American History of The 1960s - Term Paper Example

American History of The 1960s Part The American history is rich with information that stems from the worst to the best towards the achievement of the current society within America. Much of the present day civilized nation resulted from struggles and bloodshed for the many who initiated the processes. The 1960s characterize some of the most violent and dangerous periods of American history since its independence in internal struggles. A focus on some of the occurrences is emphasized with support or opposition given in the form of advice from my point of view. The first violent episode relates to the demonstrations of Chicano students who fought for unequal conditions in the East LA schools. Unequal conditions among the blacks and the whites were rampant in almost every sector and part within the country. Considering that the blacks received unfair treatment than their white counterparts, the demonstrations were justified. Considering the cause of reasons behind these protests, i would advice that it is right to support the demonstration as opposed to the white students during that period who failed to support their fellow black students’ demonstrators. The next incidence that occurred in the following year relates to the Weather Underground Organization formation. The organization founded at Ann Arbor branch of Michigan University aimed at achieving a democratic society by students. The primary objective as evidenced through the naming of the faction as Students for a Democratic Society was to work as a radical left wing that would materialize and succeed in overthrowing the American government. October 8, 1969 characterized the first demonstration organized by the group in Chicago that was deliberate to coincide with the trials of Chicago eight. The group embarked on bombing demonstrations, jail breaks among other ill forms of demonstrations. The attacks mostly focused on government buildings as well as various banks while evacuation warnings were also given to others. It is important to note that these students’ demonstrators grew to become criminals over time and facilitated bombings or became parts of bombings after their engagement in 1969. Although the authorities failed to engage them forcefully to abandon their demonstrations, deaths among the students were reported on various occasions. My opinion relating to such engagements falls against joining such students owing the acts of violence the group engaged in, it is ill-advising for any student of the current multi-cultural and civilized U.S to participate in such demonstrations. From my opinion it is wrong for students to join in violence acts aimed at overthrowing the government. November 15, 1969 characterized the largest ever demonstration in Washington that called for an end to the war in Vietnam. During that period, the American forces had been engaging in the Vietnam War for more than half a decade and human rights activists among other observers fought during the Vietnam War. Despite President Nixon promise of removing the military in Vietnam, he was yet to adhere to his pledge. The Americans at the battle field were dying in a battle that the demonstrators believed it was unworthy for the Americans to engage. Consequently, the leaders of demonstrations saw the war as an inhumane act for the Vietnamese population and unfair for the Americans. Although there were some protests towards the end of the demonstrations, the demonstration was peaceful and drove the message home. I would support anyone in the current world that would love t support and participate in peaceful demonstrations that aim at achieving the rights of others since the actions are justifiable and America was wrong with its engagement in the Vietnam War. Another violent and unruly incident that occurred in October 1969 relates to the engagement of Weather Underground in demonstrations on a day when the Chicago courtroom under Judge Hoffman conducted the trials of the Chicago Eight. During that period of time, there existed a growing belief that the judicial system remained unfair for those individuals that failed to support or worked against the federal government will. Considering that the eight individuals charged fought against the Republican leadership, feelings about unfair judgment existed. However, attempting to get to the courtroom through force is not justifiable and is illegal. Therefore, I would desist from advising a person hailing from the current generation to engage in such demonstrations. It is important to allow the judiciary to undertake its operations without interference. Consequently, attending the trials on the right manner as opposed to violence is a right approach. The 1970 fundraising for the Black Panthers occurred with an attempt to solicit funds for supporting the Black Panther movement. Although the Black Panther sought to achieve the rights for the blacks, its actions were illegal and thus I would advise against attending such a fundraiser since supporting criminal operations is wrong and unnecessary in the current day world. Burning down of Isla Vista’s Bank of America is also a violent form of demonstration portrayed by the students demonstrators was a sign aimed at taking the powers of the government. Since I consider a bank as a resource generating organization to the whole population, I stand against such actions aimed at destroying such an institution. The Kent State shootings, as well as Cambodia incursion, were unjustifiable since the students were non-violent and therefore there failed the need to open fire on peaceful demonstrators. Therefore, I support demonstrating against such atrocities as it will force those in powers to check the powers and balances among police officers while also take action against police officers who act against their duty requirements. 1971 like the previous year also characterized various scenes of violence and sorts of crime. The plumbers, an organization, established in 24th July, 1971 is a group formed under Nixon presidency to ensure stopping of classified information reaching the media from the white house or the Pentagon papers. i advise against joining such a group considering that the group also engaged in other illegal activities like Watergate scandal. Kissinger’s uptake of the office of secretary of state portrayed not only a hard working approach but also the right attitude towards achieving objectives and goals. If the same was to happen today, I would advise anyone to work with for such a leader since it is essential and appropriate as everyone remains focused like the leader himself. The last incident of history of the Americans in 1971 relates to the feminist voice where the rights of women and change of their perception within the society remained on the rise. For a current generation youth, it is right to join in supporting such a move and even claiming to be a feminist is a right action since one is knowledgeable enough to realize the good for equity among all. Part II Apart from the American history that was characterized mostly by violence and demonstrations in the 1960s discussed, a focus on the presidents of the U.S during that period is equally important. Considering that the presidential elections have always resulted in either Republican candidates or Democrats candidates assuming office, the focus is concentrated only on those candidates in for a period of twenty years from 1956-1972. A decision on the right candidate is based on current knowledge of outcomes, state of the nation during the term of office as well as achievements and what they fought to deliver. The prior knowledge of the outcomes and failures of those leaders is also a consideration I put in place to ensure I give the best support to the right candidate. The 1956 elections in the U.S had the Republicans representative as the incumbent Dwight Eisenhower with Adlai Stevenson representing the Democrats where Eisenhower easily defeated his challenger who had become less popular. The election was more of a repeat of the previous presidential elections where Eisenhower defeated Stevenson and did likewise on the second attempt. Considering that the two candidates had little passion or entirely ignored the subject of human rights, the voting decisions relied on other aspects. Like the voters during that period, I would have cast my vote for Eisenhower owing to various considerations. Stevenson had no political base upon losing his Illinois governorship to run for presidency in the first presidential elections, he lacked a political base and an office and thus less popular among the public. Eisenhower, on the other hand, became famous through ensuring the nation gained prosperity and consequently ensured an end to the Korean War. Despite the health condition of Eisenhower that the public failed to realize, he represented a better candidate owing to his achievements than Stevenson, who had no office to run political affairs and thus possess the right for my vote. The 1960 presidential contest occurred between Democrat John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon of the Republican where Kennedy won the elections irrespective of Nixon winning the popular vote. The strategy employed by Kennedy and his vice Johnson ensured the required success to outdo Nixon. First reasons behind the failure of Nixon relates to the fact that he was the vice president in the previous era that was characterized by an economic recession. He therefore lacked means of addressing such an issue. Consequently, the earlier government had little to offer in terms of civil rights that Kennedy promised to offer. It is important to note that Kennedy initiated the successful Apollo project that is today seen as a milestone towards technological development and American space exploration superiority. I would have voted for Kennedy after as a reason of his human rights consideration in his manifesto and for the fact that his manifesto presented a better way to tackle economic crisis that Nixon had failed to address during his tenure as a vice president. The 1964 presidential election characterized a landslide victory for the incumbent Lyndon Johnson, who had assumed office a year later after the assassination of his predecessor JFK owing to his actions in the one year he assumed office. The Republican candidate Barry Goldwater lost owing mostly to his political conservatism nature. Johnson, who gained popularity from JFK, focused on efforts to ensure curbing social segregation commonly referred to the formation of a great society. Johnson’s achievements were significant in changing the society and forming a basis of what was the current day America. Despite his failure to withdraw forces in Vietnam, he achieved what Kennedy had failed and thus a much better candidate while compared to Goldwater. I would have voted for Johnson as a result of his achievements in the one year he served after his predecessor was assassinated. The 1968 presidential elections represented one of the most chaotic presidential elections in the history of Americans where Richard Nixon of the Republican defeated vice president Hubert Humphrey of the Democrats. After the assassination of Democrats presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey won the nominations in a chaotic scene. Richard Nixon promised to embark on law and order upon his election, and he successfully managed to withdraw troops from Vietnam an issue that led to Hubert defeat in the elections. Despite his minor achievements, Nixon leadership attracted varied controversies from election malpractices and humiliation of the media rights. Therefore, Nixon and his counterpart from the Democrats were both the wrong candidates in the 1968 presidential elections. In the 1968 elections, I perceive both candidates as the wrong choices to lead the American populations towards achieving a stable and economic growth of the nation. Therefore, I would have abstained from elections since both candidates are wrong. Lastly, during the 1972 general elections, Nixon was re-elected on a Republican ticket for a second time defeating George McGovern of the Democrats. Majority of voters as a left-wing extremist denied his votes while Nixon embarked on his success in ensuring withdrawal of the military from Vietnam as well as foreign affairs success together with a good economy. Despite the formation of plumbers group and other illegal activities, Nixon offered a better candidate as he ensured delivering what a majority of Americans cried for a decade and thus had the votes of the majority Americans. With the crisis and atrocities surrounding Nixon, I would not have voted for him. Although McGovern was perceived as a left-wing extremist, and his associations with wrong doings towards gaining his post, none was real. He presented a better candidate than Nixon and would have gained my vote. Read More