Which document is associated with the beginning of the New Left?

The Port Huron Statement is the document most closely associated with the beginning of the New Left movement in the 1960s. Authored by students of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in 1962, it articulated a vision of social change that emphasized participatory democracy, civil rights, and opposition to the Vietnam War. The statement criticized both the existing political structures and the prevailing liberalism of the time, calling for active participation in the democratic process and a sense of moral responsibility among citizens.

The Port Huron Statement represents a pivotal moment in American political history, as it encapsulated the aspirations and grievances of a new generation that sought to challenge traditional values and engage more directly with societal issues. This document laid the groundwork for various movements that would emerge in the 1960s, including anti-war protests, civil rights activism, and other forms of countercultural expression.

The other documents mentioned relate to important historical contexts but do not specifically mark the inception of the New Left. The Southern Manifesto was a reaction against desegregation, the Civil Rights Act was a major legislative achievement in the civil rights movement, and the Constitution is a foundational legal document of the United States but is not tied to the New Left.