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Hippies were a feature of 1960s society in America.

USA: 1945-1975 - Land Of Freedom? US Society In The 1960s And 1970s

This GCSE History quiz explores US society in the 1960s and 1970s, from civil rights and protest to changing attitudes about work, family, music and youth culture.

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Fascinating Fact:

The women’s liberation movement grew in the late 1960s and 1970s, challenging sexism at work and in the home. Organisations like NOW campaigned for equal pay, legal rights, and better childcare.

In GCSE History, US society in the 1960s and 1970s shows how civil rights campaigns, anti-war protests, youth culture and the women’s movement reshaped daily life, politics and expectations about freedom in America.

Key Terms

Civil Rights Movement: A campaign mainly led by Black Americans to end segregation and gain equal rights in law and everyday life.
Counterculture: Youth groups who rejected traditional values, often linked with new music, protest, experimentation and alternative lifestyles.
Women’s liberation: Activism that challenged sexism and aimed for equal opportunities in education, work, law and family life.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What changes took place in US society during the 1960s and 1970s?

US society saw major changes, including the growth of civil rights, youth protest, new music and television, more discussion of sexuality, and increasing challenges to traditional roles for men and women.

What was the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s and 1970s?

The women’s liberation movement was a wave of campaigns for gender equality. Activists argued for fair pay, equal chances in education, legal protection against discrimination and better support for families.

How did the Vietnam War affect American society at home?

The Vietnam War led to large protests, especially among students. Many people questioned government honesty, the fairness of the draft and the human cost of the war, deepening divisions in US society.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

The musical apogee of the counterculture was said to be the 3 day pop music festival held in August 1969. What was the festival's name?

San Francisco

Woodstock

Rochester

Algonquin

1960s pop music was heavily influenced by folk music (Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, etc.), while the 1970's saw the rise of punk and hard rock

2 .

In 1970 President Nixon invaded Cambodia to try to prevent infiltration of communist forces from that country into South Vietnam. Protests erupted across the US, especially on university campuses. At which Ohio university campus were 4 students killed at one such protest?

Rutger's

Vassar

Brown

Kent State

The incident horrified US opinion, but very soon Nixon was negotiating with the North Vietnamese to seek an end to the war

3 .

Hippies were a feature of the period. What name was given to a Hippie community, trying to live self-sufficiently?

Squat

Drop House

Commune

Hippy Shack

Many found self-sufficiency to be a difficult goal, but were sustained by drug use and their pacifist outlook, while the Vietnam War went on

4 .

Richard Nixon, who was elected to the Presidency in 1968 and re-elected in 1972, sneered at protesters and praised those Americans who seemed satisfied with the "status quo", and were more inclined to vote for him. How did he refer to these latter citizens?

The "Silent Americans"

The "Silent Majority"

The "Loyal Majority"

"Middle America"

Nixon relied on these voters for his election and re-election. But his involvement in the Watergate scandal, and subsequent resignation, did not inspire confidence, and a Democrat (Jimmy Carter) replaced Gerald Ford (Nixon's Vice-President) in 1976

5 .

Environmentalism was another enthusiasm of the period, encouraged by Rachel Carson's 1962 book, "Silent Spring". Later, at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, an incident occurred which led to many protests by activists. What happened there?

A nuclear power station exploded causing massive pollution

There was a leak of radioactive material into the river

Anti-nuclear protesters were poisoned, although they stayed well clear of the actual site

All people living within a 50 mile radius of the site were evacuated

Environmentalists alleged the inherent dangers of nuclear power, while conservatives pointed to the fact that no one had died in this incident

6 .

In 1978 the mandatory retirement age in the US was raised from 65. To what age was it now moved?

An increasingly ageing population forced the Federal Government to raise the age of retirement. The greater tax revenue from older workers might help to sustain more elderly people in their retirement

7 .

Student unrest was a feature of most of the decade. At which campus of the University of California did the "Free Speech Movement" emerge in 1964?

Santa Monica

San Pedro

Berkeley

Monterey

Unrest spread to other campuses across the United States, and was enflamed by the escalation of the Vietnam War

8 .

In which year did Nixon achieve a deal with the North Vietnamese, whereby he could agree to withdraw US combat troops at once?

1974

1975

1972

1973

The Paris accords allowed for a US withdrawal, leaving the South Vietnamese to carry on the struggle alone. Henry Kissinger, Nixon's envoy, and Le Duc Tho, for North Vietnam, received the Nobel Peace Prize for their role

9 .

President Johnson introduced a major series of measures in 1963 intended to help America's poor and to enable all to benefit from a federal health scheme. What was this programme called?

"A New Vision for America"

"The Big Deal"

"The Great Society"

"Great America"

Johnson hoped to carry on reform in the wake of his predecessor's death, but the continuance of the Vietnam War occupied much of his time and the nation's treasure

10 .

In his inauguration speech of 1961 President John F. Kennedy evoked memories of the Nineteenth Century when he urged Americans to look to the future with optimism. What phrase did he use to suggest the pushing forward of boundaries?

A "New Frontier"

A "New Deal"

A "New Horizon"

A "New Hope"

Kennedy's rhetoric was inspirational, but within 3 years he was dead - the victim of an assassin's bullet

Author: Edward Towne