Youth Culture of the 1960s

#War, Disillusionment, and Youth Politics

Before the Vietnam War, support for US foreign policy and globals wars remained mostly unanimous amongst youth. During WWI and WWI, all age groups felt a sense of unifying nationalism and patriotic duty to support and contribute to the war effort with the motivation to protect democracy and freedom globally. The Vietnam War however started to shift the foundation of this sentiment, making people, especially youth, question whether our meddling in foreign affairs was truly protecting anything or anyone. As the war dragged on and the public became increasingly aware of the high costs and questionable justifications for American involvement, many young people began to question the government's foreign policy and the country's role in international affairs.

As the war continued, more and more young people became involved in protests against the war and began to speak out against the government's actions. Many young people saw the war as an example of the United States' imperialistic foreign policy and a violation of the principles of democracy and self-determination. They also saw the war as a symbol of the government's willingness to sacrifice the lives of young Americans for questionable goals.

The Vietnam War had a lasting impact on the youth of the United States and their views on foreign affairs. It sparked a new wave of activism and questioning of government actions, and many young people became more skeptical of the government's foreign policy and more critical of American involvement in international conflicts.

#The New Left

This newfound passion for activism left to the rise of the New Left was a political movement that consisted young people, students, and intellectuals who were disillusioned with traditional liberal and socialist politics and sought to bring about radical social change.

The movement also criticized policies which politicians and lawmakers labeled as "liberal" for doing too little to fix domestic issues in the United States and diverting attention to focus on immoral foreign affairs overseas.

The New Left was driven by a number of social and political issues, including the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the growing economic and cultural divide between the wealthy and the poor. Many members of the New Left saw these issues as interconnected and believed that they could only be addressed through radical, systemic change.

The New Left was characterized by its commitment to grassroots organizing, participatory democracy, and non-violent direct action. It sought to empower ordinary people and give them a greater say in the decisions that affected their lives.

###...