| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

A3 1960s Gallagher

Page history last edited by Sarah Bedoyan 13 years, 10 months ago

Catherine Chang

Leena Raza

Annika De Souza

Sarah Bedoyan

                 

MYP Unit Question: How did culture, events and leadership shape and reflect post-WWII America?

 

The 1960s

 

Assignment Due: Friday of Next Week. 

Friday after school we work on the MYP. 

 

 

Business & the Economy- Annika De Souza 

 

The 1960s were great for the United States as far as the economy went.  According to Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms,  "until the 1990s, the 1960s marked the longest uninterrupted period of American economic expansion."  The excellent state of the economy allowed Americans to truly enjoy the decade, reveling in theater, experimenting with new styles of music, spending excess money on LSD, and daring to be activists.  America took over the world economy with its powerful companies like GM, Coca-Cola, and Procter and Gamble.  Unlike other times, however, large businesses were not the only ones who profited from the economic boom.  Americans saw their income increase by an average of 50% from the average income in 1950.

 

The way goods were sold changed drastically with the founding of huge department stores that could sell their goods at discount rates while offering a large selection.  Many were opposed to these stores, such as Wal-Mart and Kmart, because they took away business from small family-run businesses who were unable to price their products at competitive rates.  However, they were extremely convenient for Americans because instead of having to buy goods at various different stores, Americans could buy them all in one place.  These benefits allowed the stores to flourish and have great longevity.

 

Education - Catherine Chang 

 

            The educational system at the beginning of the decade was falling behind. Many innovations in fields such as science and politics only discouraged the role of education. The attempts that were made to update the system were forced by either law or riot, and many teachers were reluctant in steering away from conventional ideas and practices. It became clear that the educational system needed to be re-evaluated.

 

            Segregation in schools was still evident in the late 1950s and early 1960s despite the Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 that declared segregation in schools illegal. Southern schools were especially reluctant to put the law into practice. This “ingenious procrastination”, however, soon came to an end as threatened schools with declining financial support were forced by a federal district court order to desegregate. Likewise in the North, the loss of neighborhood schools, schools that promoted illegal separation, met with defiance. In 1969, Supreme Court responded by declaring unanimously that every school district must “‘operate now and hereafter only unitary schools’” (Baughman). Universities were also required to desegregate but many, mostly in the southern states, were unwilling to change. The desegregation of the University of Mississippi in 1962, which proved to be the most chaotic desegregation endeavor, showed the public’s resistance to change. Meanwhile, in the North, colleges were actively pursuing black students. Many Ivy Leagues sought to incorporate blacks into their schools, for example, Princeton by 1968, had “increased its black enrollment by 200 percent from 1960” (Baughman).

 

            Schools struggled to accommodate the excess number of students created by the baby boom during the late 1960s, intensified only by the limited amount of teachers. Approximately 1.9 million students were of excess, a problem that continued throughout the decade. As a temporary means of fixing this problem, portable classrooms were created where many remained behind schools. A few secondary schools provided double sessions, so students went to school for only half a day. The shortage of teachers became a growing problem. In order to clear deficits, in 1960, roughly 195,000 teachers were cut according to the U.S. Office of Education. These teachers needed to be replaced, but very few college graduates wanted to pursue a career in teaching since starting teacher salary was a mere $5000 compared to the $10,000 starting salary of many other professions that required the same amount of training (Baughman).

 

     Also, social tensions created a new minority of students known as the New Left. Many protested against the conflict in Vietnam, racial discrimination, and campus regulations. Throughout many universities, for example, “women were no longer required to sign in and out of dormitories, or adhere to curfews” (Carnagie Vol. 7). This “radical student-activist movement” was perhaps the highlight of the decade, a defining moment that advocated change. 

 

 

Fashion- Sarah Bedoyan 

After America's victory in World War II, people were confident in their superiority to other nations.  Wartime productions restricted what could be produced and purchased so people now started to buy with newfound vigor.  Material possessions were a representation of the success of American society as well as how individuals compared to their neighbor.  Businesses, especially clothing industries, welcomed the change.  They realized that to increase profit and to make consumers frequent their stores, they needed to make disposable, faddish clothes.  This either meant making things trendy to the extreme that after the fad had past, the clothing was unwearable or it wore out easily.  A combination of both proved efficient, and there was a boom in the synthetic goods industries, like polyester and nylon. 

     The fashions themselves were much freer and exciting than they had even been.  In the 60s there was a more relaxed, tolerant attitude as to the type of clothes that women could wear.  Women now wore panty hoses, made out of stretchy, synthetic materials instead of awkard garter belts.  Also, many women decided to go braless.  Pants were also a huge fashion revolution in this decade for women.  Although women had worn pants inside the house and for sports, this was the first time designers made pants strictly for going into town and formal occasions.  Women were finally liberated of the requirement that they wore skirts.  

 

     Also, the 60s was a marked by violence and bloodshed.  For one, the Vietnam War was becoming an increasingly unpopular and unsuccessful war.  President John F. Kennedy, presidential candidate Robert Kennedy and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. were assassignated.  Riots and violence associated with racisim were extremely common. This led to the antiwar movements and antimaterialism.  People experimented with drugs, wore their favorite tye-dye shirts and bellbottom jeans. Compact cars replaced the oversized models from the 50s.  Men grew their hair long and women wore miniskirts. 

 

Film and Theater- Leena Raza 

     As the saying goes, "Art imitates Life", the Film and Theater of the 1960's imitated the life of this unparalleled decade. It reflected the tremendous social changes and revolutionary cultural values. Yet, the mimic of life was not sudden; it took a few years to mirror these fast-changing times. In 1962, television became colored and the American public shifted to this phenomenon while the film industry audience dwindled. Theater and film was old-fashioned, selective through its medium and irrelevant.

     In 1963, US film production faced its worst year, only releasing 121 films while European film featured 361 films in America the next year. In 1964, Universal Studios began its famed studio stores (in order to increase tourism) while many studios had to sell their backlots for California real estate. In order to increase tourism in Hollywood, the Hollywood Chamber of Congress, in 1960, inaugurated the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Click on this to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.   These were tough times for Hollywood. In 1968, the MPAA came out with a film code. Click on this to see the Code. Historians argue whether it was the new film code of the MPAA that caused the tables to turn or the tables had already been turned and the MPAA was trying to catch up. 

     Once this film code was passed, film industry became liberal and even more modern than its times. It broke previous taboos on violence, language and sex. As Spark Notes "Film Studies" stated "These changes, along with a middle-class migration to the suburbs that left urban movie theaters in disarray, led to new genres such as blaxploitation, sexploitation, and hardcore pornography." Hollywood even in the 1970's "was better known for its adult bookstores, prostitutes, and run-down look." according to AMC Film Site. 

    The film industry eventually caught up with the ever-changing decade although through much struggle; breaking social taboos just as the 1960's was famous for. 

 

 

Click Here to see the Academy Awards of the 1960s. 

 

 

 

 

Food &  Drink- Annika De Souza 

 

Just like in other aspects of 1960s culture, radical change and unbarred experimentation were occurring in the culinary world.  Free from the rations, economic instability, and gloomy atmosphere that had held them back before, chefs began cooking up exciting new dishes.  French cooks like Julia Child had a great influence on cuisine.  The huge population of baby boom children incited a surge of junk food.  Fire became a new tool in the kitchen with new popular dishes like fondue and Steak Diane.  International food was trendy throughout the decade, but these were not the orignial dishes.  American cooks would take the recipes and American-ize them, by using American cheese in lasagna and using ingredients like ketchup to make Chinese wings.  One last important food development in the 60s was the establishment of the first Wendy's in 1969.
 
Take a look at the diverse dishes cooked up in the 1960s:
 
slide errorPlugin error: That plugin is not available.
 

Print Culture- Catherine Chang 

With the rise of television and radio broadcasting, newspapers and magazines faced many difficulties in maintaining their appeal to the public. As Americans gained exposure to a broader variety of entertainment, magazines and newspapers especially were struggling to survive. Newspapers “were hit with rising production costs, stubborn unions, and a changing newspaper market” (Baughman Vol. 7). Many could not compete with television and radio for their up-to-date news, entertainment, and advertising abilities and opportunities. The effects were apparent, as newspaper markets declined in many areas; in New York, the number of major daily newspapers decreased from seven in 1959 to three in 1967. Circulation likewise shrank from 5.1 million to 3.5 million during the same period. (Baughman Vol. 7) Total circulation in the nation remained stagnant. With larger newspapers on a stand still, more and more small-town newspapers were gaining ground. Magazines felt a similar effect; even though circulation remained steady, magazines proved to be less of an attraction to the public. Barely making revenue, many magazines were forced to close due to increasing costs. The Saturday Evening Post disappeared in 1969 due to lack of public interest. Few were successful, and those that were served utilitarian purposes; Time and Newsweek continued to thrive under media empires Time-Life and Washington Post Company, respectively. Indeed, with technological advances and shifting interests, the 1960s proved to be a difficult time for newspapers and magazines. 

 

 

Sports &  Games- Sarah Bedoyan 

 

In the 1960s, baseball still dominated as America's most popular sport.  However, more professional sports were starting to become popular.  For example, professional football began to compete with baseball for America's favorite pastime status.  The Super Bowl and the formation of the AFL (American Football League) helped gain popularity for the sport.  At that time professional basketball was the least popular among major sports.  None the less, the Boston Celtics dominated as the best team in the NBA (National Basketball Administration).  Also, in small rural towns emerged the sport of car racing, sponsored by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).  College football and basketball was also extremely popular.  Many people watched the games on television and some people attended the games at the stadium's themselves.  During a particularly successful basketball season, the University of Southern California's (UCLA) basketball team won 88 straight victories. 

 

During the three separate winter and summer Olympics in this decade, there was a lot of commotion over the sudden fame of a certain athlete.  Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Muhammad Ali won a gold medal as a young boxer in 1960 and took the heavyweight title in 1964, but eventually lost to an opponent in 1967.  He refused to fight in the Vietnam War because he supported the idea that killing anyone for any reason is wrong.  As a result, Ali was stripped of his title and banned from boxing. 

 

Music ♪- Annika De Souza ( that includes the youtube video) 

Music in the 1960s was extremely different from what music had been till then.  New sounds, styles, and resources came forward to contribute to the change.  The culture of the time influenced the music, and the music, in turn, influenced the culture.  All of these elements contributed to an era of music unlike any other.

 

Until the 1960s, Caucasian male solo artists had been ruling the charts, and this continued in the 60s, with artists like Elvis Presley, Paul Anka, and Neil Sedaka.  They were producing great music, which continued to increase in popularity, but by then, Americans had been hearing their music long enough for it not to be considered original anymore.  Because of this, unique sounds had the opportunity to burst forth and top the charts alongside the others.  The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and the Righteous Brothers all had distinct sounds.  The originality of their music helped them to gain popularity.

 

The Beatles were popular throughout the decade, and their popularity only grew.  They "dominated" rock and roll, and many groups from their country, Great Britain, followed them, causing what was known as the British Invasion.  Groups like The Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Who came to the United States and became huge.

 

African-American groups and artists became popular thanks to the emergence of the Tamla Motown Record Company, based in Detroit, which specifically produced R&B.  Some of these artists were Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Smoky Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations.

 

Folk music became popular again in the 60s, with artists like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Peter, Paul, and Mary.  This was somewhat influenced by drug culture, but the popularity of Bob Dylan also helped to give rise to other folk artists.

 

The spike in drug use influenced many aspects of life in the 1960s, and music was one of them.  This "counterculture" led to acid rock, a genre that was generally based on improvising, along with psychedelic rock, which had a mellow sound that seeked to imitate the feeling of being on drugs.  400,000 hippies gathered for three days to experience Woodstock in 1969, a music festival that advertised itself as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music", considered the "pinnacle of the hippie movement".  It featured artists remembered to this day such as Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Santana, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.  The incredible music combined with the "peace and love" attitude influenced by drugs made Woodstock one of the most memorable events in music history.

 

The electric synthesizer also influenced the music scene greatly, making sounds that had never been heard before possibilities.  This new "electroacoustic" music was spearheaded by artists like John Cage, Morton Subotnik, and Robert Ashley.  Even computers began to be used.  A incredibly new technique was tried by Alvin Lucier, who attached electrodes to an artist'scalp, allowing his Before long, synthesizers had spread into other genres, like pop.

 

YouTube plugin error

 

 

 

Government & Politics- Leena Raza 

Government and Politics

        If you ever have the chance to contemplate American History and ponder about what has defined America today you should place the 1960s on your top list to investigate. Vietnam War. Assassinations. First Catholic President. Hippies and the Civil Rights Movement is just some of the events occurring in this time period. Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican, was president till 1961 following John F. Kennedy who was a democrat till 1963 when he was assassinated and his vice president was forced to take the role, Lyndon B Johnson till 1969 as a Democrat.

Foreign Policy:

     After World War Two, America had come out the strongest nation, military and economically, changing the American role in foreign politics. As President Kennedy stated in his Inaugural speech,"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hard-ship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty." America had become the leader of the "Free World" and willing to fight anyone that jeopardized it.  View his Inaugural Address
        In 1961, The Bay of Pigs Invasion (which Freiburger's father was present in) was considered a "blunder" in JFK's presidency. JFK approved a CIA scheme to use Cuban exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba. In April, the plan was undertaken on the Bay of Pigs and fails, leaving the anti-Castro Cubans trapped on the beach. Kennedy rejects their pleas to save them with U.S forces leaving them to surrender and accept Castro as their leader. The failed invasion encouraged the Soviet Union to offer more aid to Cuba and strengthen its grips.
        After the embarrassing Bay of Pigs Invasion, Kennedy agreed to meet Soviet premier Khrushchev in Vienna. Khrushchev grabs the opportunity to threaten Kennedy to pull U.S troops out of Berlin and Kennedy refuses. Khrushchev replies by creating the famous Berlin Wall to avoid East Germans to enter into West Berlin. While the wall is being built, Soviet and U.S tanks face off in Berlin yet no one is attacked. It was eventually taken down in 1989. See the building of the Berlin Wall on BBC.
        In 1962, The Cuban Missile Crisis occurs. America finds Soviet Union building underground sites in Cuba for the launching of offensive missiles. It responds by telling the world it will create a Naval Blockade. The crisis brought America very close to war with the Soviet Union; both beginning an attempt for better foreign relations while still producing stockpiles of nuclear weapons. This tension extended past the 1960s with a possibility of war.

    At the same time, America was facing an unpopular war in Vietnam. The war incited a backlash of anti-war movements creating a divide within America. The growing unpopularity of the Vietnam war begot an anti-war movement which consisted of boycotts and riots. One commonly organized boycott, by "hippies", consisted of sitting outside of the White House singing "Hey Hey LBJ, How many children have you killed today?"

Here is a newscast of a protest occurring in Washington D.C.
YouTube plugin error
 

Domestic Policy:

    John F. Kennedy's election begot a youthful generation demanding for change; He was the first Catholic President and the youngest candidate ever to be elected president. His domestic promise lied in the New Frontier Programs which insured an aid for education, federal support of health care , civil rights and urban renewal. He also implemented the PeaceCorps which inspired the American Public of enhancing the lives of others and increasing awareness of poverty. Although, John F. Kennedy was not successful in passing his laws due to the Conservative Democratic dominance in the House of Reps and Congress. After his death in 1963, Lyndon B Johnson took over the presidency role and succesfully fulfilled Kennedy's dreams of America.He began his own campaign, inspired by the book "The Other American" for the 40 million Americans still living in poverty and dubbed 1964 the year of "unconditional war on poverty." Just as the New Deal, some of Johnson's plans all were ambitious yet not all of them successful. Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1965, Medicare, Medicaid, funding for poor school districts and abolishing past discriminatory quotas which eventually increased emmigration for Asians and Latin Americans into America. Even though, John F. Kennedy was unable to fulfill his promises, many idealistic young Americans  took his inaugural speech, " Ask not what your country can do you for you-ask what you can do for your country" to heart and inspired a nation.

    During the 1960s, The Civil Rights Movement took a full swing during the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies. Both Presidents were carefully and tactfully supportive of the Civil Rights Movement yet both were adamant in equality for minorities. As we all know under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. the March on Washington (1963) and March to Montgomery (1965) are successfully led. Lyndon B. Johnson although promised emphasis on Civil Rights could not satisfy it due to the Vietnam War; prolonging already patient-less minorities. This frustration lead to an increase of "Black Panthers", Nation of Islam and race riots in Northern Cities such as Detroit who believed that violence was the only way to gain rights. King's peaceful marches seemed to meet with little success and his assassination in 1968 erupted massive riots in 168 cities across America (leaving 46 people dead). Check out this music video to understand the common act of lynching towards African Americans: YouTube plugin error

 

    The "Warren" Court as it was called consisted of the time period in which Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953-1969) was appointed. His charisma is commonly compared to John Marshall of the 1800s. Mr. Warren made a "profound effect on the criminal justice system, the political system of the states and the definition of individual rights" by his decisions in the case of Gideon vs. Wainwright (right to lawyer), Escobedo v. Illinois (right to remain silent) and Yates v. United States (protected radical and revolutionary speech). His greatest success lied in his ability to shift the Court work into Individual Rights rather than Property rights which was its dominant concern pre-Warren times.

    Social Revolutions:
   
    Many university students sympathized with the plight of the American minority and decided to organize protests to show their support. The first one was organized by Michigan students and called for university decisions to be made with the consent of the students. People that supported these ideas were labeled as the New Left.  The New Lefts encouraged a Counterculture (whom are people we define as hippies today) and rebelled through styles of dress, music and drug use. Their hopes were to entice a new way of thinking and stretch social norms. This similar attitude was seen in the Sexual Revolution. It hoped to alter the way American's view on sexual expression; past research had proven that pre-marital sex and homosexuality were actually more common than people expected in the 1950's and modern medicine and technology made casual sex a lot safer and less hazardous. Sexual themes were becoming more visible in advertisements, movies and magazines. To what extent did the revolution change the views of sex to the Average American is unknown but it is true that it weakened restrictions on premarital sex, homosexuality and contraception-eventually leading to the increasingly high out of wedlock statistics of the 1980s. All of these past revolutions and including the Civil Rights Movement lead to a Woman's revolution. It encouraged the middle class woman to pursue a career and to not be confined within the homes; the ERA and the Civil Rights Act benefited the woman's struggle for equality in the work place.
   

Leadership- Leena Raza 

Leadership:
       Kennedy  was born into one of the most powerful and wealthy families in America. He was a Harvard graduate, handsome, charismatic and youthful. To gain nomination, he had just enough delegates and to balance the presidential ticket he picked Lyndon B. Johnson to be his vice president. Considering Johnson's Texan heritage, it proved to be a good choice to gain the votes of the Southern Whites. The Presidential campaign were to the benefit of Kennedy because debates occurred on T.V.. Nixon seemed tense and nervous in the eyes of the American public, juxtaposing Kennedy's charismatic, ambitious attitude. The results were very close and Kennedy won. He became the first Catholic President in American history.
        Although assassinated two years later, his presidency was eventful. He offered a youthful and unique touch to the presidency never seen before. As stated in his inaugural speech,  the torch was being passed to a new generation and promised only his best. His wife and his occupancy in the White House put a spell on the American people. The press loved the beautiful, stylish Kennedy family and their attractive nature. The couple also tried to enhance the appreciation of art while Kennedy was in presidency.
        John F. Kennedy was entranced in foreign affairs (Vietnam War, Bay of Pig Invasion, Berlin Wall, Cuban Missile Crisis) and many of his domestic policies were not followed through due to this. About three years into his presidency, he was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas Texas. Although, his presidency was cut short and many of his domestic policies were never completed, he inspired a generation of Americans through his famous inaugural speech, " Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country." and began an activism never seen before especially through the acts of the PeaceCorps.  
       Lyndon Johnson took the oath of presidency two hours after Kennedy's assassination aboard an airplane. A unique vice president, he was nothing like his past predecessor. A native of rural Texas and a graduate of a sup-bar college  compared to Kennedy's Harvard diploma. Yet, Johnson was far more experienced and determined to improve social policies. He had the ability to persuade Congress to what charismatic Kennedy could not even do. Even The Election of 1964 proved to be a landslide for Johnson for he promised a far more liberal agenda than his competitor. Johnson was inexperienced in foreign policy, prolonging the war in Vietnam. Yet, his domestic successes were unparalleled, even charismatic Kennedy proved to be slightly unsuccessful in domestic policies.  


    Overall, both presidents proved to be revolutionary, eventful and inspirational just like the 1960s.

Law &  Justice- Sarah Bedoyan 

Effect of WWII:

At the beginning of the 60s America was only 15 years past the end of the war,  It had been the greatest collective effort by the American citizens to date.  The war effort had imbued in people a felling of obedience to rules, which carried over into attitudes about law.  People had a new found idea of what was morally right or wrong.  People who had committed horrible crimes even admitted that they did something wrong,

 

Crime and Punishment:

The biggest law related sensation in 1960 was focused on the trial of Richard Kickock and Perry Smith for the murder of four members of a Kansas family Both fit the public image of a criminal, Kickok was born in a well-to do family but turned to crime because of a flawed character, and Smith was poverty stricken.  Both men were tired and found guilty on all aspects of American law and morality. The two did nothing to challenge the verdicts.  Neither of them felt that what they did was justified. Everyone, including themselves, agreed that what they did was morally wrong, and they were executed. 

 

Baby Boomers:

After the soldiers came home from WWII, the birth rate increased.  By the beginning of the 1960s, these children (called baby boomers) were starting to reach adolescence, and by the end of the decade they were young adults. They had a completely different sense of rules and obedience compared to their parents.  They had not experienced a war, and most of them grew up when America was at its peak prosperity.  This prosperity encouraged a sense of individualism in many of the baby boomers, they felt a need to express their uniqueness.  They sought to stretch the boundaries of morality and the rules of law.  The questioned rules and remade them.  Standards of behavior from WWII times were challenged and sometimes ignored.

 

Voting and Criminal Rights:

At the beginning of the 60s, some blacks in the former Confederate states were unable to vote because of law barriers.  During the mid 60s, the Supreme court changed the regulations to insure voting rights for all.  Also, the Supreme Court set down the law that the right to be silent, the right to a hearing, and the right to refuse unjustified searches and seizures must be obeyed no matter what type of crime or what type of social status the person had. 

 

 

Religion-Catherine Chang 

Many controversies occurred in the 1960s. Bible reading and prayer no longer were required in public schools and nuns and priests left to live secular lives. After a brief religious revival during the postwar period, religious commitment was on the decline; in 1957, 14 percent of Americans said religion was declining and during the end of the decade, that figure rose to 75 percent (Baughman). Initially, mainline Protestant churches were popular and the Consultation on Church Union was formed, which aimed to “create a denomination of over twenty-five million people and preserve their leading role in the culture” (Baughman). They believed that unity would be the key to effectively promoting their interests to influence society. They advocated for blacks’ rights and were involved in the Vietnam conflict. However, by the end of the decade, many of these churches found that they were losing membership, since the Civil Rights Movement and the War were coming to a close.

          

  With the decline, conservative Protestant groups, known as Evangelicals, began to appear. They criticized and openly opposed the churches’ involvement in social issues. The victory of John F. Kennedy in 1960 proved to be a significant event for American Roman Catholics, as he became the nation’s first Roman Catholic president. The Second Vatican Council produced many changes in the conduct of churches, such as the switch of the Mass from Latin to English (Baughman). New faiths, such as Islam, also emerged and soon gained followers. However, some newly risen groups met with dismay and discontent; Metropolitan churches, later known as the Universal Fellowship of Community Churches, aimed primarily at homosexual communities. This led to a divided, “splintering” society at the end of the decade. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Positive Political Cartoon - Catherine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Negative Political Cartoon- Annika De Souza 

 

 

 

This cartoon originated in July 1963, when the United States and Soviet Union banned tests of "some" nuclear weapons.  This cartoon mocks the treaty, creating a parallel situation of a mountain telling summiters to come and see it "sometimes".  It questions the need for and effectiveness of the treaty by implying that it is ineffective for only some nuclear weapons to be banned, just like it is unreasonable for the summiters in the cartoon to only be able to see the mountain "sometimes".

 

MYP Unit Question: How did culture, events and leadership shape and reflect post-WWII America?-Together  

 

 

In many aspects, America's victory in WWII effected the mindset and many American people.  For one thing, America on the whole became much more liberal.  After being in the shadow of war for so long, America prospered and developed in new ways.  Women tried to experiment with much more liberating clothing, like miniskirts and pants.  Teenagers and young adults sought to stretch soical norms by creating a sort of Counterculture.  At the same time, people protested the involvement of the U.S. in the Vietnam War, bringing about protests and the Hippie Anti-War Movement. People tried to be different and rebellious by doing brugs, listening to new styles of music, and having sex.

 

    America came out as the strongest nation from World War Two changing its role in foreign politics as a whole. It began to take a far more agressive and passionate role in far -off political and social topics. This is seen through the participation in Vietnam and the beginning of the Cold War. As opposed to the emphasis on domestic policy (as the past), America began to turn its head to foreign issues. This mindset is still seen today, showing the continuis effects of World War Two. The increase of foreign politics also begot an active anti-war society in America- not only dividing America but beginning other social revolutions as well ( etc. sexual).

 

Religion, no doubt, underwent many changes that further shaped post-WWII America. Religion was not taken nearly as seriously as before, and religious commitment was quickly diminishing. Mainline Protestant churches hoped to influence society by advocating and participating in societal issues. Different faiths and perspectives became evident during this period, as different people from distinct cultures formed and spread their religion throughout America. Evangelicals gained attention from the public and new faiths like Islam were becoming recognized. Groups such as Metropolitan churches provoked controversy in society and questioned its morals. Through these transformations, America became more liberal and open-minded towards unconventional thoughts and ideas.

 

 

 

Works Cited

     Newman, John J., and John M. Schmalbach. United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination. New York, N.Y.: Amsco School Publications, 2006. Print.

 

     "American Cultural History - 1960-1969." Lone Star College-Kingwood Library Home Page. Web. 02 June 2010. <http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade60.html>.

 

     "Film History: Transitional Period (1960–1979) : SparkCharts." SparkNotes: SparkCharts. Web. 02 June 2010. <http://sparkcharts.sparknotes.com/film/film/section7.php>.

"The 1960s: Government and Politics: Overview." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 30 May 2010.

 

"Academy Awards® Winners (1960 - 1969)." Greatest Films - The Best Movies in Cinematic History. Web. 02 June 2010. <http://www.filmsite.org/oscars60.html>.

"BBC ON THIS DAY | 22 | 1963: Kennedy Shot Dead in Dallas." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. Web. 02 June 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/22/newsid_2451000/2451143.stm>.

 

"1960s Foods." Food Timeline: Food History & Historic Recipes. Web. 01 June 2010. http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html#1960s.

 

"American Cultural History - 1960-1969." Lone Star College-Kingwood Library Home Page. Web. 31 May 2010. <http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade60.html>.

 

"Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union.." The American Presidency Project. 2009. University of

     California. Web. 17 Jun. 2009 .

 

"Avocado and Grapefruit Salad."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://utopiankitchen.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/avocado-grapefruit-salad.jpg>.

 

"Beef Wellington."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://www.manic.com.sg/blog/images/wellington.jpg>.

 

Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America. Eds. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 3: 1940s-1950s. Detroit: U*X*L, 2002. Print.

 

"Buffalo Wings."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://billivorylarson.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/buffalo-wings.jpg>.

 

"Chicken-Liver Pate."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/files/2009/01/chix-liver2.jpg>.

 

"Chicken and Rice Casserole."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://www.unclebens.com/images/recipe_photos/rr_ChickRiceCasserole.jpg>.

 

"Cocktail Croquettes."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/content/cache/400x225/Recipes/Members/8545.jpg>.

 

Cooke, Jacob E. "Washington, George." Presidents: A Reference History. Ed. Henry F. Graff. 3rd ed. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. 1- 21. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Farmington Hills: Gale. Web. 30 Apr. 2008. 

 

"Custard Ice Cream."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://s3.amazonaws.com/tastyplanner/pictures/551/IMG_1525.jpg>.

 

"Europe Divided on Familiar Lines To Two Speeches." Prescott Evening Courier 54(1948): 6. Print.

 

"Fondue." (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://chocolate411.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/pound_fondue_lg1.jpg>.

 

"Inch by inch." (Online Image) 9 Jun. 2010 <http://memory.loc.gov/learn///features/political_cartoon/learn_more.html>.

 

"John F. Kennedy wins the US Presidential Election." (Online Image) 9 Jun. 2010 <http://www.llgc.org.uk/illingworth/illingworth_s060.htm>.
 

"Lemon Chiffon Cake."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps40152_TH1194743D37C.jpg>.

 

"Mushroom Strudel."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UIXOn06Pz70/SBD-ebl13hI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/ZuvuLna7y7o/s800/Mushroom+and+Goat+Cheese+Strudel.jpg>.

 

"Raggedy Ann Salad."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fQHc_d_DBh8/S2HBWpsMqYI/AAAAAAAAAFk/0R1i2vtZ8iA/s400/raggedy+ann+salad.jpg>.

 

"Steak Diane." (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://i.timeinc.net/recipes/i/recipes/ck/05/07/steak-diane-ck-1072140-l.jpg>.

 

"Surf 'n' Turf."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps26363_CFT10529D38.jpg>.

 

"Swedish Meatballs."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://vegfrugalhousewife.com/images/swedish_meatballs.jpg>.

 

"Tang."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://carpoolqueen.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/tang-orange.jpg>.

 

"The 1960s Sports." UXL American Decades. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: UXL, 2003. 163. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 June 2010.

 

"The 1960s: Law and Justice: Topics in the News." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 June 2010.

 

"The 1960s: Fashion: Topics in the News." American Decades. Ed. Judith S. Baughman, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 10 June 2010.

 

"Tuna-Stuffed Eggs."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3369747695_55fd0da03f.jpg?v=0>.

 

"Tunnel of Fudge Cake."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://www.pillsbury.com/images/recipes/beautyshots/r11510fp.jpg>.

 

"Wild Rice Pancakes."  (Online Image)  1 June 2010.  <http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2507385001_b3f32da88b.jpg?v=0>.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.