The 1960s was a decade marked by significant social and political protests

Posted: March 14th, 2023

Number of sources: 3
Paper instructions:
The 1960s was a decade of great political and social tumult. The period is marked by the emergence of a number of historically significant protest movements. The Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the protests against American participation in the Vietnam War captured the essence of an American society on the edge of transformative social and political reform.

This essays requires students to answer two separate but related questions.

First, which of the social protests organizations/movements would you have supported?

Be specific in your selection of organizations/movements. For instance, if you wish to discuss the Civil Rights Movement, then identify a specific organization (ex: NAACP, CORE, SCLC, SNCC, BPP, NOI). If you wish to discuss the women’s rights movement, then identify a specific organization (ex: NOW). You can do the same with the anti-Vietnam War protests organizations, or those associated with the various student movements on college campuses (SDS, etc.).

Explain why these movements needed your support. But avoid making your response about you. Rely on historical information.

Explain why you think their cause was most necessary in the proper historical historical context. Discuss the historical context when answering the first part of the assignment.

This part of the essay should be no more than one page.

Second, which of the social protest movements do you think was most effective at advancing change? This part of the essay is more argumentative, so you must incorporate historical evidence to prove your point.

There are a number of sub-questions that you can answer to address the second question, including but not limited to:

What actual reforms can be linked to the protest movement (legislative, social, political, etc.)? You need to write about specific pieces of historical information to prove your claim. Why was the social protest movement so effective (why were people drawn to it? Why did politicians and the general public take notice of and advance its objectives?)

What were the techniques and strategies employed by the movement that made it successful? Were the techniques and strategies different from other contemporary movements?

Who was the leader of the movement? Why was he/she important?

What was going on in American society that made the movement so successful?

Why should historians believe that the movement you have identified was so successful?

Essay Structure:

First, the introduction needs to present a two-pronged thesis. The thesis will essentially identify the social protest movement that you would have supported and why. Then give the reader a quick indication as to why that particular movement was most effective at advancing change? Remember, the thesis is the most important part of the essay. Be sure to write a thesis that is clear in its purpose and is easily identified by the reader.

Body paragraphs 2 and 3 should justify your response to the first question. Why would you support __________ organization? To prove your position, you must have historical reasoning and logic, based on the historical context. For instance, if you answer to the first question is “I would support the NAACP,” then perhaps you would explain the state of the segregated public school system. Or if you would have supported the SCLC maybe explain the need to reform segregated communities in general. But avoid general commentary here by filling the space with relevant historical information. It’s important to make the response to the first question about which movement you would support based on substantive historical reasoning. And the reasoning needs to be supported by references to the historical information. Avoid writing something like “I would support SNCC because it was filled with college students and I’m a college student.” Try to be sophisticated and historically minded in your answer. Avoid making the essay about you by referencing historical information.

Body paragraphs 4 and 5 need to validate your response to the second question: What made the movement successful? You must reference specific historical evidence to prove your point. General discussion does not constitute evidence. Imagine engaging in a conversation with someone where you try to illustrate why the movement was successful—you would need to discuss the organization’s accomplishments. Fill this part of the essay with historical information that proves why the organization was successful.

Remember, an argument without evidence is not really an argument. And an essay that does not make an argument fails to complete the objectives of the assignment.

Finally, the essay needs a formal conclusion.

The essay will be 3-4 pages long.

Standard margins.

12 point times new roman font.

In-text parenthetical citations. For example: (Foner, 3), or (Johnson, 25).

The essay needs to reference/cite at least 3 sources from the list of required resources (readings/videos). If the essay does not reference at least 3 sources, the grade will be penalized.

All essays need to be submitted to turn-it-in, through canvas. I will not grade the essay if it’s not submitted to turn-it-in.

Proofread the essay. If I can’t understand the writing, the grade will be penalized.

The rubric is posted on the course portal.

Every essay needs a formal works cited page. Remember to cite each individual source. Essay Writing Service: Write My Essay for Me – MLA format for works cited page.

There is no need to consult outside sources. All of the information needed to complete this essay is found in the module. Students must reference the Johnson text.

American Yawp Assignment Homework Sample Boom Essays: Free of Plagiarism and AI, Original Custom Research Essay Pro Papers Writing – Chapter 25-27: https://www.americanyawp.com/
Anneberg Lerner: The Sixties, episode 24: https://www.learner.org/series/a-biography-of-america/the-sixties/
Little Rock Nine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oodolEmUg2g
Malcom X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Aq2Z0i8D6A
Emmett Till Murder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFEC2kSdX-0
Brown and Carmichael speeches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0h6NusUw0
Martin Luther King, I have a dream speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs
Womens rights:
https://libguides.msubillings.edu/c.php?g=902154&p=6492385 .
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Sample Essay
The 1960s was a decade marked by significant social and political protests that sought to bring about transformative change in American society. This essay seeks to answer two related questions: (1) which of the social protest organizations/movements I would have supported, and (2) which social protest movement was most effective in advancing change.

The Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the protests against American participation in the Vietnam War are some of the historically significant protest movements that emerged during this period. I would have supported the Civil Rights Movement, specifically the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The historical context surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and the segregated public school system made the NAACP’s cause necessary.

The NAACP played a significant role in advocating for racial equality and justice in America during the 1960s. In particular, the organization fought for the desegregation of public schools, which had been segregated by law and practice in many states for decades. Segregated schools, especially in the South, denied Black children the same educational opportunities as their White counterparts. The landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 ruled that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal and ordered the desegregation of public schools. However, many Southern states resisted the court’s decision, and it took several years of legal battles and protests to enforce the court’s ruling. The NAACP played a crucial role in these legal battles, working tirelessly to ensure that the ruling was enforced and that African American children could attend integrated schools. Thus, I believe that the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the NAACP, was the most necessary movement in the proper historical context.

The social protest movement that I believe was most effective in advancing change was the Civil Rights Movement. The movement achieved significant legislative, social, and political reforms that continue to shape American society to this day. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were landmark pieces of legislation that outlawed discrimination on the basis of race … continue
The 1960s was marked by several social and political movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the protests against American participation in the Vietnam War. In this essay, I will answer two related questions: which of the social protests organizations/movements I would have supported, and which social protest movement was most effective at advancing change.

The historical context of the 1960s is critical to understanding the significance of the social protests of this period. The Civil Rights Movement, for example, was necessary because of the pervasive discrimination and segregation against African Americans in the United States. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was the organization that I would have supported. Founded in 1909, the NAACP had been instrumental in challenging Jim Crow laws and promoting equal rights for African Americans. In the 1960s, the NAACP focused on the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended legal discrimination against African Americans. These achievements demonstrate the significance of the NAACP in advancing the cause of civil rights in the United States.

In terms of which social protest movement was most effective at advancing change, I would argue that the Civil Rights Movement was the most successful. The Civil Rights Movement achieved several significant reforms, including the end of legal segregation, the passage of anti-discrimination laws, and increased political representation for African Americans. The movement was successful in large part because of the techniques and strategies employed by its leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These leaders used nonviolent protest, civil disobedience, and other peaceful means to challenge the status quo and bring attention to their cause. The Civil Rights Movement also benefited from the support of the media, which helped to raise awareness of the issues and expose the injustices of segregation and discrimination. Additionally, the movement was successful because of the broad-based coalition of supporters it mobilized, including African Americans, white allies, and religious groups.

The 1960s was a decade marked by significant protest movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the protests against American participation in the Vietnam War. In response to the essay prompt, it is necessary to answer two questions. First, which of the social protests organizations/movements would you have supported, and second, which of the social protest movements do you think was most effective at advancing change?

In response to the first question, I would have supported the Civil Rights Movement, particularly the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), led by Martin Luther King Jr. In the historical context of the 1960s, African Americans were discriminated against in various aspects of society, including education, employment, and housing. The Jim Crow laws, which institutionalized segregation, prevented African Americans from exercising their civil rights. Therefore, the Civil Rights Movement was essential in fighting against racial segregation and discrimination. The SCLC was an effective organization because it employed non-violent resistance strategies to challenge unjust laws and policies. For example, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted from December 1955 to December 1956, was a successful campaign that challenged the segregation of public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama. Moreover, the SCLC played a significant role in the March on Washington, which culminated in the famous “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr.

In response to the second question, I believe that the Civil Rights Movement was the most effective social protest movement at advancing change in the 1960s. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 were significant legislative reforms that were directly linked to the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment and public accommodations. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated discriminatory practices that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex. These legislative reforms were crucial in advancing the cause of civil rights for African Americans.

The success of the Civil Rights Movement can be attributed to various factors. First, the use of non-violent resistance strategies was essential in gaining public support and sympathy for the movement. The sit-in campaigns, the freedom rides, and the March on Washington were all examples of non-violent protests that captured the attention of the American public. Second, the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders was crucial in mobilizing African Americans and gaining support from white allies. Third, the media played a significant role in shaping public opinion and exposing the injustices of segregation and discrimination. The televised footage of police brutality against peaceful protesters and the coverage of the March on Washington helped to galvanize public support for civil rights reforms. Finally, the political climate of the 1960s, which was characterized by the Cold War and the fight for democracy and human rights, provided an opportunity for civil rights activists to advance their cause.

As such, the 1960s was a decade marked by significant social and political changes. The Civil Rights Movement, the Free Speech Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the protests against American participation in the Vietnam War all played important roles in shaping the social and political landscape of the United States. While all of these movements were significant, the Civil Rights Movement stands out as the most successful in terms of achieving significant reforms and changing the course of American history.

Dissertations, Research Papers & Essay Writing Services by Unemployed Professors Experts Online – Works Cited
Johnson, Michael P. “Challenges to Liberalism: Civil Rights and Black Power.” Reading the American Past: Volume II: From 1865, edited by Michael P. Johnson, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012, pp. 296-308.

McAdam, Doug. Political Process and the Development of Black Insurgency, 1930-1970. University of Chicago Press, 1999.

Carson, Clayborne, and Shepard Farey. “Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years.” Penguin Books, 1987.

Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. W. W. Norton & Company, 1963.

Lipsitz, George. A Life in the Struggle: Ivory Perry and the Culture of Opposition. Temple University Press, 1988.

Gitlin, Todd. The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage. Bantam Books, 1987.
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