Social Movements of the

1960s and 1970s

“Groovy Lesson, Dude!”
1960s and 1970s Slang

“That’s far out, dude!”

1960s and 1970s Slang

“Let’s cut out, this place sucks.”

1960s and 1970s Slang

“Hang Loose!”
1960s and 1970s Slang

“That new album is off the hook!”

1960s and 1970s Slang

“I’m ready to let off some steam and boogie

down!”
1960s and 1970s Slang

“Stick it to The Man!”

Who is ‘The Man’?
Social Movements in Canada
❏ Much like today, the social movements of the 1960s and ‘70s are reflective of the
North American/Western social, political, and economic landscape.

Can you name any social movements from the 1960s and ‘70s?
Can you name any present-day social movements that might have roots in this era?
Second Wave Feminism
❏ Launched by author Betty Friedan with the publication of The Feminine Mystique
(1963)

❏ ‘The problem that has no name’, why were women who

had ‘everything’ so unhappy?
Second Wave Feminism
❏ Staged public protests which was
seen across the country in
newscasts - one of the first
widely accessible movements
Second Wave Feminism
❏ Establishment of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women
❏ Growing recognition of gendered violence

Thinking Questions:
1. What is ‘gendered violence’?
2. Why do you think it was not recognized until this point?
3. How can you combat gendered violence today?
The Civil Rights Movement
Jim Crow Laws
❏ Although slavery was abolished
after the American Civil War, Jim
Crow laws ensured that there
continued to be systemic
inequalities
❏ Segregation of schools, theatres,
restaurants, parks, waiting rooms,
and cemeteries
❏ Forbade African Americans from
living in white neighbourhoods
❏ These laws were phased out
beginning with the 1954 ruling that
segregated education was
unconstitutional (Brown v. Board of
Education)
Little Rock Nine
❏ Nine Black students attempted to
attend the Central High School in
Kansas, which was formerly
segregated
March on Washington
❏ A peaceful march with the goal of
forcing civil rights legislation and
establishing job equality for all
❏ This is where MLK’s “I have a
dream…” speech was first given
Bloody Sunday
❏ Civil Rights protesters were
marching from Selma, Alabama to
Montgomery to protest police
violence and the killing of Jimmie
Lee Jackson
❏ Protesters were viciously beaten
and tear gassed by police
Thinking Questions:

1. How do you think the Jim Crow Laws continue to impact

Black People today?

2. How does the civil rights movement of the 1960s parallel

the BLM of today?
Environmentalism
❏ Began with the publication of
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
❏ Became an issue for all people, not
just those in naturalist groups
❏ Pollution
❏ Greenpeace established in
Vancouver in 1971
❏ Centred on preserving wilderness
and protecting unique areas or
ecosystems as ecological reserves
LGBTQ+ Movement
Pierre Trudeau and the
Omnibus bill
● Decriminalized homosexuality
● “There’s no place for the state in th
e bedrooms of the nation. What’s d
one in private between adults does
n’t concern the Criminal Code”
Thinking Questions
Environmentalism:
1. In which ways is environmentalism still an important social issue today?
2. Why do you think that environmental changes became more noticeable during this time?

LGBTQ+ Movement:
3. What did Trudeau mean by saying that the “government has no place in the bedrooms of
the nation”?
4. Why do you think homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969 but same-sex marriage
was not legalized until 2005?
Canadian Hippies
❏ Came to age in one of
the most prosperous
times in Canadian
history
❏ Popularized holistic
health, wellness,
mindfulness, and social
justice
Vietnam Protests
❏ The first Vietnam War protest in
Canada took place in Montreal (1966)
❏ American ‘Draft Dodgers’ began to
move to Canada in large numbers
❏ What are some reasons that someone might
have supported the Vietnam War? Some
reasons that they might have opposed it?
Anti-Vietnam War Movement rises in C
anada and U.S.
Assignment: Analysis of a Protest Song
1. Choose one of the following songs:
Song Title Link to the Lyrics Link to the Song on Youtube

1. Universal Soldier (1964) - Buffy Sainte- https://genius.com/6363428 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zNUnw

Marie USZmQ

2. I Pity the Country (1978) - Willie Dunn https://genius.com/Willie-dunn-i-pity-the-country-ly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UziyzXf2

rics QP4

3. Big Yellow Taxi (1970) - Joni Mitchell https://genius.com/Joni-mitchell-big-yellow-taxi-lyri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr__rRG

cs WVgI

4. Black Day in July (1968) - Gordon https://genius.com/Gordon-lightfoot-black-day-in-ju https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCQmx_

Lightfoot ly-lyrics wJH6o

5. It’s Going Down Slow (1971) - Bruce https://genius.com/Bruce-cockburn-its-going-down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KCkNa

Cockburn -slow-lyrics KxNhI

6. The Enemy (1980) - D.O.A https://genius.com/Doa-the-enemy-lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKBwI7M

-Aho
Example Analysis:
Listen to the song you chose and read the lyrics provided. Then answer the following questions
in complete sentences.
1. What song did you choose to analyze?

I chose to analyze The Green Fields of France.

2. Who sings this song?

John McDermott sings this song.

 Example Analysis (con’t):
3. What issue is being addressed in this song? Provide at least three examples from the song in
your explanation. (D1/E1)

The issue being addressed in this song is war, specifically, the First World War. John McDermott is
specifically singing about the senseless deaths that occurred during this time.

Ex. 1: “I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen

When you joined the great fallen in nineteen sixteen”

Ex. 2: “The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand

To man’s blind indifference to his fellow man
To a whole generation that were butchered and damned”

Ex. 3: “Do those that lie here know why did they die
And did they believe when they answered the call
Did they really believe that this war would end war”
Example Analysis (con’t):
1. Do you think this song reflects today’s general societal values regarding this issue? Why or why not? (E2/E3)
This answer is up to your judgement.

2. Protest songs have been around as long as humans have had conflict. Why do you think songs are often used
for protest? (D2/E2)
This answer is up to your judgement.

3. What are some current political events or social situations that might inspire a protest song? In today’s songs,
what type of music are protest songs often heard (E3)
This answer is up to your judgement.
Do you understand these instructions and how to get started?
What questions do you still have about this assignment?