2. Early 60s
• Strong economy
• Balanced budget
• Low inflation
• Feeling of optimism
By 1968
• High inflation
• Society polarized by
-crime
-assassinations
-race riots
-student protest
-drugs
• Revolution in the air
3. The New Left
• name from international movement
-young intellectuals, not proletariat is
new revolutionary force
• SDS (Students for a Democratic Society)
-‘62 U of Michigan (Tom Hayden)
4. SDS
• Port Huron Statement
-non violent participatory democracy
-anti-war; pro civil rights; free speech
• spread across campuses
• active in protesting war
• splinters by late 60’s
5. Youth International Party (Yippies)
• self titled group
• exploit mass media
• symbolic protests & theatrical pranks
-anti-authoritarian
• active groups in Milwaukee & Madison
• examples
-threw mix fake/real money on NYSE
-nominated pig for ‘68 presidency
-application to levitate the Pentagon
-application to blow up General Motors
-threatened LSD in Chicago water ‘68
• leaders tried for inciting riot
-Chicago Seven
-found not guilty
6. Weatherman
• Radical splinter of the New Left
-want to start real revolution
• Rebellion spread across campus’
-riots & fighting erupt
-bomb chemistry building
at UW-Madison
7. Kent State (May 4, ‘70)
• Nixon announces Cambodian Incursion
• Weekend of May 1st
-rioting downtown
-burned ROTC building
-National Guard called
• Monday noon -2000 protesters
• Ohio National Guard
-fire 67 rounds in 13 sec
-4 dead, 9 wounded
