Seismic Sixties

How have the 1960s dramatically impacted and influenced today’s society? In today’s society, there are many controversial topics that we are facing today; we have the 1960s to thank for those things. The sixties was one of the most impactful decades pertaining to culture revolutions; it is the decade that brought into play some of the problems and privileges that the present is dealing with now. The sixties brought the gay movement, women’s rights, the drug revolution, and has also impacted music as well.

The sixties saw an uprising of a counterculture that wanted to challenge traditional norms and values. Driven by the hippie movement and its focus on peace, love, and psychedelic experimentation. While music was big, this opened the gateway for rock 'n' roll, particularly, to become a powerful vehicle for social commentary and rebellion. Artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles shaped the era. Additionally, the feminist movement gained momentum, demanding equality, and autonomy for women in all parts of life.

The sixties were a time of questioning and rebellion. The baby boomer generation was born into the most powerful, affluent, and influential nation in the history of mankind. Despite this, baby boomers were asked to fight in a foreign war, conform to societal norms, and accept institutional change in their lives. John Ketwig, Bill Ayers, and Robert Coles all showed in their own way the crumbling of American institutions in the sixties due to the belief that the US government was not working for its people. No other time in American history saw so much activity in terms of political and social movements and it brought the country into the age of questioning and rebellion which remains today.

The music of the sixties went through tremendous change. It shaped mush of the music we hear today. From New Orleans came Jazz, from the East Coast came rock, from the West Coast came Psychedelic rock, and from England came the Invasion.

There has been a great change since the 1960’s era with so much protest of being unfair to a certain race. Until the Vietnam war where more Americans were focused on protesting the war than on each other. Females also began to demand more rights for women during these years and social change in music was introduced differently than that of today. Politics were very violent during the 1960’s where famous leaders such as John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. People also dress different during the 1960’s than they do today with long hair in which they called themselves Hippies and wore unusual strange clothing in different fashions. With all these events happening in the 1960’s I believe that America was trying to find a way out from the hate and rejection to certain events that was taking place in order to shape America the way it should be for everyone.

The 1950s saw Americans living at their most prosperous in over twenty years. The 1950s saw the development of important and life changing technologies, which we heavily use today such as jet airplanes and the precursor to computers. Cars and homes got increasingly luxurious, fashion got increasingly bold, and the role of women began its tumultuous change. 1960s: The 1960s are arguably the most

The 1960s were a decade of change, a decade was full of ground-breaking and exciting change in American culture and mortality, as well as many changes in the social and political atmospheres. The 60s were full of a culture which promoted sec, drugs, the hippie movement, and in the middle of the chaos the civil rights issues which were tearing the United States apart. The 60s were a decade that was very unique and similar to previous decades. The young generations were rebelled against their parent’s views and basic American norms. This young generation had a different idea for Americas future

American culture in 1950s and today have numerous similarities “In the 50s, cars were flashier and more luxurious than ever...and used as a symbol of status. Similarly, today, upscale vehicles are still flashy and sleek…and upper-class consumers use them to show the status of their wealth.” Depending on the income that people earn, cars that contain more features are of better quality and class. Secondly, in the 1950s, ads had begun to seek out the attention on marketing for children. The products sold have cartoon characters and bright colors. In the modern era, citizens use similar tactics, using bright colors that are put at eye level. Children appeal to bright colors and characters when a company advertises on T.V. or in stores. Next, huge department stores became popular due to middle class’ increased power on spending. Now, the large chain department stores of Dillard’s and Macy’s are still very popular. People enjoy going out and just spending their money on the inventories that each department store has. “Then in the 50s, fast food became a

There were no time guzzling metal detectors at the airports... or the schools. There were no grouchy warning labels on the records and no ratings necessary on the movies. And TV shows were acceptable to the whole family. Those were the sixties or at least part of it. Some of the 52 million sixties' boomers called it the decade of peace, harmony and love mainly for the movement for peace and the "flower power" attitude. Others, a little more pessimistic, called it the decade of dissatisfaction because of the protests against the war and the race riots in many cities. For the teenagers it was the decade of sweet sounding, good-time rock ‘n' roll…from the Beatles to the Kinks and many more in between. Still for others it was filled with

The 1960’s was a decade that forever changed the culture and society of America. The

The 1960’s was a very influential time in the United States of America. The United States began to explore a new culture of people known as hippies. The USA endured a great scare of nuclear war from the Cuban Missile Crisis. This country lost two famous leaders from that era; John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., who were assassinated. The United States also began the move towards equality by passing the Civil Rights Act. The final major accomplishment from 1960’s was when Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to land on the moon.

The Sixties were an exciting revolutionary period with great cultural change. Some people called it the “decade of discontent” (Britannica) due to the race riots in Detroit and La, and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Other people called it the decade of “peace, love, and harmony” (Woodstock 69). This decade was identified as such as a result of the peace movement and the emergence of the flower children. (Britannica) The sixties were about assassination, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and women’s liberation, Vietnam, Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug experimentation, and Woodstock. All of these components caused a revolutionary change in the

The Sixties were an exciting revolutionary period of time with great social and technological change. Some people called it the “decade of discontent” because of the race riots in Detroit and La, and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Other people called it the decade of “peace, love, and harmony”. It was called this because of the peace movement and the emergence of the flower children. (Britannica) The sixties were about assassination, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and women’s liberation, Vietnam, Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug experimentation, and Woodstock. All of these components caused a revolutionary change in the world of popular Music.

The 1960's was a decade of tremendous social and political upheaval. In the United States, many movements occurred by groups of people seeking to make positive changes in society.

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.