The rise of the Flower Child movement began as a direct result of the American intervention the the Vietnam Conflict. Flower childs were against the war in Vietnam and often demonstrated for peace and American withdrawal from the conflict. Flower Child's or better known as hippies influenced the 1960s to become anti-war which can be widely seen by the many musicians who sang for peace and love such as John Lennon and his song “Give Peace a Chance”. John Lennon held international renown for being a member of the Beatles and John himself can be portrayed as one of the most prominent hippies.The 1960s will forever be remembered as the decade of the counterculture movement but the most prominent moment of the counterculture movement is Woodstock. …show more content…
Hippies chose to spread peace and love which many mainstream musicians of the 1960s sang about. Hippies were being to grow in popularity and size in the late 1960s and then the movement began to fizzle out. By 1969 the movement was slowing down despite the popular Woodstock festival which is forever remembered as a symbol of the hippies happened in 1969 just as the hippie movement was dying down. Was Woodstock the end of the era for the flower child movement? Woodstock can describe all the flower child movement stood for and more. The attendees behaved as traditional hippies and proceeded to have a peaceful, drug fueled experience at the festival. The bands playing at Woodstock also portrayed the hippie culture as popular bands such as Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock. Jefferson Airplane in particular “talked about peace, love, drugs, sex and a cultural revolution that they, and their hippie contemporaries, thought was right around the corner” The introduction of mainstream bands that followed hippie ideals helped popularized hippies. Demands for more right for women and homosexuals grew in the 1960s. Women attending college skyrocketed in the 1960s as a direct result of hippies believing in each other as equals. Popular insistence in June 1969 when police attempted to close a gay bar only to be met by rioting.Hippies greatly promoted the idea of peace and love between each other no matter the skin color, gender, or sexuality. Hippies also4 greatly resisted war and the main goal of the flower child movement was to end the war in Vietnam and bring back our soldiers home. Counter Culture grew in popularity quickly as “It is estimated that about 500,000 people actually made it to the Woodstock Festival” The huge attendance provided an illustration about how massive the flower child movement has come but then again the movement seemed to die down after 1969. The modern day image of Woodstock is imagined that Woodstock was the height of the hippie movement which is true, as the hippie movement began to move closer to the mainstream audience but after 1969 the hippie movement began to crumble.
The biggest event that caused the crumble of the hippie movement was the ending of the draft which was the biggest argument for hippies. With the draft ending and the war coming to a close hippies lost their greatest tool. Drugs despite being a hippie’s favorite recreational pastime also played into their downfall when “by the fall of 1967 there was a considerable number of drug-induced rapes and violent crimes” Drugs influencing crimes helped cause the hippie capital of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury to turn into a ruin of its past self. With many traveling to the capital in order to explore greater means of the hippie movement instead many ended up homeless and without money. Thus those without money could no longer afford to keep up with the lifestyle of the hippies.Furthermore in the 1970s the drug related deaths of prominent musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin helped bring about the end of the hippie movement just as the musicians met their end. Charles Manson orchestrated the murders of Sharon Tate and her guests one week before Woodstock. this event “ presented a warped image of the hippies in the eyes of common folk.” The tarnished reputation allowed a negative image about hippies by the common folk who saw hippies as a …show more content…
nuisance and after 1969 hippies began to dwindle. These factors led many hippies to grow up and abandon their lifestyle to settle down and find a job and return as a normal, law abiding citizens. The 1970s brought about a new age formed after Woodstock but the influence and size was dramatically small compared to the 1960 movement.
Hippies in the 1970s can see Woodstock as a start of a new greater movement to spread their message of peace. The 1970 hippies would not create as much outreach since the end of the draft ended largely the antiwar movement but still existed. Many saw the approach of the 200th anniversary of the United States with great patriotism and many hippies chose to move away from their hippie lifestyle and reintegrate into society and normal functioning beings. The remaining hippies held on to a dying culture were ridiculed for the beliefs. Mainstream media lost interest in the hippie movement and thus the hippie movement fell into obscurity being forgotten as those who held onto a dying idea of peace. In actuality the flower child movement greatest moment occurred in 1969 with Woodstock and symbolized the end of an era dominated by hippie values in the youth of
America. Woodstock signified the end of an era for the hippie movement but Woodstock still went out with a bang. Woodstock showcased everything the hippie movement stood for one last time. Hippies were allowed to express themselves one last time. Woodstock showed that a cultural revolution had taken over the United States and how popular the flower child movement had become. Woodstock proved that people can live together in peace in terrible conditions as “Food shortages and unsanitary conditions developed as the audience grew beyond the number anticipated”. No reported violent occurrences at Woodstock helped show to the world that despite the dark world of the Cold War and the Vietnam War that people can live together in harmony. The 1960s were a turbulent times with many violent events such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. and more importantly the unrest caused by the Civil Rights Movement. Woodstock proved to the world that peace is attainable if so for only a moment. The peace was soon brought back to the real world with the end of an era and as Don Friedman once said “The love, peace thing of Woodstock has gone out.”
The 1960’s was a radical decade filled with political tensions, social strife, and overall cultural intrigue. The beginning of the decade allowed for the transition from President Eisenhower to President Kennedy, the youngest President to take office, and the first Roman Catholic. The move represented a shift from a Republican to Democratic administration in the Oval Office. Kennedy became a symbol for the young vibrancy of the American populous, as he was quickly accepted by the grand majority. After Kennedy was assassinated and Lyndon B. Johnson took office, the nation was further engulfed in the war that would come to define America for years to come. The Republican Party regained office as Richard Nixon was elected in his second attempt to run as the decade came to a close. Activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X paved the way for the civil rights movement that swept the nation and captivated the spirit of not only black Americans, but white Americans as well. The race between the United States of America and The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for domination of space escalated as Kennedy pushed for a man on the moon by the close of the decade, achieved in 1969. The possibility of nuclear war became all too real in 1962 as the launch of nuclear missiles became an abundantly clear possibility. The drug culture emerged in the 1960’s in large part due to the newfound accessibility of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, or LSD. American society was entrenched in the chaotic desire for new, improved highs. The profound ascent of the drug culture was truly realized when the 3-day music festival, Woodstock, took place in 1969, as “sex, drugs and rock n’ roll” symbolized America’s...
Before 1963, the music being played in the 60’s were closely reflecting the sound, style, and belief of the decades before. After 1963, many social influences changed what peopled were viewing as popular music. The assassination of Kennedy, war in Vietnam, and the Civil Rights Movement all greatly impacted the mood of American culture and how the music began to reflect change. The “British Invasion” was a time period in which many British bands and artists came to the United States, and excelled extremely well. The most famous of these bands were “The Beetles,” who would eventually go down in history as one of the most famous bands in history. At the height of the music industry in the 60’s, one single event changed American music forever. Woodstock was a three-day concert full of sex, drugs, and a lot of hippies. The organizers were only expecting about 50,000 people to show up. To their surprise, more than 400,000 appeared at the infamous dairy farm in New York. With artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan, many were drawn to witness this phenomenon. This festival is widely known as the definitive moment for the larger counter-culture generation. The 60’s drastically revolutionized music in a way that shaped music into the powerhouse that it is for generations to
Zeinab Atwa Senior English/ Pd. 3 Ms. Ruiz Dec. 5/ 2017. History of the hippie movement The movement that began during the counterculture era in the 1960s, also known as the youth movement, rebelled against the conformity of American life. The main goal the hippie movement was trying to accomplish was being able to change views and ideas politically, socially, and culturally. However, they mainly aimed at changing cultural and everyday values.
During the 1960’s a revolution and change in lifestyle occurred for the youths of america which rapidly spread around the world. It was situated around the ideals of freedom, peace, love, living your life happily and in the way you want to rather than conforming to the ideals of others. Some might say that this significant cultural change has shaped the way in which some generations think and feel about life today, however, it could also be argued that the beliefs, and life style of hippies are not realistic, neither acceptable in the world we live in today.
Peace and music over powered the 600-acre dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York 46 years ago. The Woodstock Music and Art Fair was a festival known as an “Aquarian Exposition of three days.” For an audience of 400,000 people, 32 acts performed outdoors. Woodstock was a crucial moment in music history as it changed the world of rock ‘n’ roll. The festival connected the 1960s counterculture generation through the power of music. Art and new ideas were the main historical force that changed society August 15th through the 17th in 1969, leaving a powerful influence on the Western world between the late 1960s and mid 1970s.
The largest anti-war demonstration in history was held when 25,000 people marched from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, once again, showing the unity of youth. More than any other countercultural group, hippies reflected a deep discontent with technocracy- society’s reliance on scientific experts who ruled coldly and dispassionately and who wielded enormous power. Hippies said good-bye to that and hello to the mystical spirit, oneness with the universe- life as passion, passion as life, harmony, and understanding. The hippies believed they could develop their vision in the communes in which they congregated.... ...
Many large concerts occurred throughout America in the summer of 1969, but none were as well known and symbolic as Woodstock. Its message was clear; three days of Peace and Music. Its impact on America’s culture and society as well as its youth will not be forgotten for many years to come.
The general mindset of the 1960’s San Francisco scene is well summarized by Reebee Garafalo in his book Rockin’ Out: Popular Music in the USA when he states: “For the counterculture, the focus on mind-expanding drugs seemed to offer the possibility of greater self-awareness and consciousness, which would in turn lead to a world without war, competition, or regimentation.” The concept of expanding the mind in order to achieve a peaceful, utopian world naturally lends itself to the consumption of drugs. The image of half naked, marijuana smoking hippies dancing around in the park comes to mind when one thinks of the late 60’s Haight-Ashbury scene. Drugs help tremendously in creating an altered state, making one oblivious to the outside world. A great deal of the music was preaching peace, love,...
In 1969 at Bethel, New York, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was 3 day event that was all about peace, love, music, and partying. It was a historic event that changed what was known back then as the “hippie movement”. At Woodstock there were many influential artists that performed at this huge event. It was a popular festival that led the later generations to embrace the sentiment and mood of what Woodstock came to represent. People didn’t realize (until later) how historic Woodstock really was. Woodstock was actually supposed to be a simple small event that would have around a only expected to have 5,000 people attend. It surpassed all expectations by having nearly 500,000 people attend. In the end it actually become a
However, not all counterculture movements have failed. Perhaps the three most cited examples of counterculture making a more than negligible impact are the rise of rock and roll music and electric guitars in the early fifties; the hippie, anti-war and free love movements of the late sixties; and the rise of grunge music, along with the attitude of rebellion and freedom of youth in the early nineties. These three movements were anything but failures: they all gave rise to icons – the Elvis Presleys, the Jimi Hendrixes, the Kurt Cobains – who are still revered today; and they all had a transformative impact on society, garnering mass media attention, massive followings, perhaps even bringing change among the masses, and creating ripples which emanated throughout society for years afterwards.
During the summer of love, the diggers helped out and spread the trend of being a hippie. Hippies are always so recognizable then and now with their “long flowing hair, bright clothes, and flowy dresses.” (The Sixties Chronicles 2004) With their noticeable look the hippies believed strongly in individualism. Again shown with their clothes, but also something else. “...where the hippie cry, "Do your own thing!" served to incubate a new cornucopia of causes…” (Stein pg.1) There are all sorts of causes that they fought for then that we have now that is better than what it was before. Some of the causes they fought for were gay rights, the environment, women's liberation, saving the whales, saving the forests and so much more. It had a, “...widespread impact in fashion, art, in the use of illicit drugs…” (Ventre pg.1) They also helped out creating a counterculture movement. During the summer of love there was also bad things happening during this time, Vietnam war was going on. The Summer of Love was a backlash to the war. Most of the people there wanted progress and there were tons of anti-war protests. Although there were still some who resisted and didn’t care that thousands of people were being drafted into the war. “Some methods of change proved healthy, others were damaging, depending on which social observers are to be believed.” (Summer of Love That Changed Music and Culture 2007) While the hippies were out and trying to change the world, some did it while doing
The Hippie Movement changed the politics and the culture in America in the 1960s. When the nineteen fifties turned into the nineteen sixties, not much had changed, people were still extremely patriotic, the society of America seemed to work together, and the youth of America did not have much to worry about, except for how fast their car went or what kind of outfit they should wear to the Prom. After 1963, things started to slowly change in how America viewed its politics, culture, and social beliefs, and the group that was in charge of this change seemed to be the youth of America. The Civil Rights Movement, President Kennedy’s death, new music, the birth control pill, the growing illegal drug market, and the Vietnam War seemed to blend together to form a new counterculture in America, the hippie.
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.
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 sixties was a decade of liberation and revolution, a time of great change and exciting exploration for the generations to come. It was a time of anti-war protests, free love, sit-ins, naked hippie chicks and mind-altering drugs. In big cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Paris, there was a passionate exchange of ideas, fiery protests against the Vietnam War, and a time for love, peace and equality. The coming together of like-minded people from around the world was spontaneous and unstoppable. This group of people, which included writers, musicians, thinkers and tokers, came to be known as the popular counterculture, better known as hippies. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius in the late sixties was more than just a musical orgy. It was a time of spiritual missions to fight for change and everything they believed in. Freedom, love, justice, equality and peace were at the very forefront of this movement (West, 2008). Some wore beads. Some had long hair. Some wore tie-dye and others wore turtle-neck sweaters. The Hippie generation was a wild bunch, to say the least, that opened the cookie jar of possibilities politically, sexually, spiritually and socially to forever be known as one of the most memorable social movements of all time (Hippie Generation, 2003).