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Despite the turbulence of the times, many look back upon the 1960s with fond memories and one of the best to grow up throughout the history of the country. Family life closely mirrored the times with the decade beginning simply and innocently. But it quickly grew into unrest and uncertainty with war, assassinations, and rebellion. These notable highlights and advances of the decade cannot be overstated…
Watch the video below or scroll on for a reminiscent walk through the 1960s… in color.
Societal Advances
-Women’s rights and civil rights were at the top of the list of societal advances in the 1960s. The makeup of the typical family began to change with more and more women entering the workforce. This challenged the social order of men being the breadwinners and women staying home to care for the home and children. At the same time, civil rights struggles consisting of peaceful protests, violent retaliation, and landmark legislation would change the course of the nation forever. The assassinations of JFK, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy and the Vietnam War made headlines, and suddenly the future seemed quite uneasy and unclear.
Television
-Most American households had a television at this time. Not only were they a main source of consuming news as it was happening, they became a way for families to gather and relax for some entertainment after dinner. With only three available channels, some of the options included the Beverly Hillbillies, Bonanza, The Andy Griffith Show, and Star Trek.
Sports
-Sports emerged as a top form of entertainment with baseball and the home run chase, the rise of Muhammad Ali, and the first Super Bowl that would pit the Green Bay Packers against the Kansas City Chiefs. These events served as a nice escape from the harsh realities of the time.
Entertainment
-What did people do for fun in the 1960s? Riding banana bikes with friends, listening to the Beatles, watching American Bandstand, learning to do the twist, and taking road trips were at the forefront for most of us! 🙂
Space Exploration
-The space race of the 1960s brought the country together like nothing else. When Apollo 11 finally rocketed into space and we all got to witness astronaut Neil Armstrong become the first person to step on the moon, it was a dream come true after a decade of planning and hard work. It was the perfect ending to one of the most memorable decades in American history!
What are your favorite memories growing up in the 1960s? Feel free to comment below 🙂
