Social divisions/protests under Johnson

Question 1

What caused social attitude of students?

Answer 1

• ‘Don’t trust anyone over 30!’ was the slogan of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement that was created in response to the college stopping fundraising and political activity on campus
• Era ‘Summer of Love’ (1967), ‘flower power’, ‘free love’ and Woodstock (1969)
• Students were free of the responsibilities of older people contributed greatly to protests in favour of civil rights, women’s rights and against the Vietnam War

Question 2

Why was feminism growing?

Answer 2

• Gloria Steinem’s “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle’
• Grinswold v. Connecticut (1965) struck down the last state law banning the use of contraception
• The 1963 Equal Pay Act was a key focus of NOW, whose leaders included Betty Friedan, Anna Roosevelt Halstead (daughter of FDR)
• ‘Radical Women’ picketed the Miss America pageant in 1968; at the protest, women threw bras, copies of Playboy, makeup and dishcloths into ‘freedom trashcans’

Question 3

How did the Civil Rights movement become more radical?

Answer 3

• ‘Black Power’ wsa the militant call of Stockley Carmichael pushing a more radical phase of the CR movement
• Movement preached black pride which celebrated ‘black is beautiful’
• The BP embodies the more militant side of the movement- notably invading the California State Assembly in 1967 to protest against the Mulford Act

Question 4

How did the black panthers help the black community?

Answer 4

• Provided vital services including free health clinic, legal advice and breakfasts

Question 5

Who (notably) wanted to stop the Black Panthers, and what did he do?

Answer 5

• FBI Director J Edgar Hoover saw them as a huge threat and sought to destroy them
• By 1970, this had largely been achieved- Huey Newton was imprisoned for murder in 1968 and most other leaders were killed, imprisoned or fled the country

Question 6

What anti-war movements were there?

Answer 6

• 1964- burning draft papers, Muhammad Ali refused the draft
• 1965- University protest bigger focus; Norman Morrison- set himself on fire outside of the Pentagon Office of McNamara, who was a key voice in pushing escalation and increasing the number of troops
• Clashes between police and protesters- 1967 rally in Washington had over 600 arrests
• Crowds chanted, ‘Hey! Hey! LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?’- key reason LBJ did not run again in 1968

Question 7

What role did the media play in anti-war sentiment?

Answer 7

• Massive growth of colour TVS- 1/4 of US homes had one by 1968) had a significant impact, as protests were broadcast into people’s homes
• Shocking images of Birmingham, Selma, feminist protests and Vietnam protests brought huge viewing figures
• The Vietnam War was the first war camera crews and press photographers sent home shocking images that shaped public opinion