Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Protest and personal freedom: student protest; counter- culture and its…
Full specification wording
Protest and reaction, 1963–72: Protest and personal freedom: student protest; counter- culture and its key features; the growth of the women’s movement; the impact of sexual liberalisation; the origins of gay rights.
The 1960s witnessed a profound shift in personal freedom and protest.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The 1960s witnessed a profound shift in personal freedom and protest. Student protests, driven by organisations like SDS, challenged university authorities and the Vietnam War. This overlapped with a vibrant counter-culture featuring alternative lifestyles, rock music, and drug experimentation. Concurrently, the women’s movement grew rapidly, sparked by Betty Friedan and the formation of NOW, demanding workplace equality and reproductive rights. Sexual liberalisation, aided by the contraceptive pill, transformed societal norms and family structures. Furthermore, the origins of the gay rights movement gained national prominence following the 1969 Stonewall riots, leading to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front.
What earns the marks
- Analyse the motivations behind student protests, including anti-war sentiment and the desire for free speech on campuses.
- Evaluate the key features of the counter-culture, such as the rejection of traditional consumerism and the embrace of alternative lifestyles.
- Assess the factors driving the growth of the women's movement, including the publication of 'The Feminine Mystique' and the establishment of NOW.
- Examine the societal impact of sexual liberalisation, focusing on changes in legislation, the availability of contraception, and shifting moral attitudes.
- Trace the origins of the gay rights movement, highlighting the catalyst of the Stonewall riots and the shift towards visible activism.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the counter-culture and student protests as identical.
Put it right: Distinguish between the political activism of students and the lifestyle rebellion of the counter-culture.
Overstating the immediate success of the women's movement.
Put it right: Note that while awareness and some legislation advanced, true equality and the ERA remained contested.
Assuming gay rights activism did not exist before Stonewall.
Put it right: Acknowledge early homophile organisations like the Mattachine Society, while recognising Stonewall as the catalyst for radical liberation.
Exam tips
- Link the growth of the women's movement to the broader atmosphere of protest and the experiences of women within other civil rights groups.
- Use specific examples, such as the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, to illustrate the aims and methods of student protesters.
- Consider the conservative backlash to these movements to provide a balanced evaluation of their overall impact on American society.
Try the lesson
The start of the Protest and reaction, 1963–72: Protest and personal freedom: student protest; counter- culture and its key features; the growth of the women’s movement; the impact of sexual liberalisation; the origins of gay rights. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which event in June 1969 is widely seen as a starting point of the modern gay rights movement?
Listen
The 1960s witnessed a profound shift in personal freedom and protest. Student protests, driven by organisations like SDS, challenged university authorities and the Vietnam War. This overlapped with a vibrant counter-culture featuring alternative lifestyles, rock music, and drug experimentation. Concurrently, the women’s movement grew rapidly, sparked by Betty Friedan and the formation of NOW, demanding workplace equality and reproductive rights. Sexual liberalisation, aided by the contraceptive pill, transformed societal norms and family structures. Furthermore, the origins of the gay rights movement gained national prominence following the 1969 Stonewall riots, leading to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the motivations behind student protests, including anti-war sentiment and the desire for free speech on campuses. Evaluate the key features of the counter-culture, such as the rejection of traditional consumerism and the embrace of alternative lifestyles. Assess the factors driving the growth of the women's movement, including the publication of 'The Feminine Mystique' and the establishment of NOW. Examine the societal impact of sexual liberalisation, focusing on changes in legislation, the availability of contraception, and shifting moral attitudes. A common slip: Treating the counter-culture and student protests as identical. Instead, distinguish between the political activism of students and the lifestyle rebellion of the counter-culture. Exam tip: Link the growth of the women's movement to the broader atmosphere of protest and the experiences of women within other civil rights groups.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Counter-culture
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Women's movement
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Sexual liberalisation
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Gay rights movement
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See every definition
- Counter-culture
- A vibrant movement featuring alternative lifestyles, rock music and drug experimentation, distinct from the political activism of students.
- Women's movement
- A movement that grew rapidly, sparked by Betty Friedan and the formation of NOW, demanding workplace equality and reproductive rights.
- Sexual liberalisation
- A shift aided by the contraceptive pill that transformed societal norms and family structures.
- Gay rights movement
- A movement whose origins gained national prominence following the 1969 Stonewall riots, leading to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front.
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