"The 1960s of the 20th century"

- CONTENT -
THE 1960S OF THE 20TH CENTURY (IN SHORT: THE 1960S OR THE SACKS) WERE THE SEVENTH DECADE OF THE 20TH CENTURY, BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1960 AND ENDED ON DECEMBER 31, 1969.

IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, THE ESCALATION WAS MARKED BY THE COLD WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION, WHICH ALMOST REACHED A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST IN 1962. THE WAR FOUND ITS EXPRESSION ON THE MILITARY PLANE (THE VIETNAM WAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SIX-DAY WAR) AND ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL LEVEL (THE RACE FOR SPACE, WHICH BEGAN IN THE FIRST HUMAN HABIT OF SPACE AND CULMINATED IN THE APOLLO 11 JOURNEY THAT LAID THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON). THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BERLIN WALL AND THE SOVIET INVASION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA DREW THE ONGOING RIFT BETWEEN THE TWO SUPERPOWERS. AS PART OF THE U.S. DEAL WITH THE COLD WAR THREATS, U.S. RESIDENTS IN JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY AS THE 35TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, IN 1963 OF THE SAME DECADE KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

THE PERIOD IS MARKED BY THE COLLAPSE OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF MANY COLONIES AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN AFRICA, WHERE THE WAVE OF NATIONALISM IS PERCEIVED AS UNSTOPPABLE. THE CLAIMS FOR RIGHTS HAVE ALSO GIVEN THEIR SIGNALS IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD, ESPECIALLY THE PROTESTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES LED BY MARTIN LUTHER KING. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SECOND WAVE OF FEMINISM, LIBERAL FEMINISM, BEGAN WITH THE PUBLICATION OF BETTY FRIEDAN'S BOOK THE FEMALE MYSTERIES IN 1963.

THIS DECADE IS PART OF THE PEAK POINT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN HISTORY – A RECORD THAT WAS NOT BROKEN IN THE EARLY 21ST CENTURY.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT MORE THAN ALL, THE DECADE WILL BE REMEMBERED BECAUSE OF THE CULTURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEVELOPED IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE (CHILDREN OF FLOWERS) AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE MASS MEDIA SYSTEM. THIS CULTURE, PACIFIST AND ANTI-CAPITALIST, REJECTED THE VALUES OF THE PARENTS GENERATION AND WENT AGAINST LONG-STANDING SEXUAL AND SOCIAL PROHIBITIONS, EXPLOITING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MARIJUANA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PILL TO PREVENT PREGNANCY. THE BEATLES AND POP ARTIST ANDY WARHOL WERE SEEN AS PIONEERS OF THIS CULTURE. IN LONDON, THE PERIOD IS KNOWN AS THE “LONDON CIRCLE”, WHICH EXCELS IN THE FLOWERING OF CULTURE, FASHION, MUSIC AND A YOUNG AND LIBERATED WORK.

DURING THE 1960S, THE WORLD’S POPULATION GREW FROM 3.0 TO 3.7 BILLION PEOPLE. THERE WERE 1,15 BILLION BIRTHS AND ABOUT 500 MILLION DEATHS WORLDWIDE.

THE GENERATION BORN IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 1960S (ALONG WITH THE BORN OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1950S IS CALLED BABY BOOM. THE GENERATION BORN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1960S (WITH THE FIRST HALF-YEAR-OLDS) IS CALLED THE X-GENERATION.

IN ISRAEL, THE 1960S ARE MAINLY IDENTIFIED WITH EICHMANN’S TRIAL, THE SIX-DAY WAR, AND THE WAR OF DECEPTION.

WORLD EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL WARS

1975-1959: THE COLD WAR: THE VIETNAM WAR, A WAR WAGED BETWEEN NORTH VIETNAM AND THE VIETGONG (WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOVIET UNION AND CHINA) AND SOUTH VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES.
1961: THE INVASION OF THE OUTBREAK OF THE PIGS - A FAILED MILITARY OPERATION THAT THE U.S. WAS INITIATED TO COLLAPSE FIDEL CASTRO'S REGIME IN CUBA.
1965–1961): INDONESIA’S BELLIGERENT MOVES – IN THE 1960S, INDONESIA PERFORMS SEVERAL BELLIGERENT MOVES. IN 1961, INDONESIA WAS DIVIDED INTO THE WESTERN PART OF NEW GUINEA, WHICH WAS UNTIL THEN CONTROLLED BY THE NETHERLANDS. IN 1965, INDONESIA CANCELS ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS, AND OPENLY OPERATES MILITARY UNITS THAT CROSS THE MALAYSIAN BORDER AND CONFRONT LOCAL DEFENDERS. THE BREAKTHROUGH OF A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL WAR IS ONLY HALTED FOLLOWING THE OUTBREAK OF THE CIVIL WAR IN INDONESIA.
1962: THE WAR OF INDIA-CHINA, THE BORDER CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND INDIA, WHICH DEVELOPS INTO A 6-WEEK WAR.
1962: COLD WAR: CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS – A 13-DAY CONFLICT (OCTOBER 16–28)