May 68

Epic card · No. 7308

May 68 (French: Mai 68) was a period of widespread protests, riots, strikes, and general civil unrest in France that began in May 1968 and became one of the most significant social uprisings in modern European history. Sparked by student demonstrations against university conditions and government repression, the movement quickly escalated into a nationwide general strike involving millions of workers, bringing the country to the brink of revolution. The events have profoundly shaped French politics, labor relations, and cultural life, leaving a lasting legacy of radical thought and activism. After World War II, France underwent rapid modernization, economic growth, and urbanization, leading to increased social tensions. The period from 1945 to 1975 is known as the Trente Glorieuses, the "Thirty Glorious Years", but it was also a time of exacerbated inequalities and alienation, particularly among students and young workers. By the late 1960s, France's university system was struggling to...

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