The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of American history. Specifically it will discuss the events at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and what caused them. The 1968 Convention in Chicago is remembered for its violent riots and government response to those riots. The problems in Chicago had roots in the Vietnam War, but the many causes went deeper than that. Vietnam helped create a division in the country, but the country was ripe for division and dissension.
             The postwar consensus in American society was highest in the 1950s when the economy was healthy, and most Americans were content. However, underlying the consensus was unrest in many areas. Teens, born in the war years were tired of following the strict mores of society. They rebelled by wearing jeans, listening to rock and roll, and opposing the morals of their parents. They wanted something different than suburbia, and so they tried to be more liberal and outspoken than their parents. This was the generation that would protest the Vietnam War, dabble in illegal drugs, and eventually rise up against the government and establishment.
             However, there was much more to the social rebellion that created such a rift in the country. While most white Americans were content in their lives, blacks, who had fought alongside whites in the war, came home to segregation, prejudice, and a lack of basic civil rights. They became increasingly discontent with their situation, and began to loudly protest for their Civil Rights. Their protests actually worked, and the Civil Rights bills of the 1960s ensured equal rights for blacks and other minorities. Seeing this success, others who were discontent with the government and the war in Vietnam used the same tactics to protest, but these protests began to turn violent and ugly. Blacks are killed in many riots, including riots following the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther K...