Cracks in the Republic: Discontent, Dissent, and Protest in America, 1950-1975

4 units

This course examines the rise and impact of several major political, social and cultural protest movements in the United States during the middle part of the 20th century. It focuses on the Beats, Civil Rights, New Left, Anti-Vietnam War, Counter-Culture, Black Nationalism, Ethnic Consciousness, Women's Liberation and Gay/Lesbian Liberation, and contextualizes these movements within major national and international developments including Jim Crow and de facto segregation, middle-class ennui, and the Cold War. We will pay special attention to the role of youth activism and the methods of dissent and protest used to challenge the status quo.