Why was there a growing student protest
movement in the 1960s?
Learning Objectives: To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s
Key Terms, Events,
Names: Vietnam
War, Hippies, SDS,
Drugs,
Contraception, New
Generation, Civil
Rights Movement,
Music, Counter
Culture
Reasons For Student
Protest
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
Find a partner with a matching
button to yours.
With you partner, discuss the
following:
1. What is the message of the
button? Which event or
events is it linked to?
2. How does it reflect the
values or aims of the
students protest
movement?
Reasons For Student
Protest
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
• The number of students grew
throughout the 1960s but their
dissatisfaction with society also
grew.
• This led to increased pressure
on government to change
society, especially over the issue
of the Vietnam War.
• But what were students angry
about and why did the student
movement emerge?
What was wrong with American
society in the 1960s?
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
1. Growing poverty in inner cities
among minority groups.
2. Black people and other minority
groups had their rights denied.
3. Women were treated as 2nd class
citizens.
4. Fear of a nuclear holocaust.
5. Disillusionment with the growing
consumer culture.
6. 1950s American society had
strict social and moral
expectations.
Rank these
problems in
order of
importance
(consider which
would lead to
most protest
amongst young
people)
What would your
mother say!!!
A New Generation
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
The baby boom after WW2 led to
large numbers of affluent young
people coming to maturity in the
1950s and 1960s.
The young were influenced by the
legacy of the 1950s; Rock ‘n’
Roll, heavy drinking, teenage
gangs & rebellion – all fuelled by
growing prosperity, media
influence and free-time.
Growing Expectations
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
When WW2 ended, people hoped
for a return to prosperity. The
USA became more wealthy but
only for WASPs (White Anglo-
Saxon Protestants) and mostly for
men.
When Kennedy was elected
president in 1961, he promised a
fairer, more equal society. His
assassination angered and
disillusioned many young people.
Emerging Counter-Culture
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
The attitudes of teenagers in the
1950s and their rising
expectations of society led to the
young distancing themselves from
the older generation and its view
on how they should behave.
They demanded greater freedom
in everything; music, clothes,
social life, sexual relations and
ways of thinking.
Emerging Counter-Culture
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
These demands were influenced by
the introduction of the
contraceptive pill, which gave
women the choice over when to
have children.
These attitudes fuelled a growing
sense of freedom among the
young and it found expression in
movements such as the hippy
movement – which emphasised
music, drugs, peace, free love and
communal living.
Emerging Counter-Culture
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
• The growing access to
University education brought
young people together and
introduced them to this counter-
culture.
• Students started to demand a
greater say in their own
education. Their new found
freedom of expression led them
to questioning their education.
• Strikes and demonstrations
affected nearly every university
in the country.
Protest Singers
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
• Alongside these developments, the 1960s saw an explosion in
pop music that was both an expression of this emerging youth
culture, and of protest against important issues.
• British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones and American
artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan all sang about themes
such as nuclear war, racism, sex, drugs and opposition to war.
The Influence of MLK and the
Civil Rights Movement
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
• Many young Americans had their
first experience of protest from
watching the growing Civil
Rights Movement in the media.
• Scenes of violence against
peaceful protesters and the
inspirational speeches of MLK all
helped to inspire young people
to protest themselves.
• This led to many white students
taking part in freedom marches,
freedom rides and sit-ins.
The Vietnam War
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
• The USA entered the war in
1955 as part of the Cold War. As
involvement increased from
1965, more money and soldiers
were committed – and more
deaths.
• TV images of US tactics such as
napalm attacks, burning villages
and civilian deaths all showed
the USA as oppressor.
• Students protested against this
and even burnt their draft cards
to avoid being conscripted.
The Vietnam War –
Reasons for Opposition
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
1. Students called to arms
through draft system.
2. Massive increase in
casualties – 1965 2000
casualties, by 1968
increased to 14,000
3. US supporting corrupt South
Vietnam regime
4. US methods of warfare
5. Media televised the war in
colour – worsened bloody
nature of war.
Reasons For Student
Protest
LO: To identify the
reasons for
protest in the
1960s
Based on your knowledge of the
topic you are going to create a
Mindmap as to ‘the Reasons for
Student Protest’
• Rank order the reasons
clockwise from the most to the
least important.
• Use different coloured pens to
show links between some of the
reasons.
• Briefly explain the link between
the reasons.
How Did Students
Campaign?
LO: To identify the key
events and features of
the Student protest
movement of the 1960s
1. Create a presentation outlining the causes, key features
and effects of either the 1964 Berkeley Free Speech
Movement; 1968 Columbia University Protests and 1970
Kent State University protests.
2. Develop some form of interactive game/activity that
relates to your topic.
BERKELEY UNIVERSITY COLOMBIA UNIVERSITY KENT STATE
UNIVERSITY
Miyu Natalie Tiffany
Jisoo Hannah Jasmine
Alicia Sarah Megan
Eytan Nick Kyle
Jude Roan Lewis

Student Protest Movement

  • 1.
    Why was therea growing student protest movement in the 1960s? Learning Objectives: To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s Key Terms, Events, Names: Vietnam War, Hippies, SDS, Drugs, Contraception, New Generation, Civil Rights Movement, Music, Counter Culture
  • 2.
    Reasons For Student Protest LO:To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s Find a partner with a matching button to yours. With you partner, discuss the following: 1. What is the message of the button? Which event or events is it linked to? 2. How does it reflect the values or aims of the students protest movement?
  • 3.
    Reasons For Student Protest LO:To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s • The number of students grew throughout the 1960s but their dissatisfaction with society also grew. • This led to increased pressure on government to change society, especially over the issue of the Vietnam War. • But what were students angry about and why did the student movement emerge?
  • 4.
    What was wrongwith American society in the 1960s? LO: To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s 1. Growing poverty in inner cities among minority groups. 2. Black people and other minority groups had their rights denied. 3. Women were treated as 2nd class citizens. 4. Fear of a nuclear holocaust. 5. Disillusionment with the growing consumer culture. 6. 1950s American society had strict social and moral expectations. Rank these problems in order of importance (consider which would lead to most protest amongst young people)
  • 5.
  • 6.
    A New Generation LO:To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s The baby boom after WW2 led to large numbers of affluent young people coming to maturity in the 1950s and 1960s. The young were influenced by the legacy of the 1950s; Rock ‘n’ Roll, heavy drinking, teenage gangs & rebellion – all fuelled by growing prosperity, media influence and free-time.
  • 7.
    Growing Expectations LO: Toidentify the reasons for protest in the 1960s When WW2 ended, people hoped for a return to prosperity. The USA became more wealthy but only for WASPs (White Anglo- Saxon Protestants) and mostly for men. When Kennedy was elected president in 1961, he promised a fairer, more equal society. His assassination angered and disillusioned many young people.
  • 8.
    Emerging Counter-Culture LO: Toidentify the reasons for protest in the 1960s The attitudes of teenagers in the 1950s and their rising expectations of society led to the young distancing themselves from the older generation and its view on how they should behave. They demanded greater freedom in everything; music, clothes, social life, sexual relations and ways of thinking.
  • 9.
    Emerging Counter-Culture LO: Toidentify the reasons for protest in the 1960s These demands were influenced by the introduction of the contraceptive pill, which gave women the choice over when to have children. These attitudes fuelled a growing sense of freedom among the young and it found expression in movements such as the hippy movement – which emphasised music, drugs, peace, free love and communal living.
  • 10.
    Emerging Counter-Culture LO: Toidentify the reasons for protest in the 1960s • The growing access to University education brought young people together and introduced them to this counter- culture. • Students started to demand a greater say in their own education. Their new found freedom of expression led them to questioning their education. • Strikes and demonstrations affected nearly every university in the country.
  • 11.
    Protest Singers LO: Toidentify the reasons for protest in the 1960s • Alongside these developments, the 1960s saw an explosion in pop music that was both an expression of this emerging youth culture, and of protest against important issues. • British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones and American artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan all sang about themes such as nuclear war, racism, sex, drugs and opposition to war.
  • 12.
    The Influence ofMLK and the Civil Rights Movement LO: To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s • Many young Americans had their first experience of protest from watching the growing Civil Rights Movement in the media. • Scenes of violence against peaceful protesters and the inspirational speeches of MLK all helped to inspire young people to protest themselves. • This led to many white students taking part in freedom marches, freedom rides and sit-ins.
  • 13.
    The Vietnam War LO:To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s • The USA entered the war in 1955 as part of the Cold War. As involvement increased from 1965, more money and soldiers were committed – and more deaths. • TV images of US tactics such as napalm attacks, burning villages and civilian deaths all showed the USA as oppressor. • Students protested against this and even burnt their draft cards to avoid being conscripted.
  • 14.
    The Vietnam War– Reasons for Opposition LO: To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s 1. Students called to arms through draft system. 2. Massive increase in casualties – 1965 2000 casualties, by 1968 increased to 14,000 3. US supporting corrupt South Vietnam regime 4. US methods of warfare 5. Media televised the war in colour – worsened bloody nature of war.
  • 15.
    Reasons For Student Protest LO:To identify the reasons for protest in the 1960s Based on your knowledge of the topic you are going to create a Mindmap as to ‘the Reasons for Student Protest’ • Rank order the reasons clockwise from the most to the least important. • Use different coloured pens to show links between some of the reasons. • Briefly explain the link between the reasons.
  • 16.
    How Did Students Campaign? LO:To identify the key events and features of the Student protest movement of the 1960s 1. Create a presentation outlining the causes, key features and effects of either the 1964 Berkeley Free Speech Movement; 1968 Columbia University Protests and 1970 Kent State University protests. 2. Develop some form of interactive game/activity that relates to your topic. BERKELEY UNIVERSITY COLOMBIA UNIVERSITY KENT STATE UNIVERSITY Miyu Natalie Tiffany Jisoo Hannah Jasmine Alicia Sarah Megan Eytan Nick Kyle Jude Roan Lewis

Editor's Notes

  • #8 Black people denied constitutional rights – Hispanics and native americans persecuted – women not equal. The American Dream promised to many only benefitted a few. Students also started to see success of civil rights movement so felt there was hope.
  • #9 Back drop of cold war – red scare – Korean War – Berlin Crisis – Cuban Missile Crisis – disillusionment of govt. policy – felt powerless in face of nuclear holocaust.
  • #11 By 1960 number of students had doubled since 1950