4 - Other protest movement students, women , Anti - Vietnam

Question 1

What are 2 factors for the inspiring protest in the 1960s?

Answer 1

Music and the arts : Many ideas that led to protests were communicated through the art and music of the time. Singers such as Bob Dylan promoted alternative life styles which challenged American traditions

Economic Prosperity : By 160s there was great prosperity in the US. Overwhelmingly for whet Protestant men greater the wealth of these people highlighted those who were not so fortunate.

Question 2

How did the Students start to protests?

Answer 2

After WW2 rapid rise in NO Americans going to college. By 1970 40% of all young people went on to higher education. Majority where white middle class. Parents expected them to behave to conform with socieity and support the gov. During the 1960s students became increasingly concerned wit major social issues and injustices in US society.

Throughout 60s and 70s students actively campaigned on variety of issues including CR for AA and other ethnic groups, gay rights, women’s rights, poverty. Joined existing protests and organisations such as CORE, SNCC set their own organisations to protest against gov policies.

Many students rejected views and opinion of older people including parents. Felt these people helped a corrupt socieity. ‘Dont trust anyone over 30’ popular slogan most activists left wing.

Question 3

What was the Students for a democratic society?

Answer 3

One first organisations set up by students was Students for a democratic society. First meeting held in 1960 at UNI of Michigan. After first meeting in 1962 released Port Huron Statement explained aims to campaign against racial injustice war and violation of human rights.

Many SDS members toom part in CR sit ins and freedom rides. Focused on organisation campaigning for better student rights within universities. Organised sit-ins rallies to give students more say in policies and practices. SDS protested against rules that were strict parents rules saying what time they had to return to their accommodation.

SDS grew over 150 collage and Universities across US 100,000 total members dramatically increased because of opposition to Vietnam war.

Question 4

What was the Berkley free speach movement?

Answer 4

Protest at UNI OF Berkley California. Brought a lot of media attention made US aware of student movement. Many took part is freedom summer where students are Berkley. They organised protest against racial discrimination on UNI campus. UNI administration responded by banning protests.

Students ignored carried on. Few suspended so remaining student 400 f them signed petition filled hall of administration building demanding suspension as well. Police called arrested one protestor. Police car blocked for 32 hours by students who refused to move speeches criticised by uni. More police.

Students created Free Speach movement to protest and negotiate until they won what they saw as their rights. Members of FSM included those conservative and moderate.

FSM produced leaflets and held meeting and rallies to gain support.

Question 5

What were the responses by the university?

Answer 5

At end of November despite being told students not be punished 4 students originally been suspended were charged with breaking rules. FSM organised a rally and sit in of administration building on 2 DEC which supported around 6,000 students police arrested the protesters. 12 hours 750 protests

University staff voted strongly in favour for limits on protests allowed campus. FSM had won students were allowed to use university for political protests and debates. Heavy fines students arrested.

Question 6

What was the achievement of the Student movement?

Answer 6

Berkley FSM demonstrated problems encountered by wider students movement. FSM became more confrontational. Lost support of many moderate students never had support from local community. Many appalled by students behaviour. FSM labelled ‘Filthy speech movement’ . Students movement never gained more support from general society. Many older people regarded protesting students as troublemakers

Students achieved some of their aims regards to students rights at college few of other aims really met. Part of problem was huge variety of issues protesting about numerous different views within student movement.

Question 7

What were the anti-Vietnam protests?

Answer 7

Small number of people publically protested against US involvement in Vietnam from the start, as US military action increased so did action. Many objected because
Huge cost of intervention little apparent success. As war continued more people realised that the US could never win
Rising NO of deaths and injuries to US troops
US support of corrupt gov of SV
US acting like an imperial power enforcing will on people living in another country
US tactics like bombings and chemical weapons shocked public
Draft system unfair most soilders most were young and high % of AA and poor whites.

Anti war movement started to gen publicity and gather force. In October SDS declared objection to war membership began to rise dramatically.

Question 8

What role did the media play in the Vietnam war?

Answer 8

Media played a part in creating opposition to the war cameras access to conflict were allowed to broadcast what they wanted. Americans could see the horrors of war for themseleves on television. Footage of burning villages injured children created support for anti - war movement damage US reputation. Increasing NO older people some soilders joined the campaign.

Question 9

What were the protests against the war?

Answer 9

Anti - war campaigners used methods of CR movement and Student movement new ideas to demonstrate objections in Vietnam.

Mass rallies, where protestors shouted slogans ‘ Hey , Hey , LBJ how many kids you kill today’ Also ‘Hell no we won’t go’ insulted commander of US forces.

Sit ins people gave lectures on the conflict in Vietnam. These protestors were held in public buildings, in army recruitment centres even on railway tracks transporting troops.

Burning draft cards and helping those who have been drafted to go into hiding or leave US. Giving advice to avoid the draft.

Question 10

What important protests took place?

Answer 10

Protests between 1968 - 70. In first 6 months of 1968 100 anti war demonstrations across country. Largest individual protests was march on Washington in Nov 1969. 500,000 supporters. As with other protest some turned violent there were frequent fights with police.

At Kent State Uni in Ohio, National guardsmen were called to break up protest on 4 May 1970. Students refused to move despite tear gas/ Troops fired into crowd. 4 Students were killed 11 injured. 2 AA students were shot and killed by police trying to break up protest at Jackson state university.

Question 11

What was the impact of the Anti - Vietnam war protests?

Answer 11

Split society those who supported the war and those who did not. Protest put pressure on the gov and raised awareness of anti-war beliefs, Was reason for Nixon’s policy of Vietnamization ending the war.

Many Americans did not want to trust the protestors. Seen as unpatriotic, especially as some anti- war protestors burned the US flag and openly declared support for NV and communism. Many student strongly supported the war and held pro war rallies and demonstrations. Nixon expressed his belief that the silent majority supported th war.

Question 12

Who were the hippies?

Answer 12

Some young people decided to reject society altogether by dropping out of socieity These people known as hippies. Hippies chose not to work or go to college many lived in communes in cities such as San Francisco. Others travelled around living buses and vans. Created a counter -culture to traditional Americans promoted love peace and happiness. slogans included ‘make love not war’ ‘if it feel good dot it’ Experimented with sex drugs art and music rock music central to their lives

Hippies tended to have long unstyled hair colourful clothes nakedness encouraged. Many wore flowers. strong anti-war views and beliefs in racial and gender equality passionate.

Question 13

What was the impact of the hippy movement?

Answer 13

Many Americans shocked about hippy movement/ Viewed hippies as wasters and could not understand why their children wanted to misbehave and reject society. For society hippies were corrupt and harming their country.

hippies did not last long on socieity few became hippies themselves many adopted some aspects of movement like wearing unusual clothes.

Question 14

Who was Eleanor Roosevelt and what was her role in women’s right?

Answer 14

Influential campaigner for improved rights and opportunities for women was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Had her own press confrences. Allowed only women to attend. Newspapers and radio stations had to employ female journalists. Put pressure on husband and later presidents to employ more women. Made broadcast on radio and tv and wrote articles voicing her matters. Work help to increase support form women’s rights bring legislation and equality

Very influential in Democratic part. Agreed to support Kennedy in campaign to win nomination for Democratic candidate for president if he established commission on status of women if he became president. Created President’s commissions on status for women in DEC 1961 and Roosevelt was appointed chair. Findings showed women underpaid with few responsibilities 4% of lawyers 7% doctors were women earned 50 to 60% what men earned for same job. Caused equal pay act.

Question 15

What were the factors for the changing of the roles of women in the 1950s and 60s?

Answer 15

Development of Gadgets and appliances houses needed more than one wage earner to afford these these saved time females had more time for employment .

Development of the contraceptive pill became available from 1960 helped for planning of a family plan their education and carrers around this. Access to pill varied though until 1965 supreme court ruled Griswold vs Connecticut all married women allowed birth control 1972 supreme court extended to all women.

Protest movement helped achieve equality.

Question 16

Who was Betty Freidan and what role did she play in Women’s rights?

Answer 16

Journalist first came to prominence after book Feminine Mystique in 1963. She found it a myth that women could only have happiness in their roles of housewives. At college reunion 1957 Friedan interviewed her fellow female graduates ask if they were happy with their lives. She wrote articles on this topic and received many letters from women describing their feelings. Book explained her findings. Many well educated and intelligent were bored and unhappy being housewives. Described homes as prison camps. Pushed them to escape find happiness in paid employment. She thought women should have equal political economic an social rights to men should be considered for better paid jobs. Very influential.

Question 17

What was NOW and what role did they play in the women’s rights movement?

Answer 17

Equal pay act and Civil rights act important milestones. New laws not enough to end discrimination or change in attitudes. June 1966 Betty Friedan and other feminist set up the National Organization for Women (NOW). It was a pressure group to attract supporters and put pressure on authorities to enforce equality. Friedan became President. Had a bill of rights including :
Tax deductions for home and child care expenses for working parents
Discrimination and Segregation by sex outlawed at all levels of education.

Question 18

What effect did NOW have on the Women’s movement?

Answer 18

By 1970 had approximately 40,000 members and worked on campaigns with a range of other groups. Used a variety of tactics to bring change like protest strikes and petitions.

1966-71 NOW helped in a series of disputes about unequal pa and won 30 million in pay back for women.

On 26 August 1970 NOW organised the Women’s strike for equality thousands women across US went on strike to draw attention to unequal pay and discrimination in workplace. 50,000 people marched down New York’s Fifth avenue.

In Feb 1970 members of NOW distrusted the Senate during a debate and displayed posters ad boards calling the equal rights amendment to be discussed.

Increase awareness of gender equality and inspired many women to challenge the system but many critics too radical for support for Equal rights amendment and abortion.

Question 19

What was the Women’s Liberation movement?

Answer 19

Women’s Liberation movement is name given to feminists who aims were more radical. Supporters wanted to destroy and free women from limitations of patriarchal society. Included groups who wanted to be separate from men and women some believed Lesbians only women achieve true liberation.

Very different protests very aggressive held sit ins in company offices that had sexist advertisements damaged offices as well. At Miss America 1968 radical feminists organised protests in the contest threw products that showed socieity only valued women for looks into a bin and crowned a sheep miss America protested attracted huge negative media attention

Tried different protests approach due to bad publicity tried to help women at local levels setting a small discussion groups. to discuss work education raising children. By 1974 trying to help groups with problems such as rape and domestic violence.

Question 20

How did abortion change during women’s movement?

Answer 20

1960 Abortion illegal throughout US unless mother was threatened by death. NOW and the WLM campaigned for it to be made legal. Argued that its their choice as its there body unfair to force a women to have child she does not want. Pointed women’s were having children anyway but illegal abortions can be dangerous protestors held marches and rallies some women took art in speak-outs

Question 21

What was Rode VS Wade?

Answer 21

As more campaigned some states changed abortion laws to allow in certain circumstances like rape New York (1970) changed allowing it until the 24th week of pregnancy other states passed similar laws. Womens rights groups gave loans for women to travel to these states.

In 1970 Jane Roe took Dallas county District Attorney, Henry wade to court claim to have right to abortion. McCorvey had he first 2 kids adopted did not want another child. Roe’s lawyers won but court ruled on this case only decided to appeal supreme court to try and make it a test case that would apply for all women in every state.

7 votes to 2 22 January 1973 Supreme court ruled abortion laws broke women’s constitiunal rights to privacy and freedom of personal choice n family matters. Abortions allowed of 6 months of pregnancy if a women’s life was in danger. led to abortions becoming available.

Question 22

What were opposition to women’s movement?

Answer 22

Reactions varied between men and women. More frequently encountered suspicion and insults. Those who took part in protested verbally abused and few attacked. Media coverage negative laughing at protestors and what they protested against. rarely found support from protest movement in fighting against prejudice and discrimination

Some men and women objected to moves for great sexual equality believed in strong gender roles biological differences meant that women were natural housewives. Felt that women’s movement was damaging for society and family life. Far more opposed some of aims and demands rather than the whole movement itself. Controversial issues was abortion and growing calls for wider access to abortion. Many women formed and joined protest groups that supported traditional roles.

Question 23

Who was Phyllis Schlafly?

Answer 23

Anti - Feminist leader married mother of 6 politically active since 50s standed in congress in 1952/ Believed in tradinal roles of housewife and mother nature intended what women was for as a catholic fierce opponent of abortion.

Question 24

What was the equal rights amendment?

Answer 24

ERA mean women would be treated equal and identical to men under US constitution. Been presented to Congress repeatedly since 1923 finally passed in 1972. Schlafly found new organisation ‘Stop Era’ prevent the ERA being ratified by states. Campaigned tirelessly all over country highlighted her objections. She felt it would weaken importance of family delayed ratifications of ERA until 1982.

Question 25

What was the impacts of the women’s movement?

Answer 25

Huge range of opinion within women’s movement meant that not everything it wanted could be achieved. Moderate feminists argued that women’s lib damaged the movement taking away focus for discrimination and equal pay. Women’s lib did help to bring change for legislation for abortion. important changes like the 1972 educational amendment act made all sexual discrimination in education illegal and 1974 equal credit oppotunity act made illegal to refuse credit on basis of gender women could borrow money.

BY 1974 more women went out to work in wider range of jobs than before. Most household needed 2 incomes. NO women in management roles remained low equal pay still a dream women’s movement had impact on was women and men felt. More women became politically engaged more acceptable for women to have carrers.