SSUSH24 The student will analyze the
impact of social change movements
and organizations of the 1960s.
The 1960s were a decade of great social change. Many movements competed for Americans’ attention, including groups advocating rights for African Americans, Latinos, farmworkers, and women. Another movement supported environmentalism. While these movements were sometimes described as liberal, a conservative movement also arose
during the sixties. This standard measures your knowledge of these movements.
during the sixties. This standard measures your knowledge of these movements.
Terms and People to Know
• Southern ChristianmLeadership Conference (SCLC)
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) • Sit-Ins • Freedom Rides • Anti–Vietnam War Movement • Women’s Movement |
• National Organization for Women (NOW)
• United Farm Workers’ Movement • César Chávez • Environmental Movement • Silent Spring • Rachel Carson |
• Earth Day
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Conservative Movement • Barry Goldwater • Richard M. Nixon |
A. Compare and contrast the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) tactics; include sit-ins, freedom rides, and changing composition.
Civil Rights Movement
Two civil rights groups prominent in the struggle for African American rights in the sixties were the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Review the breakdown on the next page to see how the SCLC and the SNCC started as similar organizations but grew to differ over time, especially in the SNCC’s changing composition.
Two civil rights groups prominent in the struggle for African American rights in the sixties were the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Review the breakdown on the next page to see how the SCLC and the SNCC started as similar organizations but grew to differ over time, especially in the SNCC’s changing composition.
GroupsFounding
Goal
Original
|
SCLCFounded by Martin Luther King Jr. and other ministers and civil rights leaders
To carry on nonviolent crusades against the evils of second-class citizenship
Marches, protests, and demonstrations throughout the South, using churches as bases
Registering African Americans to vote, in hopes they could influence Congress to pass a voting rights act
African American and white adults
African American and white adults
Nonviolence Same as original philosophy
|
SNCCFounded by African American
college students with $800 received from the SCLC To speed up changes mandated by
Brown v. Board of Education Sit-ins at segregated lunch counters
all across the South; registering African Americans to vote, in hopes they could influence Congress to pass a voting rights act Freedom rides on interstate buse
to determine if southern states would enforce laws against segregation in public transportation African American and white
college students African Americans only; no whites
Nonviolence
Militancy and violence; “black power” and African American pride
|
B. Describe the National Organization of Women and the origins and goals of the modern women’s movement.
Women’s Movement
The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 to promote equal rights and opportunities for America’s women. NOW had its origins in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the early 1960s. In both of these, women felt sidelined by the men who led organizations like the SNCC and anti–Vietnam War groups. NOW’s goals included equality in employment, political and social equality, and the passage of the equal rights amendment.
The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 to promote equal rights and opportunities for America’s women. NOW had its origins in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the early 1960s. In both of these, women felt sidelined by the men who led organizations like the SNCC and anti–Vietnam War groups. NOW’s goals included equality in employment, political and social equality, and the passage of the equal rights amendment.
C. Analyze the anti-Vietnam War movement.
Anti–Vietnam War Movement
Americans against the war in Vietnam became more vocal in their opposition. Many antiwar groups started on college campuses to urge the government to end selective service (the draft) and to bring home all American troops from Vietnam. They used many of the same tactics as groups fighting for civil rights, including sit-ins, marches, and demonstrations. Later, some protesters became more radical, burning their draft cards, going to prison rather than going to Vietnam, and even fleeing to Canada.
Americans against the war in Vietnam became more vocal in their opposition. Many antiwar groups started on college campuses to urge the government to end selective service (the draft) and to bring home all American troops from Vietnam. They used many of the same tactics as groups fighting for civil rights, including sit-ins, marches, and demonstrations. Later, some protesters became more radical, burning their draft cards, going to prison rather than going to Vietnam, and even fleeing to Canada.
D. Analyze Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers’ movement.
United Farm Workers’ Movement
Latinos also protested to gain civil rights in the 1960s. Their leader was César Chávez, an American of Mexican descent who grew up picking crops in California with his family. As founder of the United Farm Workers’ movement, Chávez believed in nonviolent methods to achieve his goals. In 1965, he started a nationwide boycott of California grapes, forcing grape growers to negotiate a contract with the United Farm Workers in 1970. This contract gave farmworkers higher wages and other benefits for which they had been protesting through the sixties.
Latinos also protested to gain civil rights in the 1960s. Their leader was César Chávez, an American of Mexican descent who grew up picking crops in California with his family. As founder of the United Farm Workers’ movement, Chávez believed in nonviolent methods to achieve his goals. In 1965, he started a nationwide boycott of California grapes, forcing grape growers to negotiate a contract with the United Farm Workers in 1970. This contract gave farmworkers higher wages and other benefits for which they had been protesting through the sixties.
E. Explain the importance of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and the resulting developments; include Earth Day, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the modern environmental movement.
Environmental Movement
Protecting the environment became important to many Americans. Silent Spring, a 1962 book about pesticides by Rachel Carson, exposed dangers to the environment. This book led to the Water Quality Act of 1965. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when almost every community across America and over 10,000 schools and 2,000 colleges organized events to raise awareness of environmental issues; Earth Day is still celebrated each year. Also in 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set limits on pollution, to conduct environmental research, and to assist state and local governments in the cleanup of polluted sites.
Protecting the environment became important to many Americans. Silent Spring, a 1962 book about pesticides by Rachel Carson, exposed dangers to the environment. This book led to the Water Quality Act of 1965. The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when almost every community across America and over 10,000 schools and 2,000 colleges organized events to raise awareness of environmental issues; Earth Day is still celebrated each year. Also in 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set limits on pollution, to conduct environmental research, and to assist state and local governments in the cleanup of polluted sites.
F. Describe the rise of the conservative movement as seen in the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater (1964) and the election of Richard M. Nixon (1968).
Conservative Movement
In 1964, the Republicans nominated Senator Barry Goldwater for president, which was a sign of the rising power of America’s conservative movement. Goldwater believed the federal government should not try to fix social and economic problems such as poverty, discrimination, or lack of opportunity. His conservative proposals included selling the Tennessee Valley Authority, making Social Security voluntary, and getting more involved in Vietnam. Goldwater lost the election to President Johnson, who said more American involvement in Vietnam would not solve the problems there.
In 1964, the Republicans nominated Senator Barry Goldwater for president, which was a sign of the rising power of America’s conservative movement. Goldwater believed the federal government should not try to fix social and economic problems such as poverty, discrimination, or lack of opportunity. His conservative proposals included selling the Tennessee Valley Authority, making Social Security voluntary, and getting more involved in Vietnam. Goldwater lost the election to President Johnson, who said more American involvement in Vietnam would not solve the problems there.