Unit 1: American Vibes (Terminale G6)

The Birth of the Hippie Movement

The document under study is an extract of a documentary entitled “Hippies Changed a Generation”, released in 2016 by Decades TV Network on their YouTube Channel. We have learned that the Hippie movement started in the 1960s in contrast of what was happening in the 1950s. In fact, in America, social conformity was the norm and everyone had to think like everybody else and had to dress the same way. Therefore, the young generation decided to rebel against their parents, the government and their main community and the mainstream society as a whole. Moreover, they were characterized as be opposed to the war, they were living in community. On top of that, they had long hair, they were wearing colorful and gaudy clothes. We could recognize them through their two symbols: the flower power and the peace one.

However, for the American government, they were seen as a threat for the American way of life because of their communal living style that was seen as communism.

(We will continue the study of the first part of the video  (00:00 -> 1:42) next time. Be ready:

-How did they impact the American society?

-How did the movement end? Tell about its limits.)

Homework: Learn the lesson.