The Rise and Fall of Innocence: The 1960s

The Rise and Fall of Innocence: The 1960s

If the 1950s can be compared to a child taking over a playground and alienating all of their friends, than the 1960s can definitely be considered the early teenage years, full of rebellion and constantly asking questions. The 60s is a very important decade because at the beginning, the American people are so full of hope and there is an aura of pure innocence that surrounds everything that is being done and said. But by 1969, the mood of the people has dramatically changed to one of spite and cynicism. The 1960s is the decade in which the people begin to distrust everything their government tells them and sets up for the modern line of thought concerning politics.

But as stated before, the early years were ones of hope and promise. With JFK in the White House doors began to open that people didn’t even know existed. Finally, there was a president who looked to future generations and asked them for their opinions and thoughts on the issues. Not only did he listen, but he respected the younger generation almost as if they were equals. Having become a father shortly before his election, he understood that it was those to come after him that would make the changes in the world and he encouraged them all to become involved and to stand up for what they believe in. Finally, someone with the right line of thinking that would get the gears of change turning.

Sadly, once the country began to hope and to believe that good times were on their way, JFK is assassinated and sends those who had so much hope before into darkness. All that JFK stood for and all the promise that he brought with him was taken away from us in an instant, and those that truly believed in what he believed were crushed and their innocence lost forever. There was, however, still a glimmer of hope in Robert Kennedy and in Martin Luther King Jr. Where JFK had left off, these two picked up and forged on with the ideas of equality, listening to the youth of the nation and getting the youth involved. Once again, people were filled with a hope that just maybe, our country could be what we always hoped it would be. Not to mention with the ratification of the Equal Right Act of 1964, the country seemed unstoppable.

Then, in another instant Martin Luther King Jr. was taken from us and with him the notions of equality for some. That put all of the hopes and dreams of an entire country on the shoulders of Robert Kennedy who was able to take on that burden quite well and keep the peoples hopes up with their idealism. But, of course, with a few more shots of a gun, these ideals were finally put to rest. The death of Robert Kennedy it the defining moment in which America completely lost its innocence. Up until that moment,