Summary

The 1960s was a decade of rejecting the old and embracing the new. A decade of upheaval, the 1960s witnessed the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Civil Rights movement, the escalation of the Vietnam War, the Beatles' performance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and the successful landing of three astronauts on the Moon. The spirit of change was also seen in the areas of art, music, fashion, movies, television, and literature.

America in the 1960s provides a colorful look at this decade of nonconformity. Interesting quotations and facts are called out in the margins, drawing in young readers, and more than 100 photographs depict the people and events of these years. Perfect for upper elementary and junior high school students, this volume offers a lively account of the 1960s.

Coverage includes:

• The presidencies of Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon
• The U.S. arrival of the Beatles
• The 1964 Civil Rights Act and the March on Washington
• Hippies, folk music, the Summer of Love, and Woodstock
• Cesar Chavez's struggle for farmworkers' rights
• The landing of the first astronauts on the Moon
• The proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Glossary. Further reading. Box features. Index.

About the Author(s)

Jim Callan is a freelance writer and editor. After receiving a B.A. in communications from Fordham University and an M.A. in film from New York University, he had a long editorial career, including a position as a project editor for McGraw-Hill. His recent publications include The New York Public Library Amazing Scientists: A Book of Answers for Kids, which won a Parent's Choice Award in 2002.