Basically, 1960s were marked by the unprecedented growth of the civil rights
movement in the US which actually changed the country completely. In fact, until
this period the democracy in the US was quite limited and, if possible to say
one-sided, so that only limited groups of people could really benefit from democracy
while vast masses of oppressed people remained deprived of any real opportunity
to enjoy civil rights and democratic freedoms.
In fact, such an unexpected progress of the civil rights movement in the US
in 1960s seems to be a bit strange, especially in the context of three previous
decades of stagnation and agony of democracy. Obviously there are several reasons
explaining such a boom after three years of weakness and stagnation of civil
rights movement.
First of all, it should be said that starting from late 1920s till early 1960s
the US suffered from greatest socio-economic and political disasters in its
history which naturally affected the progress of the civil rights movement.
To put it more precisely, the late 1920s were characterised as the period of
the profound economic crisis which gradually transformed in the Great Depression
which was the most serious socio-economic crisis the US have ever suffered from.
In such a situation, the concerns of the whole nation were focused on the survival
of national economy at large, and each individual in particular. As a result,
people were rather focused on the problem of their financial stability than
in civil rights which were regularly oppressed, though this oppression of civil
rights concerned not all Americans but only oppressed minority. Mainly it was
African-American and other non-white population in the US that suffered the
most from the domination and privileged position of white population. However,
it is worthy of mention that the position of women was also quite difficult
and they were also deprived of certain rights and opportunities and their position
was not totally equal to the position of men at all. As a result, the life of
American society was controlled by white male elite while the rest of the society
was oppressed.
Unfortunately, the following economic recovering did not improve the situation
a lot for the World War II had broken out soon and the US faced a new serious
problem, the problem of national security and even survival as an independent
state. Naturally, in such a situation the whole nation had to focus on the victory
of American arms in the World War II. At the same time, this was a very important
period where the civil right movement had really started to grow in power since
practically everywhere females started to substituted males many of which were
recruited to American army and left the US. In such a way, females proved to
the society, and primarily to themselves that they are equal to males.
Nonetheless, the victory in the World War II did not finally brought the breakthrough
in the progress of the civil rights movement. Instead, the country was overwhelmed
by practically paranoid fear of the ‘red threat’ or the threat of
the communist revolt. As a result, the whole country launched the new struggle
against the invisible threat from the internal enemy. Naturally, in such a situation
any civil right movement was severely oppressed and was considered as dangerous
to national interests of the state.
However, the repressions could not last forever since the USA was still a democratic
country though this democracy was far from perfect. Basically, Americans grew
tired of constant struggle against enemies they have never actually seen and
the oppression of civil rights made Americans realized that such form of democracy
was not less dangerous than the communist threat. The country was also tired
of the permanent state of war people had to live in.
At the same time, such dissatisfaction with the current situation in the US
in the late 1950s – early 1960s was enforced by the appearance of prominent
figures struggling for civil rights such as Martin Luther King and his followers,
including Malcolm X. Moreover, the assassination of King was probably the most
starting point of the open protest of all Americans conscious of the importance
of civil rights since they could not live in the country where people could
be assassinated only because they are of different race, or political views.
The similar effect probably had the assassination of J.F. Kennedy.
Finally, it should be said that along with prominent leaders of the civil rights
movement, Americans also got very important experience of struggle for their
rights and freedom. Moreover, many Americans saw death with their own eyes and
were not afraid of participating in the movements which aimed at changing the
existing order for they have been doing this for years taking part in wars.
Thus, the development of civil rights consciousness was predetermined by the
growing dissatisfaction of American population with the current situation in
the country concerning civil rights, acquisition of historical experience of
struggle for freedom, growing consciousness in their own power, and, finally,
Americans had got leaders that showed them the way to better and really democratic
life.
Bibliography:
1. Gideon, Trumpet. New York: Routlede, 1996.
2. Lewis and Patterson, Major Problems in American History. New York: Random
House, 1998.
