Introduction
The United States of America emerged from the Second World War having significantly increased its political and economic influence in the world. By supplying the allies with weapons, ammunition, food, and other resources, the United States supported its industry and agriculture and at the same time became a creditor to many states. Since then, a new period in the history of the U.S. began. At the end of 1945, President Truman declared that the burden of responsibility “for the further leadership of the world” fell on the American people. Strengthening political, economic, and military leadership in the world has become the leading idea of ​​U.S. policy in the second half of the 20th and early 21st centuries. This was facilitated, on the one hand, by the key position of the United States in the UN, and, on the other hand, by active participation in the creation of NATO. In general, the events that transpired in the last 60 years of U.S. history impacted significantly society, shaping it into what it has become today.
Discussion
One of the defining features of the political development of the U.S. in the last 60 years is that it combines adherence to political traditions and a flexible response to changes taking place in the world. The history of the second half of the 20th – early 21st centuries showed how conservatism can still be overcome by the highest authorities or as a result of mass actions by Americans. Much has been done to strengthen the economic and military power of the country, maintain internal stability, and raise the living standards of the population. Still, it was obvious that many citizens had and still have problems that prompted them to protest against the status quo and to fight for their rights. For example, in the second half of the ’60s, the movement to end the war in Vietnam gained significant momentum, the main participant of which was student youth.
The protest against the war was expressed in the refusal of conscripts to join the army, the public destruction of draft cards, and demonstrations. At the call of the Committee for a Moratorium in Vietnam, in the fall of 1969, people demonstrated in Washington demanding an early withdrawal of troops from Vietnam (Miller, para. 1). In the spring of 1970, a third of universities and colleges protested against the invasion of American troops in Cambodia (Miller, para. 1). On the campus of the university in the city of Kent, the national guardsmen opened fire on students. In the course of anti-war speeches, dissatisfaction with the government’s domestic policy was expressed, and youth groups appeared that called themselves the “new left” (Miller, para. 5). The movement also actively advocated for LGBT rights, feminism, environmentalism, and civil rights, as it continues to do even today.
On the threshold of the XXI century, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, were a serious test for the United States. Suicide bombers using hijacked planes attacked buildings in New York and Washington, killing more than 3,000 people. One of the main consequences in the context of the domestic political situation in the country was the adoption of the Patriot Act (American Civil Liberties Union, para. 1). This document expanded the powers of American intelligence agencies in the field of wiretapping, reading emails, tracking banking transactions and people’s activity on the Internet (American Civil Liberties Union, para. 5). From now on, they could use these tools without a corresponding court order. The FBI also gained the right to track the religious and political preferences of citizens, studying, in particular, their library forms.
Conclusion
The last 60 years of U.S. history became a decisive experience for American society. From the rise of civil rights movements and wars in foreign countries to one of the most devastating terrorist attacks, these events have shaped the newest history and brought imperative changes. Their consequences still impact the life of the country today in many ways, from politics and laws to social order.
Works Cited
American Civil Liberties Union. “Surveillance under the USA/Patriot Act.” American Civil Liberties Union, 2020, Web.
Miller, Amanda. “Vietnam-Era Antiwar Protests – Timeline and Maps 1963-1975.” Vietnam-Era Antiwar Protests – Mapping American Social Movements, 2022, Web.