Discuss the reasons for, and the impact of, youth protests in the 1960s and 1970s in one country of the Americas.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for and the impact of youth protests in the 1960s and 1970s in one country of the Americas. Reasons for protests may predate the timeframe and consequences may go beyond the timeframe, but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the US and the anti-war movement, but accept any country where youth protests occurred. The youth protests in the US focused on the Vietnam War and the draft. Candidates may argue that the youth protests led to Johnson declining to run for re-election, caused both parties to campaign on ending the war, and eventually ending the draft. The youth protests also bolstered the presidential campaigns of Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy. Youth protests in the US also supported the African American Civil Rights movement as well as the feminist movement. Students in Mexico protested against their government and in favour of land reform. Youth protests also occurred in Argentina, Brazil and Chile with varying causes and results. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for and the impact of youth protests in the 1960s and 1970s in one country of the Americas. This was, perhaps, the most popular question of the session and many of the responses contained a good breadth of knowledge. However, there was a tendency to not fully develop the impact of the protests and to apply examples that had a very marginal relationship to youth protest . The strongest essays developed the counter-culture movements, the anti-war movements and the civil rights movement. Environmental issues and gender equality issues often lacked adequate evidence as to how they reflected youth protest.