Final answer:
The sixties were a mix of hedonism and increased social responsibility, marked by the contradiction in President Lyndon B. Johnson's liberal domestic policies and his commitment to the Vietnam War. This period saw the rise of both the New Left and a strengthening conservatism, as Americans grappled with their nation's role domestically and internationally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sixties were a remarkable decade characterized by a blend of hedonism and a surge of heightened social responsibility. It was a time when the collective American conscience grappled with profound changes and contradictions. While the Kennedy assassination and Johnson’s policies foreshadowed a new era of idealism and reform, the Vietnam War played a crucial role in undermining these aspirations, contributing to a deep ideological divide.
President Lyndon B. Johnson pursued expansive domestic policies under his Great Society program, ambitiously aiming to eradicate poverty and improve civil rights. However, his commitment to the conflict in Vietnam seemed at odds with these liberal initiatives, reflecting the complexities of Cold War politics and the fear of Communist expansionism. This contradiction troubled his legacy and reshaped public opinion on both the left and the right, culminating in political radicalization by the end of the decade.
The era's end saw the rise of both the New Left and a resurgent conservatism. College students and youths fueled protest movements, challenging the status quo and advocating for civil rights, women's rights, free speech, and opposition to the Vietnam War. In contrast, many Americans, anxious about rapid social change and the perceived erosion of order, began shifting rightwards, paving the way for the conservative resurgence of the subsequent decade.