Reality and illusion, 1945–1980 – only) The Johnson Presidency, 1963–1968…

The idea

The 1960s saw profound social divisions driven by diverse protest movements. Expanded higher education fostered a vocal youth culture, exemplified by the Students for a Democratic Society, who challenged traditional values. Concurrently, second-wave feminism emerged, sparked by Betty Friedan and the formation of NOW, demanding equal rights. Frustration with the slow pace of change led to the radicalisation of African-Americans, with the Black Panther Party advocating for Black Power and self-defence. The escalation of the Vietnam War unified various groups into a massive anti-war movement. The media played a crucial role across all these divisions, broadcasting graphic war footage and protest clashes directly into living rooms, thereby amplifying dissent and shaping public opinion.

What earns the marks

• Analyse the emergence of the New Left and student protest movements, focusing on the Port Huron Statement and campus free speech movements.
• Evaluate the aims and methods of second-wave feminism, including the impact of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the push for the Equal Rights Amendment.
• Assess the shift from non-violent civil rights activism to the Black Power movement, examining the appeal of Stokely Carmichael and the Black Panthers.
• Examine the growth of the anti-Vietnam War movement, from teach-ins to mass demonstrations, and how the draft exacerbated social divisions.
• Evaluate the media's influence on public perception, particularly the 'living room war' phenomenon and its impact on Johnson's approval ratings.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating the protest movements as a single, unified group.

  Put it right: Differentiate between the specific aims, demographics, and methods of feminists, student activists, and civil rights groups.

• Assuming the radicalisation of African-Americans was entirely violent.

  Put it right: Highlight the community programmes (like free breakfasts) run by the Black Panthers alongside their militant rhetoric.

• Overstating the media's role in turning the public against the war from the very beginning.

  Put it right: Note that mainstream media was largely supportive of the war until the Tet Offensive in 1968.

Exam tips

• Link the different protest movements together by discussing how they influenced each other, such as women in the civil rights movement realising they faced sexism within activist groups.
• Use specific examples of media coverage, such as Walter Cronkite's post-Tet Offensive broadcast, to demonstrate the media's impact on political leadership.
• Contrast the radicalisation of the late 1960s with the more moderate, consensus-driven politics of the 1950s to highlight the scale of social division.