During the turbulent era of the 1960s, youth excelled boundaries and expectations to adequately improve the world. Throughout this time, many individuals were trying to juggle the conflicts between racism, sexism, and the turning point in the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive. This battle occurred in 1968, and was a watershed moment in the Vietnam War that ultimately turned many Americans against bloodshed. “The total casualties – dead, wounded, and missing in action – had grown from 2,500 in 1965 and would top 80,000 by the end of 1967” (Willbanks 6). Destruction from the poignant fighting convinced rising numbers of Americans that the expense of United States’ commitment was too immense. The Anti-War movement gained momentum as student …show more content…
Initially, Woodstock was simply going to be a concert for people to attend and enjoy, free of repression and the outside war zones. Unexpectedly, an estimated 500,000 people were at the gates waiting two days before the concert even started (Evans 65). Woodstock was not anticipated to have such an infinite amount of people, but once word spread about the serene music extravaganza, it would be impossible to miss out. The majority of the people attending, were present those three days to protest the gruesome effects caused by war. Many people wanted to revolt against the Vietnam War and racial tension vastly developing across the nation (64). Once the festival began, all of the attendees realized that they united for the same message of openness, peace, and cultural expression that could not be asserted anywhere else. “This new counterculture suggested a new model for an alternative society which many felt would be synthesized and expressed most completely at the three days of peace and music that was to be at the Woodstock festival” (14). Woodstock was no longer solely for entertainment, but transformed into a defining moment when American youth and music had the power to influence the way the nation and the world was …show more content…
This three-day festival gave voice to some of the worst fears and deepest concerns from the Vietnam War, particularly the Tet Offensive. Since this was the first televised war, it only deepened the uneasiness; this war carried out into dinner tables, living rooms, and bedrooms. Parents and children witnessed the broken bodies in body bags, explosions, and Napalm bursting through the air (Corry). Many student uproars broke out for freedom and protest against social evils. However, most of the protests did not have a strong enough voice to impact the world. Woodstock had later become the strongest advocacy that embodied antiwar campaigns and freedom guided by the youth. Isabel Stein, a Woodstock attendee
It started out as a moneymaking venture a rock concert, pure and simple. An attempt to duplicate or maybe even surpass the success of Monterey Pop, which attracted 50,000 people two years earlier. The Woodstock Festival was expected to attract 50,000 to 100,000 people.
One of the most important political issues of 1969 was the Vietnam War. Throughout this year many demonstrations took place to protest the war. For example, in...
The 1960’s was a happening decade. It was a time when many people came together for a common good and stood against injustice. The 60’s is often recalled as the era of the peace sign, one ridden with hippies, marijuana and pacifism. While true of much of the era, some of the movements calling for immense social change began as non-violent harbingers of change and later became radicals. The reason for this turn to radicalism, as seen in the case of the Students for a Democratic Society, and as suggested by the change between this organizations earlier Port Huron statement and the later Weatherman Manifesto, is due to the gradual escalation of the Vietnam war.
The political and societal ramifications of Vietnam's Tet Offensive indubitably illustrate the historical oddity of 1968. 1967 had not been a bad year for most Americans. Four years after the profound panic evoked by the assassination of John Kennedy, the general public seemed to be gaining a restored optimism, and even the regularly protested Vietnam War still possessed the semblance of success (Farber and Bailey 34-54). However, three short weeks following the eve of 68, Americans abruptly obtained a radically different outlook. The Tet Offensive, beginning on January 30, 1968, consisted of a series of military incursions during the Vietnam War, coordinated between the National Liberation Front's People's Liberation Armed Forces (PLAF), or "Viet Cong," and the ...
After the Tet Offensive, more protests occurred demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam. The protestors used it as fuel and began expanding their ideas to the rest of the United States. Even Johnson’s opposing party saw it as his lack of leadership with the army. The media was able to shift the opinions of the people one way or another. With the new information from the Tet Offensive, most people switched to the side of the anti-war
The Vietnam War was one of the major events that occurred during the “Baby Boom” era. The era was called the baby boom because the United States was going into war and all the men were being drafted so men wanted to pursue their women. However, the Vietnam War started because the country chose to support South Vietnam to fight for anti-communism against North Vietnam (Dudley 91). The war started in 1961 and lasted until 1975, and had many names such as “American War”, “Second Indochina War” and communists labeled it the “War of Liberation” (Lawrence 1). Also, John F. Kennedy was president during this time, specifically in 1961-1963, but his term ended early due to his assassination (Dudley 91). Although by 1963, sixteen thousand troops were in South Vietnam. The war was very emotional and traumatic to the ones who served. As expressed in O’Brien’s How to Tell a True War Story, his friend, Bob Kiley or better known as Rat, writes a letter to his friend’s sister because he passed away. Rat wanted to express h...
...eir surf like music, and sixties pop. They also introduced influential harmonies. From August 15th through the 17th of 1969, a music festival called Woodstock was held on a 600 acre dairy farm in New York. Over 300,000 people were in attendance. Tickets were free of charge, and the festival was also known as “three days of peace and music”. Performers included Richie Havens, Bert Sommer, Joan Baez, Quill, Santana, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Crocker, and so many more talented musicians.
The 1960’s and early 1970’s were a time that eternally changed the culture and humanity of America. It was a time widely known for peace and love when in reality; many minorities were struggling to gain a modicum of equality and freedom. It was a time, in which a younger generation rebelled against the conventional norms, questioning power and government, and insisting on more freedoms for minorities. In addition, an enormous movement began rising in opposition to the Vietnam War. It was a time of brutal altercations, with the civil rights movement and the youth culture demanding equality and the war in Vietnam put public loyalty to the test. Countless African-Americans, Native-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, women, and college students became frustrated, angry, and disillusioned by the turmoil around them.
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
Although 1969, was the end of a significant decade, it held possibilities and hope for a new prosperous 10 years. Still in the midst of what was seen to many as the most pointless American war, the young generation especially was desperate to enforce a change. Change was a common theme of the 1960’s, deriving from movements such as the civil rights movements, the second feminist wave, a social revolution, and the anti-war movement. In addition, technology in America was at one of its highest peaks. Events such as the Space Race against the Sov...
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
The Woodstock Music Festival was a music event in Bethel, New York that changed the way people live. During August of 1969, many large crowds of American music lovers all came together to listen to the music of their favorite musicians for this huge music event. Woodstock swept the nation with not only talented musicians, but also many new thoughts and opinions on the world. This popular concert event introduced the ideas of peace, unity, kindness, and togetherness. The Woodstock Festival made a major impact on the United States. It helped people overcome prejudices, informed people about the danger of drugs, led to safer and better prepared concerts, and started a chain of music events all around the world. On August 15 through 18 of 1969
What is Woodstock? It is one of the most famous festivals in history due to the four young men John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artic Kohn, and Mike Lang. It was three days of peace and music. It took lots of planning most things didn’t even go right, for instance the location. They had planed to hold the event in Wallkill, New York but the town did not want to hold the festival there because all the violence due to Vietnam weeks before. They all freaked out trying to hurry and find a new location. Lucky a man by the name of Max Yasgur told the men that they could use his six hundred acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York. (McLeese)
John Roberts, Joel Rosenman, Artie Kornfield, and Michael Lang held the rock ‘n’ roll festival to raise money to start the construction of a recording studio near Woodstock, New York. Roberts and Rosenman financed the festival, while Land promoted the concert. Land had organized a smaller festival, Miami Pop, the year before, so he was well qualified. Roberts and Rosenman were entrepreneurs. Before Woodstock they were in the process of building a larger recording studio in Manhattan. Land and Kornfeld were also involved with the recording studio, but were advised by their lawyer to recommend constructing a smaller studio in Woodstock, New York. Roberts and Rosenman were excited about the “Studio-in-the-Woods” proposal and decided to organize a concert featuring the kind of artists that would be recognized in the Woodstock area for the studio’s funding. So, the idea for Woodstock was created in January of