Title: How did the Vietnam War influence the social structure and lifestyles from the 1960s counterculture? - eNotes.com
Headings: How did the Vietnam War influence the social structure and lifestyles from the 1960s counterculture?
The Vietnam War
How did the Vietnam War influence the social structure and lifestyles from the 1960s counterculture?
Expert Answers
We’ll help your grades soar

Content: This had already been happening to some extent as a reaction to what the counterculture people felt was the overbearing authority of their parents. But it grew as a response to the war. The people of the counterculture felt that the war was an example of how blind obedience to authority was ruining our civilization. It was in reaction to this perceived excess of authority that the hippies tried to form communes and other social structures that lacked any authority figures. ( Of course, that didn't always work so well as some people fleeing authority ended up under the authority of people like Charles Manson...)
Approved by eNotes Editorial Team
Ashley Kannan
Educator since 2009
16,843 answers
| Certified Educator
Page Citation
Share Link
One of the most cultural important influences of the Vietnam War was to inspire the spirit of rebellion and protest that became such an integral part of the 1960s. The growth of the counterculture movement and the spirit of free expression found a home in the opposition to the war. As the conflict escalated, individuals who were a part of the counterculture sought the forum to voice their dislike for the conflict. The social structure of the family also saw a level of change as the war became perceived as engineered by the old against the "flower of the youth," as most of the soldiers sent to fight and die were young. This helped expand the counterculture movement to be a generational one. In terms of lifestyle, the Vietnam war was seen as an example of conservative American values.