1968 A Year of Protest

              With the growing resentment of an unpopular war, the year of 1896 was filled with protest all over the globe. There were a couple of factors that lead this to happen. There was a baby boom after World War II and more and more people were going to college where many of the protest were happening. Campuses provided both the loci for political organizing and the initial grievances that made students ripe for activism (pg. 1084).  The unpopular Vietnam War was the trigger that sent people out to protest. Their sons, brothers and friends were not returning from this horrible war that a lot people didn’t understand or want. This war also triggered protest outside of the United States and included countries such as West Germany, France and China to name a few.

                Not all protests were about the Vietnam War. In France they protested about student service and had to call in the French troops when it spread throughout the country. In many countries the protest turned violent. In Mexico police killed students who were protesting the violence of other protest and it cost the country the Olympic Games.

                Ultimately the protests gave way to not much change and after all the violence it just kind of ended on a sad note. It would take five more years before the troops were pulled out of Vietnam.

1.       Why were the protest not effective and promote change. Why did the governments choose violence to stop the protests?

2.       If you had been a college student on politically active campus in 1968, would you have joined in the protests explain why?

John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address, 1961

America is still in the midst of the Cold War and John F Kennedy address is not only to the American people, but to America’s allies and enemies. To his allies he pledges support in protecting free democracies. To our enemies he offers diplomacy, but with a warning that diplomacy is not a sign of weakness. And finally to the American people John F Kennedy’s most famous quote “And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country” Kennedy was imploring his fellow countrymen to stand up and continue to make America the best country it can be. Kennedy declared that a “new generation” was assuming leadership and he called on Americans to cast off complacency and self-indulgence and serve the common good (pg 1024).

America is in a unique place in history, our economy is strong, but we still have poverty, and there is a strong civil rights movement in the works. We are also under the threat on a nuclear war. Kennedy is challenging American’s to do more for their country to stand up against poverty, racisms and to keep the dream alive for democracy. These issues were at the fore front of the public’s minds when Kennedy is addressing them and by challenging instead of asking them, shows leadership.

Kennedy had a short legacy as president and was assassinated in 1963. He did not get to reach his full potential of presidency. His famous inaugural address is directed at the challenging times that America is facing. He was not going to back down to our enemies, but he did want to find diplomatic solutions.

I did find Kennedy’s address convincing he did not back down to our enemies, he supported our allies and he challenge the American public to do better.

GI Bill

On January 1944 Congress passed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act or GI Bill. This one single act had a big impact on veterans, colleges and jobs that we still see today. The American Legion drafted a plan that would give military veterans loans for houses and money for college or vocational training.

                This one event had a huge impact on American society, before the act colleges were for only the white social elite and jobs like doctors and lawyers were only obtained by the privileged. After the act was passed we now had first generation college students. The veterans transformed higher education. Older, more serious and more diverse in race, class, and ethnicity, they soon crowed college classrooms (pg 966).  Men and women who had never even dreamed of going to college were now able too.

                Even though there was a significant increase in African Americans going to college, there were many that were turned away. Many schools in the south remained segregated and there were very few black colleges. Women were also uninformed about the benefits owed to them and thus did not take advantage of the GI Bill. Both African Americans and women found themselves unwelcome in veterans groups that provided information about the new benefits (pg 964).  Even though changes were made in society there was still a long way to go for the civil rights movement.

                Overall The GI Bill transformed American Universities and society to this day. Thanks to the GI Bill 67,000 doctors, 238,000 teachers, 91,000 scientist, 450,000 engineers and 240,000 accounts received an education (pg 967). From this time forward we would see more and more men and women being educated and given opportunities that they wouldn’t have had before the GI Bill. On a personal note not only will my husband be able to complete his education, my son and I will also benefit from his GI Bill.

-What could have happened to all the returning veterans if Congress would have not passed the GI Bill?

-Why do you think the GI Bill succeeded and how did it fail?

Roosevelt’s inaugural speech

In Roosevelt’s address he laying out how he wanted to help the American people. First by tackling the immediate need and then by getting the people back to work. He even addresses congress and ask for them to help pass legislation quickly, but also threatens that if they are not on board he will do it without them. His speech was also about action. Things needed to change now and we must not just sit around and discuss them but move forward and make things happen quickly.

Roosevelt goes right to the heart of the American people to get them onboard with his plan. This must have been the first glimmer of hope Americans had since the depression began. Hoover had done nothing to help the property stricken Americans and had even sent an army to evict the veteran bonus marches out of Washington. On Saturday March 4^th, 1933 Franklin D Roosevelt gave Americans hope that there was help around the corner and even and end in sight.

In one of history’s most famous quotes Roosevelt says; “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Instead of succumbing to fear and suspicion, Roosevelt’s confidence that the government could help citizens energized New Deal Policies and his presidency, the longest in American History (pg.895).

Americans were desperate for change and Roosevelt’s powerful convincing speech put renewed faith in government to help. As I read his speech I am inspired for hope and change. We find ourselves in a similar economic situation and we have put our faith in our Presidency to help pull us out of our economic mess. We have even looked back at Roosevelt’s presidency to see if we can use some of his changes to change our situation. His speech is very relevant to our troubles now.