Changing Times
In the 1960s, wearing buttons with messages, slogans, or symbols was one way to declare which side you were on.
As early as 1964, Bob Dylan had sung “the times they are a-changin’,” and he was right.
The years leading up to 1968 had already brought about change. The rise of the civil rights movement, increasing resistance to the war in Vietnam, a rejection of the middle-class “American dream” of life in the suburbs and material wealth, and a growing activism among women and minority groups who felt they were being denied equal rights all contributed to a sense of urgency and disruption.
The notion of change is essential to understanding the 1960s. The Latin phrase status quo refers to the existing state of things. During the 1960s, many people challenged the status quo, while others tried to maintain and protect it.
Think about why some groups might want to change the status quo and others might resist that kind of change. Then study the timeline below. Combined with what you learned in the video on page 2, how did these earlier events set the stage for 1968?
Reading: Pre-1968 Timeline
Take Notes
Why do some groups want swift changes to the status quo while other groups resist such changes? How did the events in the timeline set the stage for 1968?
Calderwood Writing Course: U.S. History
