American History: Internal Assessment Max Gander Word Count:1538 How did the Counterculture movement change America during the 1960’s? A. Plan of Investigation How did the Counterculture movement change America during the 1960’s? The focus of this study is purely on how the Vietnam war changed the culture in America during the 1960’s and how people and their views changed throughout the war. I will evaluate the musical influence that moved this cultured through the 1960’s and would change the world forever.
I will analyze the effect that the War had on many people throughout the United States. This was the time that the Counter Culture movement came into full swing, being most known as the decade of “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll”. As American children begin to mature during this time many of them created their own world. I will analyze this topic and talk about the effect the Vietnam War and Counter Culture movement had on the country. (word count:138) B. Summery of Evidence Life in America during the 1950’s was often described as somewhat sterile, orderly, and convenient.
The media made this time period out to look like families were happy and joyous , when in reality it was time of stressed out families in the pursuit of the suburban dream life. The children of these families began to reject the lifestyles and values that their parents lead. As these children matured the 60’s began and this was the beginning of the counterculture movement. These children matured and began to make their own counter culture, consisting of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. The violence in Vietnam inspired these kids. They grew tired of it and wanted to spread peace and love.
These times were characterized by passionate idealists seeking peace and a more loving world, dangerous radicals fomenting revolution, as well as non-conformists refusing to live by the laws in America. Some of these people were on ending the Vietnam war, Civil rights, or starting a new society. The others took a different approach experimenting with LSD-25 and meditation to explore inner thoughts of their deep consciousness. Whichever method these people chose it became clear that they were countering the mainstream culture. Many peoples tastes in music, art, and lifestyle were very much so different that that of the older generation.
This generation was focused on peace and love with the current violence going on in Vietnam. They listened to the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, and many more bands. The art surrounding this time period was known for its vibrant and psychedelic style. To this generations parents, they were such a mystery and this lifestyle often confused them. During these times love, peace, and marijuana took higher priority than agression, and alcohol. Love was “free”, and also not restricted to relationships. Many drugs users marveled at how drugs, especially hallucinogens, could “expand” their minds.
The people of this era were known for being non-materialistic. They eventually dropped out of the mainstream and became what would soon be known as a hippy. In the late 1960’s many adopted a motto know as “Never trust anyone over thirty. ” (word count:359) C. Evaluation of Sources (word count:739) D. Analysis The Counterculture movement was a huge shock to the society and generations living prior to the hippies. It was a time filled with love and happy people, not stressed out people, putting on a front and pretending to be happy. It was a time when people didn’t judge others and people loved each ther not because they knew them but because they were all the same, human. The hippies went out of tradition, they made their own tradition, and this is something we still see today. The people involved in the Counterculture movement set the foundation for free-spirited people today. We can still see these traditions implemented into our daily lives today, such as music festivals. Everything during this time was out of the ordinary and unaccepted, but these people did not care, which is what makes it such a special time. People changed their fashion, music taste, and made themselves vulnerable to try something different.
This however would not last, as new generations came along during the 70’s and the times began to change. The counterculture movement during the 1960’s was a very interesting time period in our lives, characterized by sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. (word count:198) E. Conclusion A time known for love, peace, and mind expansion could not last forever, but it will always be remembered. This is a very important part of our history that coincides with the Vietnam war, and how the people decided to cope with the violence and inhumane actions happening in Vietnam.
People went out of their comfort zone to try something different, and learn that it can be hard to do, but its very rewarding. They lived free spirited lives and did not have a care in the world as to what their elder thought of the, they would be themselves. (word count:100) Total word count: 1538 F. Bibliography “The 1960s Lifestyles and Social Trends: Overview. ” UXL American Decades. Ed. Julie L. Carnagie, et al. Vol. 7: 1960-1969. Detroit: UXL, 2003. 96-97. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. “Hippies and the Counterculture, 1960-1969 (Overview). ” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2013.
