Young Americans for Freedom

            YAF as a Reflection of Protest Culture.
             Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is an organization of college students who are on the conservative Right of the Republican party. Their organization was created in the early 1960's, and continues to be active on many college campuses today. When most people think about the 1960's, especially in regard to protest movements, they think of the many liberal groups that took hold of politics. However, as John A. Andrew III has made very clear in The Other Side of the Sixties, there was also a strong movement toward the right that is often overlooked. Though less recognized by history, the Young Americans for Freedom were an important part of the culture of protest in the 1960's.
             The social and political movements of the 1960's were largely characterized by the involvement of young people. Never had so many college-aged people been so active in the struggles to implement change in these arenas. Images of young people at Woodstock and at anti-war protests and civil rights sit-ins spring to mind when we speak of youth in the sixties. At a glance, it seems that liberal movements were the only examples of young people getting involved. However, the Young Americans for Freedom, formed at the beginning of this decade, were also highly active and involved in its political atmosphere and in working toward change. This shows that young people from all parts of the political spectrum were making their voices heard. While less radical and violent than the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), their approximate liberal equivalent, YAF was generally a very successful college political organization. Few groups of young people have been influential enough to take over a political party and get a candidate nominated for the presidency of the United States, as YAF was able to do with the Republican party and Barry Goldwater in the 1960's.
             As opposed to liberal organizations, the YAF tended to use the system to achieve their goals rather than rebel against it.