Protests East and West: Crash Course European History #45 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Europe experienced significant social and technological improvements during the "thirty glorious years," but activists and protesters also highlighted ongoing injustice and inequality.

Key Insights

• 😀 Europe experienced significant improvements in quality of life during the "thirty glorious years" but also faced ongoing injustice and inequality.
• 🫱 Protests and activism were fueled by concerns over nuclear testing, decolonization, civil wars, poverty, and technology's role in spreading news of global issues.
• 🧡 Student movements varied in their goals and strategies, ranging from advocating for reform to calling for revolution and systemic change.
• 👩‍🚒 Women played a significant role in activism, fighting against both sexism within society and within activist movements.
• 🥺 The impact of these protests varied, with some leading to real change such as increased women's representation in universities and the passage of equal pay legislation in Britain.
• 🥅 Different strategies employed by activists, such as peaceful protest or direct confrontation, may be effective depending on the context and goals.
• 🤨 Structural injustices were not completely eradicated by these movements, but they did raise awareness and inspire ongoing efforts for change.

Transcript

Watch our videos and review your learning with the crash course app supplemental content is now available for these courses Hi, I'm John Green. And this is crash course European history. So up until the early 1970s Europe experienced what some called the "thirty glorious years" when on average life improved dramatically. People in Europe benefited ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the main factors that led to protests and activism in Europe during the "thirty glorious years"?

Protests were fueled by concerns over nuclear testing, decolonization, civil wars, poverty, and technology's role in spreading news and activism internationally.

Q: What were some significant examples of student activism in Europe during this period?

Examples include student protests against the Vietnam War and apartheid, as well as demands for more democracy, greater coverage of social issues in universities, and an end to traditional European curriculum.

Q: How did the French government respond to the student protests in 1968?

The French government cracked down on the protests, but some demands were met, including higher wages for workers and enhanced worker participation in factory governance.

Q: How did women contribute to activism and protest movements in Europe during this time?

Women faced both sexism within existing structures and within activist movements. They formed their own feminist activist groups and fought for issues such as housework, unequal pay, and inequalities in marriage and abortion laws.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Europe's "thirty glorious years" saw both significant improvements in quality of life and protests against injustice and inequality.

• Students, workers, and activists were critical of the changes brought about by the post-industrial society.

• Activism was fueled by concerns over nuclear testing, decolonization, civil wars, poverty, and technology's role in internationalizing news.