The polarization that plagues the nation today was likely born in 1968, a year that above all divided America. Hardly a week went by without reports of bombing and arson attacks from both the left and right. When a white supremacist murdered Martin Luther King, it set off riots and protests all around the country. The resulting political activism paved the way for the passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act. The Vietnam War was a big factor. By 1968, antiwar activism had merged with a broader countercultural movement. For the youth of America, the culture war was about rebelling against the conformity of the fifties, including puritanical attitudes about sex. Music was a major component of the culture. Marijuana and psychedelics, though illegal, became widely available. The relationship between the two was undeniable. To quote Bob Dylan, “Everybody must get stoned.” The antiwar movement had a major impact on politics. Lyndon Johnson was forced to abandon his re-election campaign and instead the Hubert Humphrey ran, subsequently losing to Richard Nixon. In our study group we will tackle all of these trends, the cultural as well as the political. It should give us a lot to talk about.
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