WHAT IS THE COUNTERCULTURE MOVEMENT?

BASIC INFORMATION

• Took place in the 1960's
• Rejected many previous values of their parents generation
• Long hair and lose clothes differed from the societal norms
• Hippies went with the flow and adjusted to what they believed was right

THE RISE

Rooted in the social and political events of the 1950's

Many wars and movements prompted people to question traditional boundaries

AUTHORITY

MEMBERS VALUED

CHARACTERISTICS

• Peace
• Love
• Freedom
• Experimented with new styles
• Different views on sexual relations
• Drugs

GENERATION GAP

Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll
Other Major Characteristics

THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION

• Rejected sexual traditions
• Lived in communes where they could share interests
• 2/3 of Americans over 30 opposed premarital sex
• Led to open discussions in media

DRUGS

• Drugs were highly used during festivals like Woodstock
• Were highly encouraged and shared with one another
• It gave a sense of freedom and rebellion

ROCK & ROLL (MUSIC)

• Became a defining characteristic
• The Beatles were most popular at the time
• Songs contained protest meanings and opposed any war or governmental vaules
• Highlighted civil rights and peace movements

HAIGHT-ASHBURY

HAIGHT-ASHBURY

• Hippies experimented with drugs here
• Wore unconventional clothing
• Listened to rock and roll music
• Led to high rates of crime due to drug abuse

POLITICAL RADICAL TIMOTHY LEARY

SPIRITUALITY

EXPLORED FOR ENLIGHTENMENT

• Many strayed from Judeo-Christian traditions
• Explored Buddhism and other Eastern Religions
• Others lived in harmony with nature
• Some lived off land like Native Americans

THE COUNTERCULTURE

UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES

• Drug addictions and deaths rose
• Violence occurred which contradicted the "peace and love" values of hippies

CONT'D

• The movement's values were becoming shallow and self-centered
• Most hippies abandoned this movement and fell right back into mainstream society
• Influenced the growing "rights revolution"

HOW DID THE COUNTERCULTURE MOVEMENT

INFLUENCES

• Strayed from traditional values
• Opposed government ideas and war
• A creative side of Americans was expressed
• Gave a sense of freedom and rebellion
• Inspired many to be themselves

Though the movement shortly fell, it inspired the world to express peace, love, and freedom for any cause