HIST226

The 1960s was a watershed decade in modern American history. The United States that emerged in its aftermath was very different from the country that existed before. The common image of the 1960s is filled with hippies, sex, drugs, music, and protest. But what really happened? This course examines the political, social, and cultural struggles that occurred in the U.S. from roughly the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s. Studying this pivotal time period deepens our understanding of postwar America and reveals the roots of many contemporary issues and conflicts. Major course themes include: the various
civil rights movements and Black Power; the Vietnam War and the antiwar movement; the rise of both the New Left and the New Right; the environmental movement; the counterculture and cultural change; and the emergence of and backlash to feminism and gay and lesbian rights. We will seek to understand what these movements were and why they occurred at roughly the same time. We will also trace how many of today’s political battles on the left versus right originated in the 19605. The 1960s: America in Transition fulfills the General Education Historical Perspectives requirement and a 200-level course requirement within the History major and minor. The 1960s: America in Transition also fulfills the American politics and society category requirement of the American studies major. There are no prerequisites for this course.