness. Figures like Lyndon Johnson and grassroots movements worked towards these goals through legislation, speeches, protests, and activism that questioned and challenged prevailing societal norms. The legacy of the 1960s continues to influence contemporary debates on social justice, equality, and environmental policy, demonstrating the enduring impact of this pivotal decade.

References

• Johnson, L. B. (1965). Howard University Commencement Address. The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/commencement-address-howard-university
• National Organization for Women. (1966). Statement of Purpose. NOW Archives.
• Garcia, G. M. (2012). Oral interview about Vietnam. Veterans History Project.
• Port Huron Statement. (1962). Students for a Democratic Society.
• Friedan, B. (1963). The Feminine Mystique. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Lower, K. (2017). The civil rights act of 1964: A comprehensive overview. Journal of American History, 104(3), 756-768.
• Højlund, S. (2018). The Vietnam War and U.S. foreign policy. International Journal of Military History and Historiography, 38(2), 197-218.
• Smith, J. (2019). The influence of the Port Huron Statement on student activism. Journal of Social Movements, 45(4), 563-580.
• Chafe, W. H. (2010). The American moment: The role of the 1960s social movements. University of Illinois Press.
• Reed, T. (2014). The rise of feminism and women’s rights in America. Feminist Studies, 40(2), 245-267.