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The 1960s as a Period of Change in California

This study will examine the 1960s as a period which can be seen as pivotal in terms of the change it precipitated in the state of California. The decade and its impact on the state will be examined in a historical context, as part of the evolution of the state from the 1930s to the 1990s. On first glance, it might appear that the decade was an anomaly, a "freak" decade, with little relationship to what came before or after. In fact, the 1960s, like the Depression years of the 1930s, or the World War II years of the 1940s, were just as integral to the state's evolution, change and growth as the more "traditional" decade of the 1950s. If we look at this decade in its historical context, then, we see more clearly the events leading up to it (including those very same 1950s), and the events leading logically away from it into the future.

Like the rest of the country, California in the 1930s was a Depression-stricken state. Economic and physical survival was the number one concern of Californians: "With the spread of mass unemployment in both city nd country, the number of Californians dependent upon public relief in 1934 was more than 1,250,000---about one-fifth of the whole population of the state." The same sense of despair and bewilderment reigned in politics as well: "Through the whole decade . . . politics and government in California remained confused, demoralized and ineffectual" (Rawls and Bean 308).

The 1940s were dominated by the concerns of World War II and its aftermath. In stark contrast to the previous decade, the 1940s were focused on not survival but victory over foreign enemies. Defense-related industries bloomed in California, bringing the economy back to life: "In 1933, all of the airframe factories in Southern California together employed only about 1000 people. In November 1943 they employed 280,300" (Rawls and Bean 338).

With the economy back to life, California, like the entire nation after the war, sett...

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The 1960s as a Period of Change in California. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:48, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1682017.html