Who/what: The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was an activist movement in the United States led largely by college students. It became one of the largest and longest student led movements and was recognized as the New Left, gaining significant recognition and support for its anti-war policies.
Where: This movement took place on campuses around the United States, with is first anti-war protest at the University of Michigan. Its largest and most influential protests took place in Washington D.C. on a number of different occasions, attracting up to 25,000 protestors.
When: This SDS began to function in the anti-war movement in 1965, the same year that President LBJ ordered significant strikes on Vietnam (bombings in the North, and troops on the ground in the South). The SDS remained strong until its split in 1968.
Why: The SDS had originated in 1960, and was largely involved with issues concerning the Cold War and Civil Rights. It wasn't until 1965 that the group began to form strong ant-war policies and went from protests and forms to active methods of resistance. The transition from protests to an organized resistance is not only apparent through the change in policy. The increase in organization, leadership and recruitment style all are clear indicators of the development of a collective personality that demanded change.
The development of the SDS with the passing and emergence of political and social issues is a perfect example of the evolution of a movement over time. Although the adaptability a reformation can be given much credit for the length of the SDS's involvement in movements, the massive splitting off of different factions was also ultimately responsible for the death of the SDS.
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