May 1968

1
May 1968

• Began as student protest against inadequate
  university facilities, American conduct in Viet
  Nam.
• Police brutally repress the student
  demonstrators.
• Workers strike in solidarity.
• Revolt goes nationwide. Up to 10 million workers
  strike, some occupying factories.
• The movement was diverse, an included radical
  minority student / worker groups, such as
  Trotskyites, Maoists and anarchists.
• Movement nearly brought down the government.
• Communists supported De Gaulle, who prevailed.

2
Architectural Changes to Paris (1960s and 70s)

• Cleaning of the buildings
• New buildings
• Montparnasse Tower
• La Défense
• Pompidou Center
• Les Halles

3
Montparnasse Tower
4
La Défense
5
Pompidou Center
6
Les Halles before
7
Les Halles today