Final answer:
Television significantly influenced the civil rights and antiwar movements by broadcasting live events and shaping public opinion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medium that took on a new historical role by fueling the civil rights and antiwar movements was television. With its ability to broadcast live images and events directly into people's homes, television became a powerful tool that brought national attention to these movements.
It provided a platform for activists to spread their message and for the public to see first-hand the events and issues that were being protested, thus playing a critical role in shaping public opinion and the political landscape during that era.
Television played a transformative role in the 20th century by becoming a powerful catalyst for social change during the civil rights and antiwar movements. With its visual impact, television brought the harsh realities of racial injustice and the Vietnam War into living rooms across America.
Iconic images and footage, such as the brutalities faced by civil rights activists or the horrors of war, mobilized public sentiment, fostering empathy and activism.
Television thus became a dynamic tool for shaping public opinion, galvanizing support for social justice causes, and influencing political discourse, marking a paradigm shift in how mass media could drive societal change.