What's the Big Deal?
The 1960’s were a perplexing time. A decade ushered in by the election of a young man from Boston, soon fell victim to a two front war, and a society in disgust. By the end of the decade, a Republican was President of the United States. As quickly as the high tide of post-war liberalism came, it receded. A President fell to an assassin’s bullet. The cold war was colder than ever, and soviet missiles rested 90 miles off of our shores. The civil rights movement gained traction, and those opposed fought back harder than ever before. African Americans gained the right to vote, and a man walked on the moon. Our armies were deployed to Southeast Asia to fight the spread of communism, and folks at home grew to despise the war. There were hippies and protests, four college students in Ohio were killed at the hands of their own National Guard, and the nation cried out for peace. It was in this decade when individuals began to care about the environment. Women left the home, going to college and work. Baby boomers rejected their parents’ generation in search of something different, and a silent majority begged to be heard. It was the decade of peace and love with fire in the streets. However, history is only judged by the legacy it leaves. The 60's were a decade of raging Liberalism, inspirational music, and great change, all of which are reflected in this websites stakeholder pages. Please use this website as a tool to both gain a better understanding of the 1960's legacy, and to form your own opinions on how the events of this time have impacted contemporary life and politics.