Kaarten: Sixties Chukus | Quizlet

What does the lecturer say about dissent in American history?

Dissent is not immediately politically coloured; its meaning depends on what is being opposed or questioned.

Why is the 1920s-1930s period relevant to understanding Trumpism?

It laid the foundation for Trumpism, as it was a time when fascism was rising in the U.S., something often wrongly attributed solely to Europe.

What does the lecturer say about European fascism?

European fascism was in part inspired by American history.

What historical claim is made about America's relationship to fascism?

It is historically false to claim that America is immune to fascism.

Why are the 1960s difficult to analyse?

Because many things happened at once, making the period complex and challenging to structure.

What are two opposing views on the significance of the 1960s?

Some see them as important and transformative, while others dismiss them as trivial acts by privileged youth.

What was the central event of the 1960s discussed in the lecture?

The American war in Vietnam.

Why is a French documentary on Vietnam relevant?

It shows the history of Vietnam before U.S. involvement, which is essential for understanding the context.

When does the lecture start focusing on the Vietnam War?

In 1962, with early U.S. military involvement.

Who were the two opposing sides in the Vietnam War?

North Vietnam (Vietcong, communist) and South Vietnam (supported by the U.S.).

Why did the U.S. get involved in Vietnam?

To contain and reduce the influence of communism as part of Cold War geopolitics.

What was Operation Chopper?

A 1962 U.S. mission involving helicopters flying over Vietnam for reconnaissance.

What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

A 1964 congressional resolution that gave President Johnson permission to conduct war in Vietnam without further congressional approval.

What triggered the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

Alleged naval incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin between U.S. and North Vietnamese vessels.

What did Robert McNamara later admit about the Gulf of Tonkin incidents?

That they were fabricated.

What other war is compared to Vietnam in terms of false justification?

The Iraq War, where the U.S. falsely claimed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

What warning does the lecturer give about war and truth?

Truth is the first victim of war; misinformation is often used to justify violence.

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

A sustained U.S. bombing campaign on Vietnam starting in 1965, aimed at creating constant fear, stress, and destruction, similar to Russia's attacks on Ukraine.

What was the goal of Operation Rolling Thunder?

To demoralise the enemy through relentless bombing and to assert U.S. military dominance.

How long did the U.S. bomb Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder?

For about three years, almost non-stop.

What happened after the bombing phase of the war?

The U.S. sent in ground troops, putting American soldiers at risk.

What was the effect of sending U.S. ground troops?

American soldiers started dying and returning in body bags, leading to growing public discontent.

What is meant by "carpet bombing" during the Vietnam War?

A tactic using B-52 bombers to drop large quantities of bombs indiscriminately over areas, introduced in 1966.

Why was the carpet bombing significant?

It marked a new escalation in the war and caused severe devastation, while the Vietnamese had no adequate means to counter it.

What was the Tet Offensive?

A surprise attack in early 1968 by North Vietnamese forces on South Vietnam during the Vietnamese lunar new year.

Why was the Tet Offensive shocking to the Americans?

It broke the expectation that there would be peace during the holiday and showed the determination of North Vietnam.

Did the Tet Offensive succeed for the North Vietnamese?

No, militarily it failed, but it shocked the American public and government due to its boldness.

What was the Mỹ Lai Massacre?

A massacre committed by American troops in March 1968, killing civilians in a town with no military value.

Why is the Mỹ Lai Massacre historically important?

Because it was initially kept secret from the American public and later revealed by a journalist, shifting public opinion on the war.

How did the Mỹ Lai Massacre affect American public opinion?

Once exposed, it contributed significantly to public outrage and disillusionment with the Vietnam War.

Who was Henry Kissinger?

A highly intelligent and pragmatic political realist who served under President Nixon.

When did the Vietnam War end?

After peace talks in Paris in 1973, during Nixon's presidency.

What were the Pentagon Papers?

A top-secret study ordered by Robert McNamara revealing U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967.

What did the Pentagon Papers reveal?

That the U.S. had secretly bombed Cambodia and Laos, and had long misled the public about the war.

Who leaked the Pentagon Papers and when?

A former Pentagon aide leaked them in 1971 to the New York Times.

Why were the Pentagon Papers significant?

They exposed deception by the U.S. government and shifted public opinion against the war.

What impact did the Vietnam War have on American society?

It caused national trauma, widespread disillusionment, and deeply affected American families and politics.

What major political scandal occurred in 1973?

The Watergate scandal, which led to the downfall of President Nixon.

What was "separate but equal"?

A doctrine used to justify racial segregation after slavery, against which African Americans continued to fight.

Who was a major figure in the civil rights movement during this time?

Martin Luther King Jr.

Why was JFK's election significant?

He was a young Irish Catholic candidate who won narrowly in 1960, partly due to the first televised presidential debate.

Why were some Americans opposed to JFK as president?

Because he was Catholic and feared to be loyal to the Pope over American interests.

How did television influence the 1960 election?

JFK appeared confident and appealing, while Nixon looked nervous and untrustworthy, helping JFK win public favour.

What was notable about JFK's inauguration celebrations?

Martin Luther King Jr. was not invited, which was seen as a serious oversight.

What was JFK's stance on civil rights early in his presidency?

He lacked clear focus on civil rights initially, contributing to tensions.

Who was Robert Kennedy and what role did he play?

JFK's younger brother, appointed as Attorney General, who recognised early on the need to address racial tensions in the South.

What major conflict ended under Nixon after the Paris peace talks?

Vietnam War, ended in 1973

Who was Nixon's national security advisor known for his realist approach?

Henry Kissinger, early 1970s

What were the Pentagon Papers?

A secret study of U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967, leaked in 1971

Who leaked the Pentagon Papers?

Daniel Ellsberg in 1971

What did the Pentagon Papers reveal about U.S. actions in Southeast Asia?

Secret bombings of Cambodia and Laos, revealed in 1971

How did the Pentagon Papers impact public opinion?

Made Americans doubt the war's motives in 1971

What two major events marked 1973 in the U.S.?

End of Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, both in 1973

What doctrine were African Americans fighting post-slavery?

"Separate but Equal," established in 1896

Who was the most famous speaker for African American rights during the 1960s?

Martin Luther King Jr.

What was JFK's religious background?

Irish Catholic, elected president in 1960

Why was JFK's religion controversial during his campaign?

Feared loyalty to the Pope, debated in 1960

Who did JFK appoint as Attorney General?

Robert Kennedy in 1961

What did Robert Kennedy warn about early in JFK's presidency?

Tensions in the South over civil rights in 1961

Who was often forgotten in mainstream civil rights accounts?

Malcolm X, active especially in the early 1960s

How did Malcolm X's rhetoric differ from MLK's?

More radical and direct in the early 1960s

What is a famous quote by Malcolm X?

"By any means necessary" (1964)

Who assassinated Malcolm X?

Members of the Nation of Islam in 1965

Why did Malcolm X leave the Nation of Islam?

He disagreed with it and founded his own group in 1964

What did Martin Luther King Jr. eventually link to civil rights?

The anti-war movement in his 1967 speech Beyond Vietnam

When and where was JFK assassinated?

Dallas, Texas in November 1963

Who killed JFK?

Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963

Who killed Lee Harvey Oswald?

Jack Ruby in November 1963, two days after JFK's death

Why did JFK's assassination create national anxiety?

It showed the state couldn't protect even presidents, 1963

What happened in October 1971 in Washington D.C.?

Mass anti-war protest at the Mall in October 1971

What was Abby Hoffman's idea at the Pentagon protest?

Try to levitate the Pentagon and exorcise it in 1971

What happened during the exorcism attempt at the Pentagon?

Protesters encircled and chanted at the Pentagon in 1971

Who signed the Civil Rights Act?

Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 achieve?

Made racial discrimination illegal in 1964

What is civil disobedience?

A U.S. tradition of peaceful protest, especially since the 1960s

Where was MLK assassinated?

Memphis, Tennessee in 1968

Who was seen as a future Black political leader and was present at MLK's death?

Jesse Jackson in 1968

Who took up the torch after JFK's death?

Robert Kennedy, especially in the 1968 presidential campaign

When and where was Robert Kennedy assassinated?

Los Angeles, June 1968

Who shot Robert Kennedy?

Sirhan Sirhan in 1968

Why did Sirhan Sirhan shoot Robert Kennedy?

He opposed Kennedy's views on Israel, 1968

Who were the Yippies?

Political hippie activists active in the late 1960s

What stunt did the Yippies pull at the 1968 Democratic Convention?

They nominated a pig named Pigasus for president in 1968

Why did the Yippies nominate a pig for president?

To mock U.S. politics, at the 1968 DNC in Chicago

What happened to Pigasus the pig?

He was arrested by Chicago police in 1968

What does the arrest of Pigasus reflect about the state at the time?

Fear and confusion of authority during 1968 protests.

What tragic event occurred at Kent State University in 1970?

The Ohio National Guard shot and killed 4 students and wounded 16 during a protest in May 1970

Why were students protesting at Kent State University in 1970?

News broke that the U.S. had bombed Cambodia and Laos, expanding the Vietnam War beyond Vietnam, leading to outrage in May 1970

What was the national reaction to the Kent State shootings in 1970?

Students across the U.S. went on strike, shutting down colleges and universities for an extended period in May 1970

Which song did Neil Young write in response to the Kent State shootings?

"Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, released in June 1970

What cultural shift helped spark the counterculture movement in the 1960s?

The release of the birth control pill in the early 1960s

How did the birth control pill influence the counterculture movement?

It gave women control over reproduction, leading to more sexual freedom but also social pressure to engage in sex in the 1960s

What was the unintended downside of sexual freedom for some women in the 1960s?

They felt pressured to have sex quickly to match new norms of sexual liberation

What was the Beatles' first single, and when was it released?

"Love Me Do" in 1962

Which musician is especially associated with the early 1960s counterculture?

Bob Dylan, whose defining songs came out in the early 1960s

What is the title and year of Bob Dylan's iconic early protest song?

"The Times They Are a-Changin'" in 1963

How was Bob Dylan's music received in the 1960s?

Despite poor recording quality, it had a huge cultural and political impact

Which writer influenced Bob Dylan and the counterculture with spontaneous writing?

Jack Kerouac, active mainly in the 1950s and early 1960s

What writing philosophy did Jack Kerouac promote?

Write as you speak, without rewriting—like squeezing toothpaste or ejaculating (though in truth, he edited a lot)

Which literary group was Jack Kerouac part of?

The Beat Generation, prominent in the 1950s and early 1960s