The United States in The United States in 1960s 1960s

Reading US CultureKevin Chen

1Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

IntroductionIntroductionThe sixties were a time of change, and the sixties

were the age of youth.

In the 1960s, 70 million children from the post-war baby boom became teenagers and young adults. Young people wanted change and they believed that they could make America a better place. The 1960s was a busy decade. This busy decade was probably one of the funniest decades you’ll ever learn about in the history of United States. There were several important events and issues in 1960s, including the political and the cultural ones: Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Civil Rights Movements, The Beatles, Hippie Culture, Woodstock Festival and several assassinations.

2Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

JFKJFKThe sixties began with the election of

America’s youngest president, John F. Kennedy. During his period in the White House, people stepped out and said how they felt. They thought that, with Kennedy leading America, anything was possible. But President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963. The assassination shocked the country.

3Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile CrisisThe 60s was in the Cold War Era. The

president of Cuba, Castro declared that he was a communist and thus broke off diplomatic relations with the United States. Cuba is just 90 miles from the tip of Florida; the land of the United States could easily become the reachable target of missiles. In 1962, an American spy plane identified long range of Soviet missiles in Cuba. President Kennedy readied troops to invade Cuba, and the Soviet Union also prepared to fire at US cities if the American army made a move.

4Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

Vietnam War(1965-1975)Vietnam War(1965-1975)To prevent communist North Vietnam

from overtaking South Vietnam, the United States secretly sent the army to Vietnam in 1963. In 1965, President Johnson ordered bombing raids on North Vietnam and the war was known by people. Americans began protesting the war. People were horrified at what they saw in the News and increasingly grew opposed to the war in Vietnam. Protests of the Vietnam War occurred all over the country.

5Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

HippiesHippiesAs the 1960s progressed, many young people

turned from mainstream Protestant religions to mystic eastern religions. Young people respected less for authority, and crime rates increased to nine times the rate of the 1950s. The use of Marijuana and LSD became popular. The hippie movement went along with drugs, rock music, mystic religions and sexual freedom. The Woodstock Festival could represent the peak of hippie culture. In 1969, 400,000 young people gathered in Woodstock. Many top rock musicians were there. The Festival lasted three days, a weekend of music, love and peace. In a spirit of love and sharing, The Woodstock Festival represented the climax of the hippie movement. 6Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

The BeatlesThe BeatlesSince 1964, The Beatles became VERY

popular. They are a British rock and roll band from Liverpool. The four members of the Beatles were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They played on radio stations all over the world in the 1960s. Their performed concerts were quickly sold out. All the frenzy over the group became known as “Beatlemania.” If we look at their popularity today, the Beatles in the 1960s was only the beginning, and their music greatly influences the development of popular music for generations.

7Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

American Civil Rights American Civil Rights Movement (1)Movement (1)The Civil Rights Movement made great

changes in the society of the 1960s. Some people, like the liberals, believe that the ever-expanding social movements of the 1960s as positive, but some, like the conservatives, see that these movements may pose a threat to social order.

8Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

American Civil Rights American Civil Rights Movement (2)Movement (2)

The most renowned leader of Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King, Jr. He inspired people and made them believe that they could make a difference. King believed in nonviolent protest against segregation and racial discrimination. Many people, blacks and whites alike, joined his March on Washington in 1963. In August 28th, he delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech in National Mall, Washington DC. This speech became one of the most inspiring speech of history. In1968 Martin Luther King was assassinated.

9Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

American Civil Rights American Civil Rights Movement (3)Movement (3)Besides JFK and Martin Luther King,

there were other shocking assassinations in the 1960s. Black Nationalist Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965 and John F. Kennedy’s brother, Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.

10Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

Landing the MoonLanding the Moon

Space became another battle field in the Cold War Era. The Space Race was begun by the Soviets since 1957. Man orbited the earth for the first time in Apollo 8 in 1968. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon; Neil Armstrong walked on the moon for the first time of human history.

11Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen

Other Interesting Popular Other Interesting Popular Cultures:Cultures:There were some other interesting

cultures in the 1960s. Mini Skirts became popular. Bob Dylan was the icon of blues and popular music. Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe were the most popular movie stars. Rock and Roll music flourished. Elvis Presley was the popular idol in the United States. The Americans liked watching the violent actions and western films; Clint Eastwood played the main roles in many popular films.

12Reading US Culture _ Kevin Chen