"The young people gathering in places like San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district are not just protesting the war or fighting for civil rights; they are rejecting the very foundation of middle-class American life. They find the suburban promise of their parents' generation—the security of corporate jobs, television sets, and manicured lawns—to be sterile and unfulfilling. In its place, they advocate for a lifestyle centered on communal living, artistic expression, and a cooperative ethos."
— Journalist account of the youth movement, 1967
Which of the following historical developments of the 1960s is most directly reflected in the attitudes described in the excerpt?
- AThe mobilization of domestic containment policies aimed at identifying political subversives.
- The rise of a youth counterculture that rejected traditional middle-class consumerism and conformity.Answer
- CThe implementation of federal Great Society programs to eliminate poverty through job training.
- DThe passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to expand military actions in Southeast Asia.
Answer
The rise of a youth counterculture that rejected traditional middle-class consumerism and conformity.
The correct answer is correct because the youth counterculture of the 1960s was defined by a rejection of postwar middle-class values, such as consumerism, conformity, and corporate career paths, in favor of alternative lifestyles, communal living, and personal expression.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The youth counterculture of the 1960s and its rejection of post-WWII middle-class conformity.
Estimated Time:45s