1960s Johnson and Nixon?

Question

The 1960s was a decade of change in the culture of America. What do you think was the most significant event in the decade?

Answer 1

^_^

Answer 2

I can't break it down to one significant event. I think these were certainly some of the main ones:

Vietnam war and our responses to the draft (draft dodgers, flag burning, protests) and our participation in a war that few supported. College protests ended with bloodshed (Kent State). In the 1960's our media were deluging us with graphic pictures and film of this war - unlike the Iraq war of today where it's prohibited.

JFK assassination affected everyone deeply on a personal level and put us in fear of vulnerability of an attack from Russia and Cuba.

The space race - this was an age where spaceage technology was new and people took an interest in it. We wanted to be the first on the moon to fulfill a dream that JFK had. We wanted to "beat" Russia to prove we were more advanced in the space race.

Civil Rights Movement - people were becoming increasingly aware of the division of the races and the inequality. Dr. Martin Luther King was viewed as a hero by some and a troublemaker by those who couldn't see humanity beyond their own color. Marches were held in major cities (led by Dr. King) to protest the injustices to and segregation of blacks. Even though Dr. King tried to inspire peaceful marches, they didn't all end up that way.

Answer 3

The 60's were dominated by the Viet Nam war and the civil rights movement. Of the two the civil rights movement had longer lasting effects, but it was composed of many "events". The ones that stand out in my mind was LBJ's "We shall overcome speech", and MLK's "I have a dream speech".