The Counterculture of the 1960s and 70s: Changing Environmentalism
The development of a cultural group comes about as a reaction to the mainstream culture. The hippies of the 1960s emerged by following in the footsteps of the counterculture group that came before them, the Beat Generation, or Beatniks. In the 1950s, the Cold War hysteria swept across the United States, leading to the increase in conservative and repressive ideals, like censoring literature and music, and speech. An increase in consumerism also arose and was marked by an obsession with material gain. The Beatnik revolution grew out of this mainstream change and was lead by famous literary figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg (Issitt 1-2).
Beginning in the 1960s large groups of people protested against the injustices they felt in America. Groups against war, discrimination and the government in general stepped up to oppose the government and often rioted. The counterculture of this time hated the materialist gain that had sprouted in the 1950s, thinking that it took away from higher goals like building communities. To the counterculture,the capitalist economy that flourished also represented the American motivation for military aggression and minority oppression (Issitt 1).
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This clip is an overview of the 1960s counterculture
Video 3
Video 3
Communal Living
This is a photo of a group dancing in a commune in the 1960s
Photo 8
Hippies envisioned a world free from the pursuit of wealth. They wished to live in communities where they could provide for one another and live in harmony. Usually, these groups of hippies distanced themselves from the radical action of the rest of the counterculture, believing that they were "buying in" to the dysfunction of civilization (Issitt 51).
One of the first communes was Drop City near Trinidad, Colorado. It lasted and was mostly a gathering of artists. This commune also held the 3-day Alloy gathering that sparked the idea for the Whole Earth Catalog.
One of the first communes was Drop City near Trinidad, Colorado. It lasted and was mostly a gathering of artists. This commune also held the 3-day Alloy gathering that sparked the idea for the Whole Earth Catalog.
In the 1970s many Americans felt that American ethic for development had pushed nature too far. In 1969 nature seemed to be rebelling against the humans with many environmental disasters that were the direct result of human carelessness or lack of knowledge (Black and Lybecker vol 2, 115). Americans staged the first Earth Day on April, 22 1970. Activists around the country held teach-ins to help people learn about the environment and the importance of preserving it (Richards 39). As a result, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency to replace the ineffective state environmental programs. Several other acts and changes followed that controlled the air and water pollution, pesticide damage and to protect marine animals and endangered species. During the Ford and Carter administrations the environmental legislation continued. Even though the presidents were able to make changes that drastically changed the environmental impact of the United States they could not erase the past damage. In 1977, Love Canal, taught the nation a lesson about environmental dangers (Richards 42).
People living in the 1970s became more aware of food's effect on the body. Many people protested the TV dinners, fast foods, and other high processed and packaged foods that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. They started to eat more natural or organic foods. Many advocates of healthy eating also pushed for vegetarian cooking. They came up with ways to replace meat with other protein foods such as soy and wheat, and experimented with vegetables and fruits as well as seasonings (Richards 47).
People living in the 1970s became more aware of food's effect on the body. Many people protested the TV dinners, fast foods, and other high processed and packaged foods that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. They started to eat more natural or organic foods. Many advocates of healthy eating also pushed for vegetarian cooking. They came up with ways to replace meat with other protein foods such as soy and wheat, and experimented with vegetables and fruits as well as seasonings (Richards 47).
Environmental Disasters Spark Change
President Richard Nixon Photo 9
In the 60s and 70s many environmental disasters impacted the thoughts of the American public. Many people started to think about how the environment impacted their lives and paid more attention to how our country treats the Earth. In January 1969, an oil well caught fire and exploded off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. It leaked over 235,000 gallons of oil, leaving sticky oil tar on over 30 miles of Pacific beach. In the summer of the same year the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio caught fire after tons of chemicals had been released into it by various companies. The river had caught fire before but this time was beyond local embarrassment.
Building off of the the same precedents as the Clean Air Acts, Congress passed a series of environmental laws (Kirk 93). The National Environmental Policy Act, signed by President Nixon was the most significant. This law requires all federally funded projects to produce an Environmental Impact Statement, which outlines in detail the ways the project would affect the environment (Kirk 93).
Building off of the the same precedents as the Clean Air Acts, Congress passed a series of environmental laws (Kirk 93). The National Environmental Policy Act, signed by President Nixon was the most significant. This law requires all federally funded projects to produce an Environmental Impact Statement, which outlines in detail the ways the project would affect the environment (Kirk 93).