OK Cheapo. Now we can get somewhere. Here's a good chance for you to educate your history teacher. Fortunately, there are several folks here that can give you first person views of some of the things you've alluded to.
You, as a student of history, must first realize that the subject era is the beginning of media influence and manipulation. Beginning in the early '60's the media learned that it could create reality instead of reporting reality as had always been done.
Your statements are a good starting place:
Segregation - yep. Happened. All kinds of cultural, economic, racial and religious groups received differential treatment. Change was brought about by millions of people of all colors working together to right historical wrongs. Not just a few vocal "leaders". One of Americas real victories. I particularly liked the movie's depiction of the Black Panthers -- really funny.
VietNam war - yep happened. Tragic and brutal as are all wars. We won it militarily but lost it politically. This is where my premise of the media creating reality really takes off. I can never forget or forgive Walter Cronkite's statement "..the war is lost.." during Tet of '68. The VC/NVA were defeated, suffering huge losses, at every battle, greatly hindering their ability to fight in the future. But the US media presented it as a loss by our guys -- our politicians bought it and the rest if history.
Many veterans were affected..... - sure they were. All veterans of all wars are severely affected. But the VN vets got the bad press. Just like other wars' vets, a few were very negatively affected - the great majority came back, picked up their lives and moved positively forward. Again, the medias "deranged VietNam vet" is pretty much fiction. As are todays "disgruntled postal workers".
Drugs big problem - I think you'll find that, statistically, recreational drug use is much greater in later years than the FG period. Again, the media invention of the drugged out hippie.
Huge masses of people spoke out against the war - yep. See above. I was around some of the events. A large number of the participants were there to party -- hear some music, smoke a little dope and meet chicks/guys. (Can anybody say "Rave"?)
Sex and disease - check your stats. While probably greater than preceding years, certainly not as much as ensuing years.
Back to my earlier post. This movie is a Hollywood treatment of an entire era. It is no more accurate or real than "Easy Rider", "The Graduate", "American Graffitti" or "Rambo".
I hope you survive this class.
