The Columbia Guide to America in The 1960s

David Rosenthal Farber

Columbia University Press, 2001 - History - 508 pages

The 1960s continue to be the subject of passionate debate and political controversy, a touchstone in struggles over the meaning of the American past and the direction of the American future. Amid the polemics and the myths, making sense of the Sixties and its legacies presents a challenge. This book is for all those who want to take it on. Because there are so many facets to this unique and transformative era, this volume offers multiple approaches and perspectives.

The first section gives a lively narrative overview of the decade's major policies, events, and cultural changes. The second presents ten original interpretative essays from prominent historians about significant and controversial issues from the Vietnam War to the sexual revolution, followed by a concise encyclopedia articles organized alphabetically. This section could stand as a reference work in itself and serves to supplement the narrative. Subsequent sections include short topical essays, special subjects, a brief chronology, and finally an extensive annotated bibliography with ample information on books, films, and electronic resources for further exploration.

With interesting facts, statistics, and comparisons presented in almanac style as well as the expertise of prominent scholars, "The Columbia Guide to America in the 1960s" is the most complete guide to an enduringly fascinating era.

What people are saying

Review: The Columbia Guide to America in the 1960s (Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures)

User Review  - Tracey Madeley - Goodreads

This is an excellent academic book and had helped me tremendously when researching America in the 1960's. There are essays on Civil Rights, the counter culture, LBJ's domestic reforms and he ...

Review: The Columbia Guide to America in the 1960s (Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures)

User Review  - Tessa - Goodreads

I didn't read all of this... I was using it as a primer for a '60s themed party. It definitely sparked an interest and was a reminder of all the tons of important things that happened in the '60s, but ...

Contents

• John Kennedy and the Promise of Leadership: 3
• The Election: 6
• THE KENNEDY PRESIDENCY: 7
• The Civil Rights Revolution: 13
• MASS PROTEST: 15
• FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION: 19
• The Great Society: 23
• THE 1964 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: 25
• LBJ AND THE GREAT SOCIETY: 28
• THE NEW LEFT: 30
• The Vietnam War: 34
• NATIONBUILDING: 35
• INCREASING INVOLVEMENT: 36
• THE ESCALATING WAR: 38
• THE WAR AT HOME: 40
• Polarization: 44
• RACIAL MILITANCY: 47
• GROWING POLARIZATION AND RADICALIZATION: 50
• RICHARD NIXONS WAR IN VIETNAM: 51
• AMERICAS FIGHTING MEN: 52
• ENDING THE WAR: 53
• Sixties Culture: 55
• YOUTH CULTURE: 57
• COUNTERCULTURE: 59
• BLACK CULTURE: 61
• CONCLUSION: 62
• New Directions: 64
• WATERGATE: 66
• WOMENS LIBERATION MOVEMENT: 68
• LIBERATION POWER AND PRIDE: 71
• Conclusion: 75
• Debating the Sixties: 77
• African Americans and the Struggle for Civil Rights in the 1960s: 79
• Democratic Reformers or LeftWing Revolutionaries?: 91
• Losing Ground? The Great Society in Historical Perspective: 98
• Riots or Rebellions?: 109
• Explaining the Tragedy of Vietnam: 118
• Liberation for Whom?: 125
• Was It Revolutionary?: 134
• Ecstasy and Anxiety Over the Hip Alternative: 143
• Silent Majority or White Backlash?: 157
• The Destructive Generation or Years of Hope?: 167
• The Sixties A to Z: 177
• Short Topical Essays: 261
• Cities and Suburbs: 263
• Environmentalism: 273
• Law and Justice: 281
• Popular Music: 288
• Religion: 296
• Science and Technology: 305
• Sports: 312
• Expanding Conceptions Sites and Audiences: 321
• Special Sections: 327
• Portrait of a Nation: 329
• RACE AND ETHNICITY: 335
• HEALTH: 338
• EDUCATION: 344
• CRIME: 349
• TRAVEL AND RECREATION: 352
• Economy and Labor: 355
• National Politics and Elections: 364
• Entertainment Popular Arts and Publications: 396
• Fashion: 412
• Sports and Olympics: 415
• Chronology: 435
• BRIEF CHRONOLOGY: 437
• INTRODUCED IN LIST: 445
• Annotated Bibliography: 447
• Index: 491

About the author

David Farber is the author/editor of three books on the sixties including "The Age of Great Dreams" and "Chicago '68." A professor of history at the University of New Mexico, he has been described by Alan Brinkley as the leading scholar in the field.Beth Bailey is the author of three books, including "Sex in the Heartland" -- described by Carolyn See in the "Washington Post" as "a treasury of useful information" -- and "From Front Porch to Back Seat: Courtship in Twentieth-Century America." She is an associate professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Columbia Guide to America in The 1960s; The Columbia guides to American history and cultures
• Author: David Rosenthal Farber
• Contributor: Beth L. Bailey
• Edition: illustrated, reprint, annotated
• Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2001
• ISBN: 0231113730, 9780231113731
• Length: 508 pages
• Subjects: History / North America; History / Reference; History / United States / 20th Century; History / United States / General; Reference / General