USA in 1920-1973
American Society/ Economy:
Consumerism, USA producing 1/2 the worlds goods.
American Dream, 3 x that of the average British person.
Popular culture, Dominated by TV, Radio and cinema.
McCarthyism
Red Scare of the 1920s hadn't went away, USSR increased communism to eastern Europe.
By 1949 China became communist.
Senator Joe McCarthy, believed that communists had infiltrated the US government.
He made people fear them to gain publicity, he had little evidence to back up the suspected people.
Racial tension:
Southern states kept Jim Crow laws.
Protestors had to venture through segregated states to change laws by making large events.
Discrimination in employment.
Direct action (MLK): Southern Christian Leadership Conference Student Non-Violent Co-Ordinating committee.
Congress for racial Equality.
Presidents
JFK committed to tackling civil rights inequality. Started to push the civil rights bill, the new president after him made it a law in 1964.
New Frontier - Aimed to tackle social problems (Unemployment, social security, aid.)
Great Society - Continued work of the New Frontier.
1965, Selma: Voting rights march, 15,000 AAs old enough to vote, 335 voted. Marchers attacked by police. Known as 'Bloody Sunday.'
Voting Rights Act 1965: Ended all tests previously required for AAs to vote.
Civil rights act 1968: Illegal to rent or sell houses on the grounds of race.
Malcolm X assassinated in 1965, Race riots of 1965 - 67 = Just after the civil rights act and Voting rights act were passed, race riots. Cities divided, Rioting in Watts LA.
Violent Protests - Disillusionment of many black people.
Feminist Movement:
1950s, change in women's rights.
1963, Feminist Mystique, starting point for the feminist movement.
National organisation for women, 1966.
Equal pay. 1963.
Roe vs Wade, 1973, Legalised abortion.
1972, Contraception available for unmarried couples.
Equal rights amendment, 1972, Controversial, backlash from older generation of women.
Protests about sexism/traditional women magazines.