How did the 1960s define “freedom”?

Short Essay 3: The 1960s and Freedom

In 1964, Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater gave a speech at the Republican National Convention in which he claimed that "extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."  The 1960s was a decade of extremism in the minds of many. While reading the selections below think of the following questions: How would King, NOW, Chavez, Hamer, or the protestors at Alcatraz react to Goldwater’s claims? Could they use his arguments to advocate for their causes?

Please read American Yawp, Ch. 27 and 28 and the following selections from The American Yawp Reader, Ch. 27 and 28, plus Martin Luther King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail.”

Using Documents A-F (ALL of Documents) and your knowledge of the period answer the following question: Cite using Letter of Document and short title (A Goldwater).

How did the 1960s define “freedom”?

1. Document A: Barry Goldwater on 'Extremism in the Defense of Liberty” (1964)

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/27-the-sixties/barry-goldwater-republican-nomination-acceptance-speech-1964/

2. Document B: Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (1963)

https://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Letter_Birmingham_Jail.pdf

3. Document C: Fannie Lou Hamer, “Testimony at the Democratic National Convention” (1964)

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/27-the-sixties/fannie-lou-hamer-testimony-at-the-democratic-national-convention-1964/

4. Document D: The National Organization for Women, “Statement of Purpose” (1966)

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/27-the-sixties/national-organization-for-women-statement-of-purpose-1966/

5. Document E: Native Americans Occupy Alcatraz (1969)

http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/28-the-unraveling/native-americans-occupy-alcatraz-1969/

6. Document F: Cesar Chavez’ “Letter from Delano” (1969)

http://users.ettc.net/tah/Year_3_Documents/Primary%20Documents_2010/Cesar%20Chavez,%20Letter%20from%20Delano,%201969.pdf