American Political and Economic Hist: The Long Sixties
Introduction
The Long Sixties were an era in the American society that existed in the years 1960 to 1974. The long sixties were a time when the world experienced significant changes and revolution in politics, society, and the economy across all continents. The revolution began in the United States and the UK, then spread to continental Europe and other parts of the world. The 1960s were an important time in history for the following reasons. There was a significant flourish in the economy of America, and unlike the 1920s, the boom in the stock market was not followed by a depression. Also, the cut in taxes fueled the expansion in the economy. There was also a growth in GDP by up to 8.5% (Strain, 2016). Politically, it was a time when the first presidential debates got held. It was an era for civil rights movements protesting against the treatment of races that was unfair. The long sixties also get remembered as a time when the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. The late sixties were a time when there were significant developments and changes in the political and economic status in the United States and the world as a whole. This paper seeks to establish why the era was important to the politics of America and the Federal Government, how it transformed the American society, the economic factors that helped shape the sixties, and the lasting legacies that the long sixties make on the politics and society of America.
Importance of era to American politics and the Federal government
The long sixties were an important era in the politics of the United States in the sense that it marked the commencement of the presidential debates in the presidential campaigns. The election of President J.F Kennedy and it marks a time that is important in US politics in that it was dominated by the civil rights movements led by Martin Luther King. Other political events that took place in the long sixties that are remembered in the history of America include the warning of President J.F Kennedy of the possibility of a nuclear attack targeted on the United States soil. The Cuban Missile Crisis also happened, but it ended on a good note with the landing of the first man on the moon. This was important to the federal government as it was able to engage in more space projects.
How the long sixties transformed the American Society
The long sixties brought about significant changes to society as it created change in several aspects of the society in terms of culture, music, politics, and society as a whole. There were protests by Americans against the war in Vietnam. There were significant changes in music in that it became influenced by causes, the sexual revolution, and black powder, the opposition of certain ideas, feminism, and environmentalism. Activism was also an important development as it brought hope for a forward-thinking and more inclusive nation. The black and white people held protests advocating for the equal treatment of all the races.
Economic factors that helped shape the long sixties.
There was a significant boom in the stock market, which led to an increase in business activities, more opportunities for jobs, and a rise in prices and wages. The social turmoil that happened in the sixties did not affect the economy in a negative way as there was increased spending for the war in Vietnam, causing the economy to run smoothly. The GDP growth averaged 5%, there was an increase in payrolls in the US by 32%, and there was a high growth of jobs recorded. The tax revenues of the United States government grew by 65%, boosting the economy significantly.
Lasting legacies that the long sixties made on American society and politics
The long sixties were a time when many events and issues that had effects that were long-lasting on the beliefs of the United States and the culture of the Americans got introduced. The patterns of professional sports became the business that was leading in the market as it brought huge business. Stars in film, television, and sports attracted a lot of attention for their wealth and glamour. The assassination of the president was also significant. The baby boomers decided to start searching for something different and pushed to be heard, rejecting the generation of their parents. Another legacy is the civil rights movement gained traction, and the African Americans acquired the voting rights (Corrigan, 2020). A man walking in the room was also a significant legacy to society in America.
Conclusion
In establishing a union that is perfect, the sixties united people through the cultural changes in music and the instance where both the blacks and the whites were advocating for equality of races. It established justice through the civil rights movements. The era provided a common defense when the United States decided to participate in the Vietnam War to protect the country from threats that are external. The Constitution of the United States got ordained and upheld as people were allowed to protest; the African Americans were allowed to vote. The outcomes from the era that are seen today include the freedom of voting in which everyone is granted the right to vote regardless of their race as there is equality, there is a democracy where the rights of the American citizens get protected by the Constitution.
References
Strain, C. B. (2016). The long sixties: America, 1955-1973. John Wiley & Sons.
Corrigan, L. M. (2020). Black Feelings: Race and Affect in the Long Sixties. Univ. Press of Mississippi.