The 1960s were a time of great change in many countries around the world.
The Cold War, which began after the end of World War Two in 1945, was a rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States of America and their allies. Australia was – and remains – a close ally of the United States. This rivalry created a great deal of tension and fears about a nuclear war between the two factions and lasted for many decades. This relationship between the US and Australia would result in Australia becoming involved in the long and brutal war in Vietnam.
Society was changing quickly, with many young people questioning the traditional roles and pathways that were on offer to them.
There was also a strong push for the government to acknowledge the rights of Indigenous Australians as well as the beginning of the end for the White Australia Policy that had limited who could migrate to Australia.
ACTIVITY: The ‘My Place’ Website – 😀 Level 1
The MyPlace website is based on the wonderful picture book ‘My Place’ by Nadia Wheatley that many of you would have read during the earlier years of your schooling.
Explore the MyPlace website 1960’s page. Make sure you have a look at all the tabs – ‘Decade summary’, ‘History and politics’, ‘Society and culture’, and ‘Science and ‘technology’. Each one gives a useful overview of the key events and developments that took place in relation to that aspect. Remember, this was a time of great change, both in Australia and across much of the world. A generation of young people were coming of age after a terrible global war, countries such as Australia were growing rapidly, and many old ideas were being challenged.
My place for teachers: 1960s. (n.d) http://myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1960/decade_landing_4.html?tabRank=1
Take some notes
Make notes about some of the key issues, events, and changes in society happening in Australia in that decade using the Cornell method.
In the Library collection: ‘I Can Remember: The 1960s’ – 😊 Level 2
Hewitt, S. (2003). I can remember: the 1960s. Watts.
This book is a handy resource for gaining a little more detail about the social changes that were happening in the 1960’s. Although the six people who share their memories are all from the UK, many of the events they remember had global impacts.
There are some very useful discussions of the changing expectations young women had about their status in society and the push for equality in the workplace. Use the index to find the various pages that explore this issue through the memories of the different people interviewed.
Using the Cornell method, make notes on of some of the global events that happened in this decade, this will help you to make sense of some of the events discussed in ‘Jasper Jones’. In particular, see what you can find out about:
- The Civil Rights Movement in America
- The ‘Space Race’ and moon landing
- Hippies
- Popular music
- Feminism and equal opportunity
In the Library collection: ‘The 1960s : reshaping Australian society in a changing world’– 🤓 Level 3
Thomas, J. (2012). The 1960s : reshaping Australian society in a changing world. Trocadero.
Take a look at this title when you come into the library. This book is absolutely full of information about the social and technological changes that took place throughout the 1960s. There are sections on key events, conscription and war, changes in society, entertainment, and the rapid modernisation of the nation.
These clear sections will really help you to build up some detailed notes and enhance your understanding of the 1960s. If you choose to use this resource, make sure you use the index so you can identify all the entries related to the topics on which you are making notes.
Collaborate
Using your notes to find information, add 2 or 3 key events to your group Jamboard:
- Group 1
- Group 2
- Group 3
- Group 4
- Group 5
Just for fun…
The original ‘My Place’ is not one of the resources you need to look at in this research guide, but if you are interested in taking a look, you can find it in our library
Rawlins, D. & Wheatley, N. (2008). My Place. Walker Books.