The Hippie Movement

1545 Words4 Pages

When people hear the term hippie, they think of men and woman in loose clothing with flowers weaved in their hair. Although these men and women did in fact wear these things, they left a significant impact on society. Hippies were a part of the Counterculture movement, which basic ideals were to reject the ideas of mainstream society. The movement itself began with the protesting of the Vietnam War. Eventually, the movement was more than just protesting the war. Hippies promoted the use of recreational drugs, religious tolerance; they also changed society’s views and attitudes about lifestyle and social behavior. The Counterculture movement was the most influential era in the 20th century because the people of this time changed society’s outlook, and broached the topics of drugs, fashion, and sexual freedom. The Counterculture movement began in 1964, when North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked two U.S. destroyers. President Johnson ordered the retaliatory bombing of military targets in North Vietnam (Vietnam War Protests). A few months later, people began to question the rationale of fighting the war. People questioned joining the war in Vietnam due to our position in the Cold War. Both America and the Soviets had nuclear weapons, but neither country could afford an all out war. By starting another war with Vietnam that would mean placing more stress on the military forces. With two wars going on, that would require more man power. This problem introduced the draft. Many people of the counterculture movement opposed this, because they didn’t believe in fighting in a war that they didn’t support. Young men tore up their draft cards, or signed up as conscientious objectors. A conscientious objector is someone who doesn... ... middle of paper ... ...Sexuality in Western Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014. . Pearson, Catherine. "Coke's Original Recipe Reportedly Found: Was It More, Or Less, Healthy? And Was There Really Cocaine In It?." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Feb. 2011. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. . "People and Events: The Pill and the Sexual Revolution." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 12 May 2014. "What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre." What is Buddhism? | The Buddhist Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. . "Vietnam War Protests." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • The Impact of the Hippie on American Society

    2364 Words  | 5 Pages

    American society and culture experienced an awakening during the 1960s as a result of the diverse civil rights, economic, and political issues it was faced with. At the center of this revolution was the American hippie, the most peculiar and highly influential figure of the time period. Hippies were vital to the American counterculture, fueling a movement to expand awareness and stretch accepted values. The hippies’ solutions to the problems of institutionalized American society were to either participate in mass protests with their alternative lifestyles and radical beliefs or drop out of society completely. The government and the older generations could not understand their way of life.

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Of The Pill

    1605 Words  | 4 Pages

    This lecture on the Pill will focus on the introduction, controversies, and outcome of women’s control of contraception during the mid 20th century. It will also discuss how the Pill became an influential stepping-stone for women activists. I chose to focus this discussion on three questions. First, what did the Pill teach us about the role of women in the middle 20th century? Second, what were the arguments for and against the Pill? Lastly, how safe was the Pill and what effects did women experience from taking it? By centering in on these questions, I hope to provide insight on the struggles women faced before and after this birth control technology became readily available to women in the United States.

    Read More

  • Woodstock's Influence On American Counter Culture

    1626 Words  | 4 Pages

    The middle-class youth made up the bulk of the counterculture, so they had the leisure time to focus their attention on political issues in America. At the time, the counterculture rejected the cultural standards of the United States and those older than them, specifically the initial support for the Vietnam War. The politics and government history force held a high influence during this time of change. The Vietnam War devastated the young adult population and families of those who enlisted. Some Americans found the movement to reflect American ideals of free speech and equality, while others thought of it to reflect pointless rebellious acts and very unpatriotic. In the end, authorities restricted political gatherings and the counterculture collapsed once civil rights, liberties, equality, and the end of the Vietnam War were

    Read More

  • Essay On Birth Control Pills

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    Watkins, E. (2012). How the pill became a lifestyle drug: the pharmaceutical industry and birth

    Read More

  • 60s Culture

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    The war in Vietnam had a major impact of the youth’s view of government. The immeasurable amounts of hypocrisies that the government dispelled upon the youths played a huge role on their support for the government. The fact that the government declared that the youths were far too young to vote for any of the issues that controlled the war, but they were still expected to willingly go and sacrifice their lives for a cause that had been lost so many years ago. This outpouring of confusion towards the government’s cause led the counterculture to completely disagree with the war, which resulted in mass protest. The war was a deep void of heroism and honor, but conversely filled with horror stories and disillusionment. The lyrics of the parody song I feel like I’m fixing to die rag making fun of the attitude the government expected the general public to have. –

    Read More

  • Counterculture During the Vietnam Era

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Counterculture During the Vietnam Era With a country in shambles as a result of the Vietnam War, thousands of young men and women took their stand through rallies, protests, and concerts. A large number of young Americans opposed the war; with a common feeling of anti-war, thousands of youths united as one. This new culture of opposition spread like wild fire with alternative lifestyles blossoming, people coming together and reviving their communal efforts, demonstrated at the Woodstock Art and Music festival. The use of drugs, mainly marijuana, has become a staple in the community of anti-war youths. The countercultures’ radical views and actions caused American society to turn its head and look to the young.

    Read More

  • Hippies 1960s

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1960’s. A time when many events arose and occurred. One particular movement, which many people referred to as a culture, had the name that most know of as hippies. They rejected mainstream life style and displayed love and peace, they were also known as “Flower Children” (Flower Child). Hippies created anti-war movements in the 1960‘s and maintained these movements for a long stretch in time. For as long as hippies lasted through America’s history, they did not inspire the youth during the hippie generation(1960-1970). Hippies did not embolden youthful people in a positive way. They conducted many experiments that effected the young immensely. Hippies did not galvanize the nation because of their lack of control over drug use, their laziness, and their access to free love.

    Read More

  • The Counterculture

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the sixties, Americans saw the rise of the counterculture. The counterculture, which was a group of movements focused on achieving personal and cultural liberation, was embraced by the decade’s young Americans. Because many Americans were members of the different movements in the counterculture, the counterculture influenced American society. As a result of the achievements the counterculture movements made, the United States in the 1960s became a more open, more tolerant, and freer country. One of the most powerful counterculture movements in the sixties was the civil rights movement.

    Read More

  • American Counter Culture Movement In The 1960s

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1960s was a decade full of cultural, political, and social change in the United States in which activism in the areas of civil rights and anti-war became widespread. It is remembered as a time where many ideas about counterculture permanently changed. It was the decade where African-Americans passionately fought for equal recognition, where young Americans who did not want to conform to the ideals of their elders created their own culture, and where average Americans began standing up against what they believed was an immoral war. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the Vietnam War, and the Kent State massacre are often discussed events from the 1960s and early 1970s. However, one area of American

    Read More

  • The Negative Methods Of Birth Control

    2023 Words  | 5 Pages

    For thousands of years, people have used various birth control methods to limit the number of children in their families. Birth control encompasses a wide range of devices along with rational and irrational methods that have been used in an attempt to prevent pregnancy. It has been and remains controversial. Today, birth control is an essential part of life. In fact, 99% American women of childbearing age report using some form of contraception at one time or another (NIBH). In his book, The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution, author Jonathan Eig writes "For as long as men and women have been making babies, they 've been trying not to” (Gibson). He reports that early contraceptive options offered

    Read More

  • The 1960s Countercultural Sensation

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    The 1960s counterculture was a cultural sensation which first began to take shape in the United States and from there on it spread throughout the rest of the west. It spread sometime in the early sixties to early seventies. The counterculture sensation began to catch on quickly and it eventually went on to become groundbreaking. Several components contributed in making the counterculture of the 1960s a unique era from the other opposition movements of the previous eras. The post-war baby boom created an unexceptional amount of youngsters who were an integral part of making the counterculture movement. As the 1960s continued worldwide tensions began to develop in societies in which people followed the same strategies as their elders used to regarding the war in Vietnam, race relations, human sexuality, women's rights, traditional modes of authority, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and differing interpretations of the American Dream. Several new cultural forms arose which included the Beatles and parallel to it was the growth of the hippie culture. This led to the fast development of the youth culture in which change and experimentation were mainly highlighted. Many songwriters, singers and musical groups from the US and around the world made a major impact on the counterculture movement which included the likes of the Beatles. Basically, the 1960s counterculture grew from a convergence of events and issues which served as the main substances for the remarkable speedy change during the decade.

    Read More

  • Essay On Counterculture

    1870 Words  | 4 Pages

    From conflict, truths, and misperceived beliefs came the ideals and values that counterculture was built upon. The American government and its hope to stop the spread of communism throughout Asia, led to concentrated military efforts in Vietnam. But shortly after attacks on the naval ship USS Maddox, President Johnson declared use of conventional military in Vietnam. On the other hand, within America the passing of the Civil Rights Act sparked up ideas of equality, peace, and change. As a result of the resentment towards President Johnson’s decision to go to war and the civil rights movement, the youth and political activist targeted american institutions and initiated a movement toward equality, reform, and community throughout the American people.

    Read More

  • Seven Dimensions of Religion in Buddhism

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Basics of Buddhism." n.d. The Living Edens: Thailand. Public Broadcasting Service. Website. 6 March 2014. .

    Read More

  • Essay On The Counterculture Movement

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Counterculture Movement had many successes, one of them was anti-war protests against the Vietnam War. During the 1960s, the United States and the rest of the world was in danger of falling into communism. The United States, being a democratic union believed that communism endanger the values of democracy, so it sought to declare war to prevent further nations falling into the hands of communism. As the Unites States moved troops into Vietnamese territory, there were many

    Read More

  • Countercultures: The Beat Generation

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    In every generation there are countercultures, some more prominent and influential than others that go against social norms. Jack Kerouac brought to light the counterculture known as The Beat Generation from under the veil of the conservative surface in the 1950’s, in his book On the Road. This generation was so influential that they were the driving force behind the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 60’s and 70’s. Having strong ideas and values about freedom and personal fulfillment, that they perused relentlessly, they created big changes and even inspired generations after them who feel dissatisfied with the pressures to conform to instead push against the norms of society.

    Read More

More about The Hippie Movement

Open Document