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1968 Revolutions Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

The 1968 Revolutions notes

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Intro

Overview
The year 1968 witnessed a wave of protests, uprisings, and movements across the globe. These revolu­tions were driven by diverse grievances but shared common themes of opposition to authority, demand for rights, and a desire for social change.
 
The movements were largely led by students, workers, and margin­alized groups, and they challenged political, social, and cultural norms.
Global Context
The 1960s were a period of rapid social change, marked by the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, the decolo­niz­ation of Africa and Asia, and the growing opposition to the Vietnam War.
 
The Cold War, with its ideolo­gical battle between capitalism and communism, also influenced the revolu­tions, as did the broader cultural shifts of the decade, including the rise of counte­rcu­lture and the questi­oning of tradit­ional values.

Causes and Motiva­tions

Political and Economic Discontent
Author­ita­ria­nism: In many countries, the revolu­tions were a reaction against author­itarian regimes or govern­ments perceived as corrupt, repres­sive, or unresp­onsive to the needs of the people.
 
Economic Inequa­lity: Economic grieva­nces, including rising unempl­oyment, inflation, and inequa­lity, fueled dissat­isf­action, partic­ularly among young people and workers.
 
Opposition to the Vietnam War: In the United States and Western Europe, the anti-war movement played a crucial role in galvan­izing protests, with the Vietnam War seen as an unjust conflict.
Social and Cultural Factors
Youth and Student Movements: A signif­icant demogr­aphic shift, with a large youth popula­tion, led to an energized student movement. Students demanded more rights, freedom of expres­sion, and changes in the educat­ional system.
 
Cultural Revolution and Counte­rcu­lture: The 1960s counte­rcu­lture, charac­terized by a rejection of tradit­ional norms, the rise of new forms of music and art, and a push for sexual libera­tion, influenced the revolu­tionary fervor.
 
Civil Rights and Liberation Movements: Movements for civil rights, women's rights, and liberation of oppressed groups (such as the Black Power movement and feminist movements) were integral to the broader revolu­tionary wave.
 

Key Events and Movements in 1968

The United States
Civil Rights Movement: The struggle for civil rights intens­ified in 1968, with the assass­ination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4 leading to widespread riots and protests across the country.
 
Anti-V­ietnam War Protests: Protests against the Vietnam War escalated, partic­ularly after the Tet Offensive in January 1968. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August saw violent clashes between protesters and police.
 
Columbia University Protests: In April 1968, students at Columbia University in New York City occupied campus buildings, protesting the univer­sity's ties to military research and its plans to build a gym in a Harlem park. The protests ended with police forcibly removing the students.
France – May 1968
Student Protests: The French May began with student protests against outdated university condit­ions, restri­ctions on freedom of expres­sion, and the author­ita­rianism of the French government under President Charles de Gaulle.
 
Workers' Strikes: The student protests quickly escalated into a general strike involving over 10 million workers, paralyzing the country. Workers demanded better wages, working condit­ions, and greater partic­ipation in decisi­on-­making.
 
Government Response and Outcome: The French government eventually negotiated with the unions, offering conces­sions on wages and working condit­ions. However, the movement led to a temporary political crisis and a questi­oning of de Gaulle's leader­ship, though he survived a referendum later that year.
Czecho­slo­vakia – Prague Spring
Reform Movement: The Prague Spring was a period of political libera­liz­ation in Czecho­slo­vakia under the leadership of Alexander Dubček, who sought to create "­soc­ialism with a human face." Reforms included freedom of the press, speech, and movement, as well as economic and political decent­ral­iza­tion.
 
Soviet Invasion: The Warsaw Pact, led by the Soviet Union, invaded Czecho­slo­vakia in August 1968 to crush the reform movement, fearing it would spread to other Eastern Bloc countries. The invasion ended the Prague Spring and reasserted Soviet control, but it also inspired future movements for freedom and reform in Eastern Europe.
Mexico – Tlatelolco Massacre
Student Protests: In Mexico, students began protesting against government repres­sion, demanding political freedoms, and critic­izing the author­itarian rule of the Instit­utional Revolu­tionary Party (PRI).
 
Government Crackdown: The protests culminated in the Tlatelolco Massacre on October 2, 1968, when Mexican security forces opened fire on a peaceful student demons­tration in Mexico City, killing hundreds. The massacre occurred just days before the start of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, drawing intern­ational condem­nation and marking a signif­icant moment in Mexican history.
Germany – West Germany’s 1968 Movement
Student Protests: In West Germany, the student movement was driven by opposition to the Vietnam War, the lingering influence of former Nazis in positions of power, and calls for educat­ional reform and greater political freedoms.
 
Rudi Dutschke and the SDS: Rudi Dutschke, a prominent student leader, became a symbol of the German student movement, which was spearh­eaded by the Socialist German Student Union (SDS).
 
Impact on Society: The movement led to signif­icant cultural and political shifts in West Germany, contri­buting to the rise of new social movements and the questi­oning of the country’s post-war order.
Italy – The Hot Autumn
Worker and Student Protests: In Italy, the "Hot Autumn­" of 1969 (closely connected to the events of 1968) saw widespread strikes and factory occupa­tions by workers demanding better wages and working condit­ions, alongside student protests for educat­ional reform.
 
Social Movements: The Italian protests were charac­terized by a collab­oration between students and workers, challe­nging both the government and tradit­ional trade unions.
 
Long-Term Effects: The movements of 1968-1969 in Italy laid the groundwork for the rise of left-wing terrorism in the 1970s and signif­icant social and political changes in the country.
 

Outcomes and Legacy

Short-Term Outcomes
Repression and Reform: In many cases, govern­ments responded to the revolu­tions with repres­sion, as seen in Mexico, Czecho­slo­vakia, and parts of Western Europe. However, some movements led to reforms, partic­ularly in areas such as education, labor rights, and civil liberties.
Long-Term Impact
Cultural and Social Change: The 1968 revolu­tions had a profound impact on culture, contri­buting to the rise of new social norms, the empowe­rment of margin­alized groups, and the spread of feminist, enviro­nme­ntal, and other progre­ssive movements.
 
Political Impact: The revolu­tions influenced future political develo­pments, including the rise of New Left movements, the questi­oning of tradit­ional authority, and changes in governance in many countries.
 
Global Influence: The events of 1968 inspired future genera­tions of activists and remain a symbol of the struggle for justice, equality, and human rights. The year is often remembered as a turning point in the 20th century, signaling the end of post-war consensus and the beginning of a more plural­istic and contested political landscape.

Conclusion

Assess­ment: The 1968 revolu­tions were a global phenom­enon, marked by a shared desire for change but manife­sting in different ways depending on the local context. While not all the movements achieved their immediate goals, they left a lasting legacy of questi­oning authority and striving for a more just society.
Reflec­tion: The year 1968 continues to be a touchstone for unders­tanding social movements, the power of youth activism, and the dynamics of political change.