Americans workers found themselves becoming standardized
Baby boom impact
Suburbian development
Automobile industry
Gas was cheap
By 1960 : 60M owned an auto
Interstate highways Act 1956
Rural population decreased
If you believe in God, you cannot be communist
Communism is a religion
Highways
Downside of the Affluent Society
Stronger inequalities
Automobile
Noise, pollution, accidents, traffic jams, stress
Decline of public transportation
Poverty on the sideline : in 1952, 1/4 of Americans living below poverty level
Richest 1% owned 1/3 of the country’s wealth
Richest 5% owned 1/2 of the country’s wealth
Michael Harrington : “The Other America” (1962)
White Flight
Minorities and Civil Rights in the 50s
Part of the population suffered and in particular :
Senior citizens, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Puerto Ricans
They sffered from : poor housing / malnutrition / insufficient medical care / Immigration Issues
1954 : Brown vs Board of Education
Segregation in schools was unconstitutional
Jim Crow Laws and Segregation in the South
Jim Crow laws were laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States
Plessy VS Ferguson, an 1896 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine
Voting rights were restricted through poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses
Immigration Issues in the 50s
Operation WetBack in 1954
Browan VS Board of Education
Judge Warrren : Ruled in favor and this struck down the “separate but equal” law
They didn’t want the school to be desegregated, while it was the law
Segregation in public schools was unconstitutional
Rosa Parks : 1955
Rosa Park was black, and should have given her bus seat to white people
But she did remain sitting
Little Rock Arkansas : 1957
These people wanted to enter the local school that was desegregated
When they walked into the school, their entry was refused
They were intimidated
The local law enforcers were there but did nothing
Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1957)
Founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders
Aimed to coordinate and support nonviolent protests and civil rights activism
Played a key role in organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington
March in Washington DC : 20 000 people
Marching to demand the right to vote for everyone
Advocated for desegregation, voting rights, and equal treatment for African Americans
C. 60s Great Society
JF Kennedy
Elected in 1960
Assassinated in November 1963
LB Johnson
Became president in 1963
Elected in 1964
Did not run in 1968
Unconditional War on Poverty
Objective => pass government reforms to fight against :
poverty
disease
racial injustice
40 programs that were intended to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions and enabling people to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty
89 bills
Going Liberal
Judge Warrn … passed laws to increase individual rights including
Prisonner rights to counsel (Gideon vs Wainright 1963)
Right to counsel during interrogation (Escobar vs Illinois 1964)
Right to remain silent and speak to a lawyer (AKA Miranda rights)
Limiting prayers in schools
Limiting prayers in schools
Overtunrned state law in Virginia banning interracial marriage (Loving vs Virginia 1967)
Growing Activism
War escalation
The the Vietnam was Startve the Great Society Funding ?
Cultural revolution
The counterculture - A desire for change
Nature > society / Nature vs plastic
Hipples / San Francisco Haight-Ashbury - 1967 “Summer of Love”
Student Protests
Against the war in vietnam
Against the government
Some because they were afraid to get drafted for the war, other because they are against the war
1967 : protest in burkley “stop the draft week”
violent
Pentagon Papers
1971 : The New York Times published the Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers was a study of the Vietnam War ordered by the Department of Defense
The study revealed that the government had been lying to the public about the war for years
The Nixon administration tried to stop the publication of the papers, but the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not censor the press
The publication of the Pentagon Papers was one of the first major blows to the Nixon administration
Human cost
II. Civil Rights Movements 60s, 70s, & 80s
A. African American
Sit in that staarted on Feb 1940
4 black students sat at a white counter
They were refused to be served
They stayed there until the store closed
They did that for 5 months, and more and more black people came to do this
They were arrested, beaten up, sprayed with water, but they kept doing it
They were not violent, they were just sitting there
Had a code of conduct, that defined how they should behave
They should always stay polite
Don’t reply or react to any act of violence
Executive Order 11063 (20 nov 1962)
Signed by JFK
Prohibits racial discrimination in federally funded housing
The order was signed in response to protests by civil rights activists who had marched on Washington DC in 1962
The order was not enforced until 1968
1963 : Violence in Birmingham
The police chief was very violent
He used dogs and fire hoses against the protesters
The police chief was fired
The city was desegregated
Civil Rights Act 1964
Banned discrimination in public accomodations
Outlawed unequal voting requirements
Banned discrimination in employment based on race, gender, religion, or natural origin
Created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce the law
Applied federal power to speed integration of school and other in public facilities
Mississippi Freedom Summer 1964
CRA wasn’t enough
Stil faced discrimination
Racist laws and fear of white retribution kept southern blacks from voting
“Wave of terror”
Hundreds of students were burned
Churches were burnt
Selma 1965
Bloody Sunday, Selma
Voting Rights Act 1965
Major legislation
Key concern of the civil rights movement
Black Power Movement
Emerged in the 1960s as a response to racial inequality and oppression faced by African Americans
Advocated for self-determination, self-defense, and economic empowerment within the black community
Promoted black pride, cultural awareness, and the celebration of African heritage
Influenced by leaders such as Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party
Called for an end to police brutality and systemic racism
Focused on community organizing, political activism, and grassroots movements
Played a significant role in shaping the civil rights movement and challenging the status quo
B. Women
Equal rights law 1963
The women hit a glass ceiling
Betty Friedan wrote a book : The feminine mystique (1963)
A rebirth of feminism
Simone de Beauvoir (1949)
The Civil rights act did include a law for equality, but enforcement wasn’t there
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
Proposed amendment to the US Constitution
Equality for everything for both genders
WDesire to change the constitution
A lot of feminist were against this equal rights
Not all women wanted it
Afraid of the consequences of the women going to work
1972 : ERA proposed for vote into the congress
Approved, but not the same
Phyllis Schalafly - was totally against ERA
Sweetheart of silence Majority (SSM)
Strong leader in trying to oppose the abortion law
Wanted to sanction gay marriage, unisex toilet, women in combat, tranditional family
Reagan was president in the 90s
Anti abortion was very strong
Reagan government’s appointed some women but not that much
He opposed federal funding to help for childcare, women
Opposed programs (affirmative action)
C. Native Americans (Indians)
Severe house problems
1/3 of the population was unemployed
1/3 of the population was illiterate
Isolated
Racist
Low life expectancy
Children were likely to die at a very young age
Wern’t always official citizens
Operation wetback (1954)
1953 : Termination policy
Goal was to end the status of Indians and give them rights
Tried to occupy alcatraz
To maintain their power
Forced out by the federal gov
300 native americans were killed (1890)
the gov gave conpensation
D. Latinos
Increased in the 60s
1/3 live below poverty line
Unemployment x2 higher than caucasian white
80% worked in unskilled jobs
Faced discrimination
Fewer ressources
Struggle for equal justice
They call themselves the Chicanos
Convey the idea of ethnic pride
Be proud and contribute to make things change
1962 : National Farm Workers Association
1966 : Crusade for justice
1967 : MAYO (Mexican A YOuth Association)
Aggressive
1970 : Raza Unida
Campaining for bilingual education
1967 : Brown Berets
Powerful
Education
Protesting against police’s brutality
The Chicano death rate in Vietnam was much higher
E. LGBT
They are GAY
Too gay
Liberty
Until 1963 : Listed homosexuality as a mental disorder
Treatment by law enforcement was very harsh
Police often infiltrated bars to beat up people and send them to jail
June 29 1969 : Stonewall INN
Turning point
A bar in NYC
The bar was raided by police, a riot broke out
The days after this incident; gay people started to come out
People started to realise that they were a lot more gay people than they though
1970 : Homosexuality was still suffering from discrimination
1973 : National Organization for Women endorse gay rights as well
1974 : The American Psychiatric Association stopped considering homosexuality as a mental disorder
Harvey Milk
1977 : Poll suggested that half of the population favored equal rights for gay people
Those who oppose were the conservatives, the religious people
1980s : Still millions of gay people were scared to come out
F. 1968 : The year that want too far or not far enough ?
Things were changing
Good for some
Bad for others
They elected Richard Nickson
Narrow victory
Nickson ran against the democrats
The year that went too far
1968 was a year of social and political upheaval
The Vietnam War was at its peak
The civil rights movement was gaining momentum
Rising unemployment, and rising inflation
Stagflation
Deficit spending
The government was spending more than it was earning
Price freezing
1973 Oil Crisis
OPEC countries
They did set up en embargo on the shipment of oil to the US
The price of oil was multiplied by 4
The US was very dependent on oil
The US was importing a lot of oil
The oil exporting countries were angry at the US
New federalism
The federal government was giving more power to the states
Revenue sharing
They try to choose in which sector they want to invest their money
Give the state more autonomy
Budget that you would have for the federal government
III. Political, Social, and Cultural transformation in the 70s and 80s
A. Popular Culture and News Media
Nixon & Civil rights
Nixon less sympathetic to minorities than Johnson had been
He believed integration was moving too far too fast
He wanted to delay the desegregation of the schools in Mississippi and opposed court-ordered busing
Opposed the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but Congress did extend it
Vice-president Ford
Ford is the only american president that was never elected by the american people
B. 70s : Rise and evolution of conservatism
Republican
Vice-President under Nixon 1973 - 1974 after Agnew’s resignation
President from 1974 - 1977
Vice President : Nelson Rockfeller
Jimmy Carter
He seemed like a nice guy that would be truthful
Democrat
President from 1977-1981
Vice-president : Walter Mondale
Nobel Peace Prize in 2002
BUT
American blamed him for failing to improve the economy
He lost his campain for re-election to conservative Republican Ronald Reagan during the Iranian Hostage Crisis
Served just one term (much presidential rotation since Nixon’s resignation)
The 70s
End of the Vietnam war
It was a humiliation for the Americans
Iranian revolution
C. 80s rise and evolution of conservatism
A new right
Abortion right
Reagon attracted the Moral Majority
Supreme Court becoming more conservative
Reagan’s presidency had a significant impact on the Supreme Court, leading to a shift towards conservatism.
Reagan appointed conservative justices, such as Antonin Scalia and William Rehnquist, who held conservative views on issues like abortion, affirmative action, and individual rights.
This shift in the Supreme Court’s composition had long-lasting effects on the interpretation of the Constitution and the direction of the country.
Conservative measures
Reduction of government regulations
Tax cuts for businesses and high-income individuals
Deregulation of industries such as telecommunications and banking
Welfare reform
Tougher crime policies
Social Changes & Impact
Social transformation
Money spending
Entertainment
Soap operas
Hollywood
TV Talk shows
People talked about themselves, in public about private matters
Music
Sang about sex & drugs
New types : Rap where lyrics spoken, not sang
Technology changed america
Internet
Computers
AIDS hit the headlines in the Reagan years
Acquired immune deficiency sundrome (AIDS)
Struck male homosexuals and intravenous drug users
Mid 80s had spread to blood banks
Reagan refused to push in that direction, he was against religious values
But it was very widespread among homosexuals
24 states had laws against sex between two males
Women
Women earned on average 62% of what men earned in 1980 but 72% in 1990
Supreme court did not reverse ROE V WADE but the anti-abortion sentiment remained strong
D. Evolution in the 90s
Impact on the economy
Planned control of the money supply
Reagan was elected twice
1988 : George Bush
1992 : Bill Clinton
Reagan put an end to the cold war
Socio-economic impact of WW2
Disponibilité & Aide
Ce site est à la disposition de tous, pour consulter et participer à la prise de notes.
Garantie
Aucun contenu n'est garanti, et ne peut être utilisé comme référence fiable.