Revolution during the Swinging Sixties

When most people think of the 1950’s or 1960’s, they think of Elvis, Greasers, jukeboxes, Woodstock, and rainbow peace signs and hippie love. Although these symbols are somewhat accurate (and very popular), not many people think about the changes society and culture went through. The 1950’s and 60’s were a time of great change and freedom for many Americans. Everything from World War II, to the gay liberation movement, to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 helped to change society. Many of the views American’s had on topics such as war, gender roles and sexual preference were changed greatly after these events and have led to our culture being what it is today. The 1950’s and 1960’s were a time where great changes took place that helped to

The 1950s and the 1960s had many similarities, though they had many differences as well. Their similarities and differences include: the politics, the economy, the society, and the culture of both decades. In the 1950s, North Korea moved into South Korea and began a civil war between the two parallel countries. The reason for this dispute was the border lines as well as guerrilla fighting in the South, which created a greater tension on the issue. The reason why the U.S entered the Korean War was so that the Soviet Union would not gain another nation and, in turn, more power. Like the 50s, our country was also at war with another country in the 60s. This time, the U.S was at war with Vietnam. The U.S entered the war because the

The 1960’s were a time of radical change. It was a decade where people began to question authority, and time of confrontation. The decade's radicalism began with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November of 1963. This event changed the country's idealistic views, and started an upheaval of civil rights movements. Baby boomers started a new perception, and formalized the act of resistance to war. There were also many of whom, turned violent and rebellious; in their effort to fight "the system."

The 1960s was crammed full of many impacting events and important figures. From Hitchcock releasing one of the greatest thrillers of all time, Psycho, to Marilyn Monroe’s untimely death, to the infamous Woodstock festival. This era changed history completely and made the United States think twice about its youth. Events of the 1960s are still impacting our country as we know it today. The sudden pull from the conservative ‘50s changed America’s views on all aspects of life, including fashion, entertainment, and lifestyles.

Australian popular culture in the 1960s had multiple features, many of which were influenced by the social changes and counter culture at the time. The primary aspects of Australian popular culture in the 1960s were; music, fashion, film, sport and television.

In the 1960s, America was in a realm of turmoil and upheaval. During President Kennedy’s term, there was a rise of race riots, sexual and drug revolutions and many anti-war protests. Upon President Kennedy’s assassination, President Johnson came into office with a plan to “correct” society. President Johnson constructed programs to help aid the poor and elderly with medical costs, food stamps, along with aid for education which all came to be known as part of the Great Society programs. Though he did join the United States in the Vietnam War and was unable to navigate out of it, his success in dealing with social, economic and political issues are overshadowed.

The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil

The 1960’s was a period of America enriched of political and social tension that included issues regarding the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement the Vietnam War, race, gender, the Vietnam war, and sexual orientation. During this era, the Baby Boomer generation sought out to challenge the status quo of the current government policy by protesting against these issues. From hippies to teddy boys, they opposed the existing conditions in the United States that have emerged as contentious reasons to warrant public outcry. Amidst this conflict, when John F. Kennedy (who ran against Republican Richard Nixon) was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States on January 20th, 1961 he delivered his “call to action” speech. With carefully

“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over”, this quote is by President Gerald Ford in addressing the nation in 1974. He is addressing the nation after President Nixon was impeached. This was not the only scandal plaguing the seventies. The seventies were full with right movements. Feminist revitalised their movements and gays truly started their movements. The seventies had a great impact on the lives of Americans. Major events impacted the lives of Americans in three major aspects, technical, political, and social.

The 1960’s was a focal point in American history, for several obvious reasons and more than a few elusive ones. The United States up to this point was the ultimate hero version of itself, and people felt differently about their government. There was also a sense that if they decided to do it nothing was beyond their reach. The United States of the 21st century is far from that, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, the War on Drugs, and even on Poverty have shattered the notion that we are infallible. The origins of some of these failings can be traced to the 1960’s. The generation which rewarded these battles is now aging and slowly fading from a much objective view is now possible. There were two major revolutions that took the center stage in this

The 1960s were filled with a multitude of events that made it emerge as a profoundly vital decade in American History. Looking back since the start of the decade, many Americans believed that they were standing at the height of a profound golden age. The strikingly handsome and charismatic John F. Kennedy seen as the ideal representation of a nation's leader became the president of the United States. His prodigious reservoir of confidence resonated a type of glow that assured the government possessed all the right answers to all the major problems that that have risen or will rise in the future. Other noteworthy people began to emerge in the spotlight as major issues were addressed such as Martin Luther King Jr. with his stance on black discriminated

The 1960’s impacted the United States in profound ways. With the seventy million baby boomers growing into their teens, they brought with them change that is still evolving in our society today. The sixties was a time where American culture moved from being conservative to new and insightful ways of thinking. With these changes, it brought a new counter culture that would be known as the hippie culture. The hippies led way into a new sexual revolution that would break the old fashioned boundaries. The hippies also ushered in a new era where drugs became popular to a large public as well as within their own culture. Drugs were becoming a part of American culture, as well as new scientific research, into the benefits

In my opinion, one of the most revolutionary characteristics of the 1960s was the movement for the civil rights. The citizens of the United States finally managed to organize in a single community fighting for their own rights. One of the characteristics of the movements that were started at that time was the organization of the students who actually became the driving force of the revolutionary events and the leading power of the social change.

The 1960s are frequently referred to as a period of social protest and dissent. Antiwar demonstrators, civil-rights activists, feminists, and members of various other social groups demanded what they considered to be justice and sought reparation for the wrongs they believed they had suffered. The decade marked a shift from a collective view on politics, to a much more individualistic viewpoint. The 1960s could easily be characterized as a period during which political, ideological, and social tensions among radicals, liberals, and conservatives in American society are seen to have rapidly unfolded. Due to this, the decade has had an overwhelming effect on the decades that have followed. The sixties have had the greatest impact on American society out of any decade in recent history. Whether for better or for worse, the decade has had a profound influence on politics, society, foreign policy, and culture.

It seems impossible that I have lived through so many decades! I have lived through decades from the thirties to the sixties, and there are many similarities between the two decades. In both decades democrats gained control in the political arena. Both decades were a time of rapid change, socially, economically, politically, and culturally. The population in the United States greatly increased by about fifty-four million people between the thirties and the sixties. Both decades were affected by a war; the 1930’s was greatly affected by WWII, and the sixties was greatly affected by the Viet Nam war. It seems like just yesterday that we began the roller coaster ride of the 1930’s.