1960s Dbq Essay

The 1960s in the United States was marked by many significant events, such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the rise of subculture that reshaped America’s identity. Although the Civil Rights Movement was successful in that it advanced rights for minorities, it was problematic because it created racial tension between whites and blacks and gave police the opportunity to brutalize Civil Rights advocates. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought the entire world to the brink of nuclear warfare. The discovery of Cuba’s missiles created panic within the US and forced the US to compete in an intense nuclear arms race. The rise of subculture, such as the use of drugs, communal living, the feminist movement, and the rejection of

The purpose of this document is to certify that voting discrimination will not continue in the United States. This purpose is relevant to the argument because although this was a major step forward for African Americans, violent responses occurred and some of the white community was outraged. In addition, this excerpt does not cover any of the violence and hatred that African Americans had to endure in order to have this act passed. African Americans were beaten, killed, and belittled throughout the Civil Rights Movement. They were victims of constant hate, even though they were only attempting to gain equal rights as their white co-workers, neighbors, etc. Marches such as the one at Selma were aimed at ensuring that African Americans could exercise their right to vote. In response, police officers charged 600 unarmed protestors with batons and tear gas in order to put an end to the march. While the Voting Rights Act was a huge accomplishment for the Civil Rights movement, the destruction and violence that occurred before, during, and after its passing created distress within America. Document 8 is a news article from the New York

The Cuban Missile Crisis created foreign conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union due to the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba. This discovery heightened tensions during the Cold War, as the United States viewed the missiles as a direct threat. The two world superpowers brought each other to the brink of nuclear warfare and was only resolved after intense negotiation. Document 5 is the cover of a life magazine that depicts “youth communes,” better known as hippies. It shows one large family, dressed in peculiar clothing. These hippies challenged societal norms through marrying multiple people, promoting sexual acts, experimenting with drugs, rejecting authority, etc. Through these acts, Americans became fearful of the effects of hippie lifestyle on the youth. Many Americans believe that children would be introduced to this way of life and want to live this same lifestyle. These hippies angered Americans with their lifestyles and furthered the gap between themselves and the middle class. This document’s historical situation is relevant to my thesis because this magazine was published during a time when the hippie lifestyle was not