Hist 450 Protests Crisis

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HIS-450 Topic 5 Worksheet Protests, Crisis, and Countercultures 1. Who were Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)? What activities did they routinely engage in, in an effort to “change” American society? Do you agree with their methods of promoting change? Why? What was their overall effect on the U.S.? Explain. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was an affiliate of the League for Industrial Democracy (LID), a socialist labor organization that was stridently against communism. Existing from 1960 until its breakup in 1969, the SDS is credited as the main force that created the New Left. The principles of the SDS can be found in their 1962 Port Huron Statement, which was a broad critique of the political and social system of the United States, calling for international peace, and end to the Cold War, and economic justice (SDS, 1962). The statement took issue with the American government's handling of the Cold War , condemned racial discrimination and economic inequality. It also called for an ill-defined “participatory democracy” and an enlarged public sector with increased government welfare, including a "program against poverty." The statement also advocated nonviolent civil disobedience. The focus for civil rights and participatory democracy later evolved into a primary opposition to the Vietnam War. The SDS routinely engaged in student protests, blockades, and sit ins in the belief that radicalized students could bring about revolution by shutting down the ability of campuses to provide educated workers to the military (LID, 2023). These tactics sometimes led to violent confrontations with the police. The SDS disbanded in 1969 with the leadership of one faction becoming the Weather Underground, a domestic terrorist group. In the short term, the SDS increased the engagement of young adults in political issues and initialed some changes in the civil rights movement and on-campus freedom of speech for Leftists. The left continues to use these tactics on campus, but mostly to prevent speech with which they disagree. I do not agree with these aggressive tactics. They are generally unnecessary, and the protesters generally come off looking like a bunch of jerks. When “shutting down the ability of campuses to provide educated workers to the military” they are also preventing the education of those who paid to be there. These tactics are meant to intimidate, but there is always the possibility that the response to violence might become greater violence. I also think it was unconscionable for the teachers to join the student strike, and they and the striking student should have been dismissed from the institution. Reference: Original Draft of Port Huron Statement (SDS, 1962) . (n.d.). Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Archives and Resources. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.sds-1960s.org/PortHuronStatement-draft.htm

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) - InfluenceWatch - InfluenceWatch . (n.d.). InfluenceWatch. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.influencewatch.org/non- profit/students-for-a-democratic-society-sds/ SDS (1962) The Port Huron Statement Accessed from the SDS homepage, March 17, 2023 2. Describe the concept of “counterculture” as it applied to U.S. society during the 1960s? The “Jesus People” are an example of a 1960’s counterculture. Who were they and what was their effect on Christianity in the U.S.? The counterculture, or Hippy movement, began in the early 1960s and consisted of a group of mostly young people who opposed the war in Vietnam, commercialism and societal norms, including sexual restrictions and prohibitions against marijuana and LSD. The music choice of the movement was rock. The epitome of this culture of “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” was the Woodstock Music Festival. Much of hippie fashion was openly anti-consumerism. Hippies generally had long hair with much of their clothing purchased second hand from yard sales or flea markets, and generally consisted of bright colors and unusual items. The counterculture was supportive of the antiwar movement, organizing protests while brandishing signs with peace signs and slogans such as “make love not war” and the burning of draft cards. The Jesus movement was evangelical Christian movement which began on the West Coast in the late 1960s. Consisting of mostly mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics, the Jesus people testified to having supernatural experiences similar to those recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, with participants often speaking in tongues. The participants believed that they were returning the church to its biblical roots, in which the gifts of the Spirit would be restored to the Church. (Sherill, 2011). With the exception of Jesus People USA in Chicago, the Jesus movement died out in the 1970s. However, denominations such as Calvary Chapel , Hope Chapel, and the Vineyard Churches all originated within the movement. The informal nature of the movement's worship influenced many evangelical churches and it’s music was the inspiration for Christian Rock. Reference: Sherrill, J. (2018). They Speak with Other Tongues . Chosen Books. 3. What was “Black Power”? Describe the role of “Black Power” in the Civil Rights movement.

In 1966, James Meredith, after being denied college admission due to his race, attempted to march from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to inspire African Americans. However, he was wounded by a sniper shortly after entering Mississippi and forced to terminate his effort. To complete the march, Dr. King and other civil rights leaders quickly arrived on the scene. It was during this march that the phrase “Black Power” first emerged (Moss, 2013) when wo members of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee began chanting “black power.” Soon, most of the marchers were doing the same. “Black Power” later became more of a political doctrine, although it assumed different meanings among various groups. It generally meant that African Americans should assume control of the civil rights movement and develop their own institutions independent of whites. At the extremes, “black power” became an expression of African American separatism, with adherents such as the Black Muslims, who rejected MLK Jr.’s call for non-violence. The most extreme example of “Black Power” would be the Black Panthers, a paramilitary organization known for frequent clashes with the police. “Black power” also became an expression of African American pride, with Black students demanding that courses be added in African American history, literature, and languages. “Black power” encouraged young blacks to seek success while developing their own style and not emulating white role models. Reference: Moss, G. (2013) Moving On: The American People Since 1945 (5th Edition). Pearson Page 66 4. What was the “Silent Majority”? Describe the conservative backlash during the social upheaval of the 1960’s. Assess its positive and negative effects. 1968 marked the end of the era of liberal reform and the start of a growing conservative movement in American politics. By that time, America had become increasing fragmented by a relatively small number of loud and violent radicals who rejected the political process as well as traditional American institutions, mores, and values. They were opposed by a more numerous and equally “loud” minority who were willing to use violence to defend those same political processes and traditional values. However, a “silent majority” of Americans were caught in the middle of this struggle, fearing that the country that they loved was being destroyed. In his famous speech of November3, 1969, Nixon contrasted his international strategy of real politic with the unrealistic expectations of a "vocal minority." Nixon asked for support "to end the war in a way that we could win the peace." And ended his speech by saying: "And so tonight, to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans, I ask for your support. Let us be united for peace. Let us be united against defeat. Because let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that" (Karnow, 1983). The Speech was effective, and Nixon won a landslide victory in the election of 1972, winning 49 of the 50 states.

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The conservative backlash resulted in the election of the conservative Richard M. Nixon in 1972 instead of the liberal Huber H. Humphrey. The country was becoming more conservative, with an affluent middle class embracing traditional values and social order while opposing higher taxes and many of the social programs they funded. There was also a growing anti-government mood, and a deepening disillusion with liberal government and its so-called experts. This resulted in the election of the conservative Richard M. Nixon in the election of 1972 and the fracturing of the Democrat party with its loss of the south. The south abandoned both major parties in favor of the populist (and segregationist) George Wallace. Reference: Karnow, S. (1997). Vietnam (p. 600). National Geographic Books. 5. How did the 1968 Democratic Convention embody the social upheaval of the 1960’s? Assess its positive and negative consequences on U.S. society. Prior to the tumultuous 1960 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the Republican had nominated the conservative Richard M. Nixon in Miami in a convention remarkably free of disorder or drama. The Republican platform called for law and order, welfare reform, sound monetary policy, and an increase in military spending. On Vietnam, the Republicans promised to end the American War through purposeful negotiations but not to accept “camouflaged surrender.” (Moss, 2013). The leading Democrat candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, had been assassinated prior to the 1968 Chicago Democrat Convention. As the Democratic delegates gathered, so did thousands of anti-war protesters, many who vowed to disrupt the convention, looking to provoke confrontations with the police. The Mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daily, deployed the police to cordoned off the convention site and had thousands of National Guard in reserve. On the night of the nomination, protesters who intended to disrupt the convention were blocked by police. As some protesters taunted the police and assaulted them with rocks and bottles, others attempted to break through the police cordons, The police responded with force, and in a ensuing frenzy, police indiscriminately clubbed and gassed demonstrators, newsmen, and bystanders alike. The violence was televised, with liberals clutching their pearls, horrified by the actions of the Chicago police. In contract, the more conservative people living in white-collar suburbs and blue-collar neighborhoods, cheered the police, enjoying a good beat-down on the radicals. These

vastly different reactions were reflective of the deep divisions within American society that had been created by the Vietnam War and racial issues. On the plus side, Nixon was elected, and the backlash against the violence of the Democrat Convention transformed the Republicans into a majority party that won seven of the ten presidential elections between 1958 and 2004. The 1968 election was the first after passage of the voting rights act, the result of which the Democrats lost white southern support on a national level. Not until 2008 would a northern democrat, Barack Obama, win the presidency. On the minus side, despite the narrow (0.7%) difference in the popular vote, Humphrey took only 35.5% of the electoral vote. This prompted the Democrats to call for the abolition of the electoral college and for the president to be elected by popular vote. The Democrats continue to do this which I believe would further weaken Federalism which had already been damaged by the passage of the 17 th Amendment. Reference: Moss, G. (2013) Moving On: The American People Since 1945 (5th Edition) (p. 66). Pearson.

Hist 450 Protests Crisis

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