Youth Revolution In The 1960's

Question 0

What factors contributed towards increasing affluence amongst young adults? (5 points)

Answer 0

• Unemployment extremely low
• Wages increased faster than prices
• More effective birth control - smaller families, women returning to work quicker
• Young people had lots of leisure time - by late 1950’s most worked 5 day week rather than 6
• Rise in trade unions = extra free time secured

Question 1

What was it like to grow up in the 1950’s (2 points)

Answer 1

• Children were younger version of their parents - wearing similar clothes, going to the same school and generally the same workplace
• Families tended to watch the same TV as there were no age specific programmes yet

Question 2

Describe how clothes changed during the 60’s (3 points)

Answer 2

• Introduction of the mini skirt
• Increase in disposable income of teenagers meant there was a huge market for fashionable goods
• Very different styles developed from their parents generation

Question 3

Describe new trends in music & meeting places. (3 points)

Answer 3

• New genres became popular - skiffle bands, rock ‘n’ roll & jazz
• Youth began to congregate in dance halls and coffee shops
• Less time spent with family

Question 4

Describe emerging groups such as the Teddy boys and gangs.

Answer 4

• Teddy Boys named because of their Edwardian style jackets, their distinctive style and music began to define them as a definite subculture
• Gangs - some wilder groups acquired a reputation for trouble, violence and rebellion.

Question 5

Define: diversity

Answer 5

• Diversity depends on social background, where you live, race, education, and family.
• Differences between individuals and communities = higher diversity

Question 6

How much did teenagers spend on themselves per year in the 60’s?

Answer 6

• £800!

Question 7

Main items purchased by teenagers?

Answer 7

• Clothes
• Entertainment
• Cinemas, dance halls, record shops
• Cosmetics
• Bicycles/motorbikes
*Teenagers bought a third of all cosmetics, bicycles/motorcycles & film tickets!!

Question 8

Summarise music before the 1960’s

Answer 8

• Music scene dominated by:

• professional musicians
• professional writers
• big bands

Question 9

Summarise music from the 1960’s onwards

Answer 9

Music science overcrowded with:

• young men and women singer songwriters
• songs with hard message e.g. Preference to drugs + violence for example ‘The Beatles’, ‘The Rolling Stones’ & ‘The Who’

Question 10

What two subcultures became prominent in 1964?

Answer 10

• Mods

* Rockers

Question 11

Describe the Mods. (4 points)

Answer 11

• Subculture that developed in 1950’s
• Interests included pop music + tailor maid suits
• Took great pride in appearance
• Used scooters

Question 12

Describe the Rockers. (3 points)

Answer 12

• Wore leather jackets
• Had more of an aggressive appearance
• Used motorcycles

Question 13

Describe changing attitudes to sex and promiscuity. (3 points)

Answer 13

1. Teenagers were more sexually mature
2. Contraceptive pill introduced
3. Sexually transmitted illnesses treated effectively with antibiotics

Question 14

However, what evidence showed that the 60’s generation weren’t sex mad? (3 points)

Answer 14

1. Skewed media coverage of celebrities
2. Contraceptive pill not available until 1969
3. Family planning clinics only gave the pill to married women until 1970