The dream of the 1960's peave, love, and change
The American dream of the 1960s was change. Music, rights, style, sports, politics, and people all changed in this decade. People took a stand for what they believed in, which was mainly peace. America took a stand against war, many civil rights movements took place, teenagers let the new music influence them for good and bad, their style became shorter, looser, more colorful, and women turned away from always wearing dresses and began wearing jeans too. I think the 60s was on of the biggest changing decades we still relate to to this day.
This decade had a huge impact on our current lives today, some for better and worse. Although it was a time of change and peace it was also a type of rebellion. People lied to get out of being drafted to Vietnam, teens left home to live in communes with other hippies, many of them did drugs, and they listened to music that spoke about they culture and ways of life.
Some of the most influential people were part of the 1960s. The 60s were a time of both cultural and political revolution. It changed the way many people thought of society and moral values. The children of the post-World War II baby boom were moving into adulthood and shaping their opinions and ideas of cultural improvement along the way. From the civil rights movement to the new teenage morality views, the young people of the United States greatly influenced society. They were responsible for branding the entire decade as one of the fight for racial equality, birth of the hippies, and political activism.
When most people think of the sixties, they automatically think of things like Woodstock, drugs, and unhygienic long-haired teenagers. The hippies celebrated the earth and the freedom to express their individuality and views on the world. The hippies tried to raise awareness of the beauty of the earth and the importance of keeping it beautiful. These hippies called themselves “Flower Children”. To escape from society, they lived in communes, sharing resources and growing their own foods. They could to refrain from buying into the mainstream and supporting The Establishment. The hippies avoided most material things and regular bathing was usually neglected as a way of staying natural to the Earth. Drugs were a significant part of the hippie subculture. A few of the most popular among them were LSD and marijuana. The fashions of these people were diverse. “Ethnic” styles to unisex clothing were very popular. Body painting was another fashion statement used for self-expression. Music helped hippies express themselves and share their values with the rest of the world. Folk and psychedelic rock were the most popular genres. Folk music expressed their love of the earth and nature while psychedelic rock went hand in hand with drug use.
We see the sixties as a time of radical thinkers and the desperate need for change. The youth of the country stepped beyond the conservative ways of the generations before them in a way that rivaled the Roaring Twenties. Their tactics and drastic lifestyle shocked many people still mentally living in the fifties. It almost seems arguable that the young people had the most power. They certainly found their voices and used them as much as possible. In many ways, they shaped society and politics today. The effects of the decade lasted more than forty years and will continue to influence American culture for future generations. The fight for equality, the hippie culture, and the many political wars remain the most memorable parts of the 1960s. The accomplishments of the youth of this era greatly influenced the way society is today. Just think, where would we be if the young people of America decided to keep their silence?