An Overview of the Counterculture

After being forced to live a conservative lifestyle in the 1940's

& 1950's, the youth of America wanted a change.

The suppression of 70 million people led to a new and radical way of thinking that changed U.S.

history forever.

People began listening to a new kind of music, rock & roll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWWsfrfq69A

Jackson 5 also had a #1 hit with “I want you back”

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN6W82kyMAE

And in Cali

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L--cqAI3IUI

Fashion

• The style of dress changed from long dresses and short hair, to short skirts, and long, straight hair

• The youth of the era lived with the mentality, "live and let live." They often protested war, and colleges became centers for debates on issues and even for sit-ins.

1960

• Population 177,830,000 • Unemployment 3,852,000 • National Debt 286.3 Billion • Average Salary $4,743 • Teacher's Salary $5,174 • Life Expectancy Males 66.6 years, Females 73.1 years • Auto deaths 21.3 per 100,000 • An estimated 850,000 "war baby" freshmen enter college; emergency living

quarters are set up in dorm lounges, hotels and trailer camps. • Minimum Wage $1.00 •  

HIPPIES

• The hippies of the Counterculture had the mentality of, "Tune in, tune off, and drop out."

• Hippies began wearing their hair long, and their clothes short.

• Hippies were against traditional society. • Many hippies could be found at the corner of

Haight and Ashbury in California.• Here, many practiced their carefree lifestyle. • They believed Americans were too materialistic • Haight and Ashbury offered free food and

clothing to anyone who needed it..

Summer of Love

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G8O7mkIjpM