Bumper Sticker on Pick-up Truck

The hippie subculture emerged in the United States and other Western countries during the mid-1960s, at a time of social and political upheaval. It was characterized by a rejection of mainstream values, a countercultural approach to life, and a focus on peace, love, and personal freedom. Hippies were known for their liberal attitudes toward sex, drugs, and social issues. They often embraced alternative lifestyles and practiced non-traditional forms of spirituality, such as Buddhism and Hinduism. They also rejected consumer culture and advocated for environmental and social justice causes. The name derived from “hip,” a term applied to the Beats of the 1950s, such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, who were generally considered to be the precursors of hippies. Although the movement arose in part as opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1955–75), hippies were often not directly engaged in politics, as opposed to their activist counterparts known as “Yippies” (Youth International Party). The hippie movement was influenced by a number of factors, including the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the counterculture of the Beat Generation. It was also influenced by the psychedelic music scene, which included bands like The Grateful Dead and The Doors. The hippie movement reached its peak in the late 1960s, but its influence can still be seen today in contemporary counterculture and alternative lifestyles.