Transcript Slide 1

In order to completely understand the
context of the novel The Outsiders, you
must first be introduced to what life was
like in America in the 1960s.
Welcome to the 1960s!
The Sixties was a time of immense change
in both public and private life.
The Sixties are still seen as having been a
revolution on a global scale.
Often called the “Swinging Sixties”
because of the attitudes that arose during
this time period.
Social change was created by the
American civil rights movement, the rise of
feminism and gay rights, invention of the
microchip and Moore's Law.
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The
Sixties has become famous for being
responsible for everything new and
exciting, as well as anything radical and
dangerous that happened during this
period.
John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960
He was assassinated on November 22, 1963
Malcolm X was assassinated on February
21, 1965
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was
assassinated on April 4, 1968
Many revolutions took place – people were
beginning to question the government and
authority of the time
People began demanding more freedoms
and rights for women, gays, and minorities
 These
movements were marked by excessive drug use and
psychedelic music
 There were massive anti-war movements opposing the
Vietnam War as well as conscription (“The Draft”)
 “If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old
enough to vote...”
 Population 177,830,000
 Unemployment 3,852,000
 Average Salary $4,743
 Teacher's Salary $5,174
 Minimum Wage $1.00
 Life Expectancy: Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years
 A great decade for musicals such as: Camelot, Hello
Dolly, Oliver, Man of La Mancha, Hair, and Funny Girl.
There
were also many Civil Rights movements,
fueled by the Anti-war protests rattling the country:
Freedom of Speech movement being one of the
most effective
There were also countless technological advances
in the Sixties, as well the first man walked on the
moon in 1969
Chubby Checker introduced the Twist on American
Band Stand in 1961 and a new craze was born with
dancing becoming something you didn't need a
partner for.
The Mashed potato, the Swim, the Watusi, the
Monkey and the Jerk followed the Twist.
This was also the decade of the Go-Go girls, on
stages or in bird cages, who danced above the
crowd.
The Flintstones became the second
cartoon on in primetime. (The first was
Rocky and his Friends in 1959). Of course,
more followed such as Alvin & the
Chipmunks , the Jetson's , and Mr. Magoo.
 Family television was Andy Griffith
Show. For our sitcom of that decade it was
The Beverly Hillbillies. The sci-fi and
supernatural included: Bewitched, The
Addams Family, My Favorite Martian , I
Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek, the Outer Limits
, and the Twilight Zone.
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David Jenkins-Gold in figure skating.
Carol Heiss, Gold in figure skating.
The US ice hockey team also won the gold
medal in these winter Olympics.
 Among the US gold medalists were: world
record setting Otis Davis, 400m, Glenn Davis,
400m hurdles, William Nieder, shot put, and Al
Oerter, discus. Wilma Rudolph won gold in both
the 100m and 200m runs. Muhammad Ali won
gold as a light heavyweight boxer.
 Figure skating champion Peggy Fleming won
Gold for her performance in Grenoble.
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It was a decade that was ruled by the young.
Hey, the post World War II Baby Boom had
created 70 million teenagers they dictated the
fashion, the fads and the politics of the decade.
 In California surfers took to skateboards,
because even back then they were body and
health conscious in California. Skateboards like
surfing was away to stay fit, when not surfing. By
1963, the fad had spread across the country.
 Barbie dolls, were introduced by Mattel in 1959.
Hasbro also came up with G. I. Joe, 12 inches
tall and the first action figure for boys.
 Slot cars overtook toy trains in popularity.
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Fellows had crew cuts and bouffant hairstyles for
the ladies.
Knee-length dresses were required wear for women
in most public places. By the middle of the 60s,
miniskirts or hot pants, often worn with go-go boots,
were revealing legs, body wear was revealing
curves, and women's hair was either very short or
long and lanky. Think of the musical Hair and you
will get a very good idea of this time. Remember
the song by the Cowsills (ah yes, I just dated myself).
Even the guys had longer hair, along with beards
and moustaches. We are talking men's clothes were
bright colors, double-breasted sports jackets,
polyester pants suits with Nehru jackets, and
turtlenecks were in.
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Toward the end of the 60s ties were up to
5" wide, and patterned even when worn
with stripes. The ladies wore peasant skirts
or granny dresses and chunky shoes.
Unisex dressing was popular. Think of bell
bottomed jeans, love beads, and
embellished t-shirts and you had the
look.
1961 - Peace Corps created by Pres.
Kennedy
1963 - Martin Luther King delivers his I
have a dream speech
1963 - Pres. John F. Kennedy is
assassinated in Dallas, Texas
1963 - Lyndon Johnson becomes
President of the United States
 The Civil Rights movement made great
changes in society in the 1960's.
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The Presidential Commission of the Status of Women
(1963) gave us some disturbing facts about a
women's place in our society. Betty Friedan, Pauli
Murray and Gloria Steinem, (National Organization
of Women) gave birth to Women's Lib, and the
"glass ceiling."
The birth control pill became widely available and
abortion for cause was legalized in Colorado in
1967. Also in 1967, both abortion and artificial
insemination became legal in some states.
The Supreme Court decided in Engel v. Vitale, 370
U.S. 421, 1962, that prayer in the public schools was
unconstitutional.
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As the 60's progressed, many young people turned from
mainstream religions to mystic eastern religions such as
Transcendental Meditation (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi) or Zen
Buddhism.
The hippie movement endorsed drugs, rock music, mystic
religions and sexual freedom. They opposed violence. Four
hundred thousand (400,000) young people gathered in a
spirit of love and sharing, at The Woodstock Festival which
represents the pinnacle of the hippie movement. Many
hippies moved to Haight Ashbury in San Francisco, East
Village in New York City, or lived in communes.
In 1962, a spy plane identified long range missiles in Cuba.
President John F. Kennedy readied troops to invade Cuba,
and the Soviet Union prepared to fire at US cities if we
made a move.
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The United States sent military advisors and then soldiers, to
prevent communist North Vietnam from overtaking South
Vietnam. The war wasn't in the mainstream until 1965,
when massive troop buildups were ordered to put an end
to the conflict. The draft was accelerated and anti-war
sentiment grew in the US. College students organized antiwar protests, many dodged the draft by fleeing to
Canada. There were also many reports of soldiers ignoring
those in authority and shooting their officers rather than
follow orders. President Johnson was blamed by many for
the war and the racial unrest in the country. He did not run
for re-election in 1968. John Kennedy's brother, Robert
campaigned for the nomination for President and
unfortunately he was killed. Both Malcolm X and Martin
Luther King were also assassinated. Malcolm X in 1965 and
Martin Luther King in 1968.
In the Space Race, begun by the Soviets in 1957, Alan Shepard,
was the first American in space in 1961. John Glenn was the first
American to orbit the earth in 1963. Neil Armstrong and Buzz
Aldrin, in Apollo XI, were the first men to walk on the moon in
1969.
 In 1965 cigarette manufacturers were required by the Surgeon
General, who determined that smoking was a health hazard, to
place warnings on all packages and in all ads.
 Dr. Denton Cooley implanted the first artificial heart in a human.
It kept the patient alive for three days until a human heart could
be transplanted. People became more concerned with their
health and their environment. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
awakened the environmental movement and the Sierra Club
gained a following. Ralph Nader's book, Unsafe at any Speed,
led to the consumer movement.
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was a huge market for rock & blues,
fueled by the rise of affluent youth, leading the
way for the rise of many young singers and
bands:
 The Beatles
 Janis Joplin
 Jimi Hendrix
 The Doors
 Jefferson Airplane
 The Rolling Stones
 The Grateful Dead
 Elvise Presley
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was also a huge rise in the
popularity of radical folk music:
 Bob Dylan
 The Mamas and the Papas
The
Counterculture Revolution had a huge
impact on cinema in the 1960s
Movies began to break social taboos, that
brought both fascination and controversy
These new and edgy movies reflected the
social changes occurring in the world
outside the movie theater
These movies, as well as the era itself, was
about experimentation
Rosemary's Baby
Doctor Zhivago
Bonnie and Clyde
Psycho
Breakfast at
Tiffany'shttp://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/i
ndex/?cid=15961
To Kill a Mockingbird
My Fair Lady
Funny Girl
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Fashion & Fads
Woodstock Music
Festival
Music of the 1960s
Television of the 1960s
Sports of the 1960s
Language/Slang of the
1960s
Women's movement
Civil rights movement
Historical events
(Vietnam war)
Assassinations of the
1960s
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Actors & Actresses of
the 1960s
Films of the 1960s
Political movements
(voting)
Technological advances
Gay & minority rights
Women's rights
Overall, the 1960s was a decade of major
changes, from the music that played on
the radio, to the movies that played in
the theaters, to the way in which people
looked at each other.