Anti-War Protest In The 1960's

To what extent did the student involvement fuel the anti-war protests?

The 1960's had become one of the most turbulent times in the United States. Students shook the innocence and seriousness of the 1950's to become active members of society. It was a time of change where students took an active role in the peace movements and their involvement fueled the anti-war protests.

The Cold War was at its peak in the 1960’s. People were afraid because the USA and the USSR were engaged in the arms race, both of these superpowers possessed nuclear weapons, the USA had sent troops to Vietnam and the conflict in the Middle East was a constant threat to world peace. Peace movements were established because of the uncertainty and conflict during the 1960’s.

This was a time where young people from middle class backgrounds were able to go to university or college once they had finished school. College enrollment reached nine million students by the end of the 1960’s. Colleges and universities in America had more students than before, and these institutions often tried to restrict student behaviour to maintain order on the campuses. The students chose to embrace the rebellious mood of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ instead of following the adult standards of hard work and nonaggressive behaviour. They challenged their parent’s values by rejecting the accepted norms of society. They were known as ‘hippies’ and rebelled against the standards set by their parents. They wore kaftans, long skirts, bell-bottom jeans, bead and sandals. Boys grew their hair long, which was also a form of protesting. Another form of protesting was where other young people experimented with drugs like LSD. The hippies believed in communal living and sexual freedom. They listened to Rock music performed by artists such as the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. The lyrics of the songs performed by these musicians reflected the hippies’ rejection of conventional values. They were committed to peace and love. Hippies believed that flowers symbolized peace and called themselves ‘flower children.’ A feature of the opposition movement was the fact that it was a popular social event. As one student said, antiwar demonstrations were the places to "get laid, get high, and listen to some great