Civil Society 1950 -1970
Overview of Civil Society Protest
What is Civil Protest?
This is a protest carried out by everyday members of society against government policies or situations which seem
unjust. Often include protest marches, civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts.
NB: The protest movements overlapped. Many of the protestors applied the skills they learnt in one form of protest to
another.
Why was the 60s decade of protest?
● In the USA, the people began to expect the federal government to resolve problems
● Cold War competition meant that the USA needed to present itself as being both politically and morally
superior to Communism
● The 1950s and 1960s were periods of relative economic prosperity, making economic disparity in the United
States more obvious. Not having to worry about their daily needs, gave weather people the freedom to become
involved in protests.
● People were more informed about problems thanks to the growing television coverage.
● More students were going to college than before. This created a concentration of concerned and educated
activists, especially on student campuses.
The Women’s Movement:
Why?
● In the USA, middle-class women were restricted to the role of the housewife of ‘pink-collar jobs.’
● African-American women faced double discrimination.
Women’s Liberation Movement
Many different groups fought for society to recognise a woman’s worth and dignity, equal rights in the workplace, and to
allow women more control over their own lives and reproductive rights.
Feminists groups
Such as NOW (National Organisation of Women) was formed
South African Women
Fought to improve social conditions and to end Apartheid
Student protest and peace movement:
Why?
Changing values of the youth
● Rejection of parents’ values
● Embraced the “Swinging Sixties’
● Hippies (Woodstock)
Anti-war protest
● Anti-Vietnam
● Kent State University shootings
Disarmament movement
● Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
● Women of Greenham Common protest
Student protests
● Formation of SDS (Student for Democratic Society)
● Freedom of Speech Movement
, 2
Civil Rights Movement in the USA:
Why?
African Americans were being denied civil rights in the USA, especially in the Southern States.
Peaceful campaign of Martin Lurther King Jr
● Civil disobedience
● Power of mass action
● Use of media
Philosophy of Malcolm X
● This is a human rights issue, not a civil rights issue.
● Use whatever means necessary
● Black Power Movement
Role of the Black Panthers
, 3
Women’s Movement in USA/UK
Mainly middle-class white women. In the USA, African Americans were still fighting for basic civil rights. The concept of
true ‘sisterhood’ - uniting all women, regardless of race or class - was not really achieved.
‘Second Wave Movement’
Reclaiming progress made by women before and during WW1. In the 1950s, women were pushed back into the
traditional roles of wife, mother and housekeeper. If they worked outside of the home, they worked low paying jobs with
no chance of ever being promoted to management positions.
● Demonstrations
● Petitions
● Lobbying
● Mass marches
The National Organisation of Women (NOW)
● Founded by Betty Friedan
● Her book, ‘Feminine Mystique’ sold over 3 million copies.
● Needed better education and better opportunities to bring better lives
● First conference 1966
● Pushing for changes in legislation
● Equality in employment opportunities and pay
● A man should be expected to share in childcare and women should be expected to contribute to family income
● Laws of marriage and divorce needed changing
● Women should have the right to an abortion.
Britain follows USA’S lead…
1968 Women workers strike at Ford
1969 Equal Pay Act passed
1970 Women’s Liberation Movement Conference held
Pushing for:
● Equal pay for equal opportunity
● Equal job opportunities.
● Free contraceptives and abortion
● Free childcare
● Legal and financial independence for women.
● End to discrimination against lesbians
● Removal of the threat of male violence
Women’s Liberation Movement/Feminism
● Less interest in changing legislation - more concerned with developing awareness of oppression among women.
● Sense of solidarity and sisterhood.
● Target specific events such as Miss America - crowned a sheep!
● Set up Freedom trash cans
● Organised opportunities for women to meet and speak about their issues and frustrations.
● Encouraged Women’s literature, magazines and interest in Women’s history
● Developed radical element - calling for a society without men
Overview of Civil Society Protest
What is Civil Protest?
This is a protest carried out by everyday members of society against government policies or situations which seem
unjust. Often include protest marches, civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts.
NB: The protest movements overlapped. Many of the protestors applied the skills they learnt in one form of protest to
another.
Why was the 60s decade of protest?
● In the USA, the people began to expect the federal government to resolve problems
● Cold War competition meant that the USA needed to present itself as being both politically and morally
superior to Communism
● The 1950s and 1960s were periods of relative economic prosperity, making economic disparity in the United
States more obvious. Not having to worry about their daily needs, gave weather people the freedom to become
involved in protests.
● People were more informed about problems thanks to the growing television coverage.
● More students were going to college than before. This created a concentration of concerned and educated
activists, especially on student campuses.
The Women’s Movement:
Why?
● In the USA, middle-class women were restricted to the role of the housewife of ‘pink-collar jobs.’
● African-American women faced double discrimination.
Women’s Liberation Movement
Many different groups fought for society to recognise a woman’s worth and dignity, equal rights in the workplace, and to
allow women more control over their own lives and reproductive rights.
Feminists groups
Such as NOW (National Organisation of Women) was formed
South African Women
Fought to improve social conditions and to end Apartheid
Student protest and peace movement:
Why?
Changing values of the youth
● Rejection of parents’ values
● Embraced the “Swinging Sixties’
● Hippies (Woodstock)
Anti-war protest
● Anti-Vietnam
● Kent State University shootings
Disarmament movement
● Campaign of Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
● Women of Greenham Common protest
Student protests
● Formation of SDS (Student for Democratic Society)
● Freedom of Speech Movement
, 2
Civil Rights Movement in the USA:
Why?
African Americans were being denied civil rights in the USA, especially in the Southern States.
Peaceful campaign of Martin Lurther King Jr
● Civil disobedience
● Power of mass action
● Use of media
Philosophy of Malcolm X
● This is a human rights issue, not a civil rights issue.
● Use whatever means necessary
● Black Power Movement
Role of the Black Panthers
, 3
Women’s Movement in USA/UK
Mainly middle-class white women. In the USA, African Americans were still fighting for basic civil rights. The concept of
true ‘sisterhood’ - uniting all women, regardless of race or class - was not really achieved.
‘Second Wave Movement’
Reclaiming progress made by women before and during WW1. In the 1950s, women were pushed back into the
traditional roles of wife, mother and housekeeper. If they worked outside of the home, they worked low paying jobs with
no chance of ever being promoted to management positions.
● Demonstrations
● Petitions
● Lobbying
● Mass marches
The National Organisation of Women (NOW)
● Founded by Betty Friedan
● Her book, ‘Feminine Mystique’ sold over 3 million copies.
● Needed better education and better opportunities to bring better lives
● First conference 1966
● Pushing for changes in legislation
● Equality in employment opportunities and pay
● A man should be expected to share in childcare and women should be expected to contribute to family income
● Laws of marriage and divorce needed changing
● Women should have the right to an abortion.
Britain follows USA’S lead…
1968 Women workers strike at Ford
1969 Equal Pay Act passed
1970 Women’s Liberation Movement Conference held
Pushing for:
● Equal pay for equal opportunity
● Equal job opportunities.
● Free contraceptives and abortion
● Free childcare
● Legal and financial independence for women.
● End to discrimination against lesbians
● Removal of the threat of male violence
Women’s Liberation Movement/Feminism
● Less interest in changing legislation - more concerned with developing awareness of oppression among women.
● Sense of solidarity and sisterhood.
● Target specific events such as Miss America - crowned a sheep!
● Set up Freedom trash cans
● Organised opportunities for women to meet and speak about their issues and frustrations.
● Encouraged Women’s literature, magazines and interest in Women’s history
● Developed radical element - calling for a society without men
