Eve of Destruction: Was 1965 the Most Crucial Year? Anonymous College

In The Eve of Destruction, James Patterson clearly expresses his opinion on the year 1965--that it was a pivotal, crucial year for America, as well as the turning point for the sixties. While I agree that it was important in the Civil Rights Movement, Women's Movement, and sexual revolution, I believe his statement of 1965 being the year that changed everything is romanticizes and far-fetched.

The Civil Rights Movement was already in full swing before 1965, and had been for several years (at least one, officially, as shown by the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Truman's executive order to integrate the military, for example, was a big step, and one I believe was incredibly important. The outcome of someone serving in the military to protect and serve their country is the same, whether they are black, white, or any other color. Segregation, especially in the South, was socially accepted and a normal part of life. The decision of Brown v. Board of Education to integrate schools was, in my opinion, imperative. The color of skin does not determine intelligence, or any other factor pertaining to education. This overturned Plessy v. Ferguson's ruling of 'seperate but equal', and rightfully so. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, banning...