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Berkeley at War: The 1960s

Name: Berkeley at War: The 1960s
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4.8 of 5 Stars: Reference - Berkeley at War: The 1960s

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Book Synopsis: Berkeley, California, was the bellwether of the political, social, and cultural upheaval that made the 1960s a unique period of American history—a time when the top-down methods of a conservative establishment collided head-on with the bottom-up, grass-roots ethos of the civil rights movement and an increasingly well-educated and individualistic middle class. W.J. Rorabaugh, who attended the graduate school of the University of California at Berkeley in the early 1970s, presents a lively and informative account of the events that overtook and changed forever what had once been a quiet, conservative white suburb. The rise of the Free Speech Movement, which gave a voice to disfranchised students; the growth and increasing militance of a black community struggling to end segregation; the emergence of radicalism and the anti-war movement; the blossoming of "hippie" culture, with its scorn for materialism and enthusiasm for experimentation with everything from sex and drugs to Eastern philosophies; the beginnings of modern-day feminism and environmentalism—and how all of these coalesced in the explosive conflict over People's Park—are traced in a meticulously researched and authoritative narrative. At issue was the question of power, and the struggle between the establishment and the powerless led to developments that the advocates of a freer society could scarcely have foreseen: Ronald Reagan, elected governor of California in reaction to the events at Berkeley, and Edwin H. Meese III, who battled against the student movement and People's Park, rose to national power in the 1980s (without, however, gaining any popularity in Berkeley, where Walter Mondale won 83 percent of the vote in 1984). An invaluable account of its time and place, this book anchors the ’60s in American history, both before and since that colorful decade.

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Experience the tumultuous era of the 1960s with Berkeley at War: The 1960s Book. Step back in time and witness the political, social, and cultural revolution that shook America to its core. Berkeley, California, served as the epicenter of this transformative period, where conservative traditions clashed with the progressive ideals of the civil rights movement and a rising middle class.

Authored by W.J. Rorabaugh, who himself immersed in the Berkeley experience, this gripping book delves into the events that forever changed the landscape of this once quiet, conservative suburb. Allow yourself to be transported back to the rise of the Free Speech Movement, a turning point that empowered students and gave voice to the disenfranchised. Delve into the struggles of the black community, fighting for an end to segregation, and witness the birth of radicalism and the powerful anti-war movement.

Immerse yourself in the counterculture of the "hippie" era: a time of rebellion against materialism, where experimentation with sex, drugs, and Eastern philosophies flourished. Berkeley at War also uncovers the beginnings of modern feminism and environmentalism, tracing how these movements converged in the explosive conflict surrounding People's Park.

This meticulously researched and authoritative narrative sheds light on the question of power and the clash between an established conservative order and the demand for a freer society. It offers unique insights into the unexpected consequences of this fierce struggle, including the rise to national power of figures such as Ronald Reagan and Edwin H. Meese III, who made their political mark by challenging the very movements that shaped Berkeley.

Don't miss out on this invaluable account of a transformative decade in American history. Whether you want to relive this colorful era or gain a deeper understanding of its lasting influence, Berkeley at War: The 1960s Book is a must-read. Rediscover the spirit of a generation, the battles fought for change, and the lasting impact that still resonates today. Click here to grab your copy now!

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