Woodstock
I. Introduction A. Counterculture B. Music Revolution 1. Profit Motive 2. Ideal Community 3. Political Reaction II. Town Profit A. Loss Wages B. Local Business Profit III. Hippies Meet The Locals A. Positivity B. Community Ideals strengthened IV. Government Reaction A. Zoning Laws B. Political Fallout V. Conclusion A. Summary B. Personal Reflection VI. Bibliography A. Books B. Websites
Three Days of Peace and Music: Was it really peaceful?
“As the 1960s progressed, young Americans’ understanding of freedom increasingly expanded to include cultural freedom”(Foner, E. 2006). The generational rebellion that became to be known as counterculture would soon descend upon the hills of Bethel in upstate New York to what would be “the counterculture’s biggest bash”. The 1969 Woodstock Music Festival forever left a footprint in the lives of all those who had a hand in the staging of the festival, whether it be a hippie, planner, resident, or a business owner. It “brought together hundreds of thousands of young people to celebrate their alternative lifestyle and independence from adult authority.” (Foner, E. 2006). On August 15 to August 18, 1969, more than 450,000 people gathered on Max Yasgure’s pasture in Sullivan County to listen to music from artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Joan Baez. The town of Bethel was hit with a huge impact. While some good came out of it, such as local motels and gas stations profiting from the influx of hippies, farmers lost income and land were destroyed. Residents were left to clean up the mess left behind. Woodstock can be attributed to bringing the community of Bethel together as well as the young Americans who now had a stronger sense of community. Local government had to intervene by creating zoning laws. The residents of Bethel were promised future traffic jams would be prevented. Political fallout also resulted after Woodstock. This “experiment in
Three Days of Peace and Music: Was it really peaceful?
“As the 1960s progressed, young Americans’ understanding of freedom increasingly expanded to include cultural freedom”(Foner, E. 2006). The generational rebellion that became to be known as counterculture would soon descend upon the hills of Bethel in upstate New York to what would be “the counterculture’s biggest bash”. The 1969 Woodstock Music Festival forever left a footprint in the lives of all those who had a hand in the staging of the festival, whether it be a hippie, planner, resident, or a business owner. It “brought together hundreds of thousands of young people to celebrate their alternative lifestyle and independence from adult authority.” (Foner, E. 2006). On August 15 to August 18, 1969, more than 450,000 people gathered on Max Yasgure’s pasture in Sullivan County to listen to music from artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Joan Baez. The town of Bethel was hit with a huge impact. While some good came out of it, such as local motels and gas stations profiting from the influx of hippies, farmers lost income and land were destroyed. Residents were left to clean up the mess left behind. Woodstock can be attributed to bringing the community of Bethel together as well as the young Americans who now had a stronger sense of community. Local government had to intervene by creating zoning laws. The residents of Bethel were promised future traffic jams would be prevented. Political fallout also resulted after Woodstock. This “experiment in
Bibliography: Ed Justice Online. (n.d.) Ed Justice Online, http://edjusticeonline.com Category.(n.d.) 20th Century History, 20th Century History. http://history1900s.about.com Doyle, Michael Wm. Statement on the Historical and Cultural Significane of the 1969 Woodstock Festival Site, Indiana: Ball State University, 2001 Foner, Eric. (2006). Give me liberty! An American History (Seagull ed.) New York; W.W. Norton. “The Big Woodstock Rock Trip; Hundreds of Thousands of Kids Mob a Catskill Mountain Farm” Life Magazine Vol 67 no.9 (August 1969) Richie Havens and Steve Davidowitz. They Can’t Hide Us Anymore. New York; Spike/Avon. (1999) Welcome to the Woodstock – Prese.(n.d.) Welcome to the Woodstock-Preservation http://woodstockpreservation.org “Woodstock Festival Costs Bethel Official His Post”, New York Times (October 1969)