To some, the 60s were a decade of discovery as Americans first journeyed to the moon. Others remember the time as a decade of America's moral decline with the advent of rock and roll and its representation of "sinful", inappropriate ideals. Yet for many people, the 60s symbolized a decade of love and harmony. Hippies exemplified these beliefs, and in 1969 they gathered at a music festival known as Woodstock to celebrate their music, their love, and their freedom in a concert that has remained on of the most influential events of the 60s.

The youth of the 60s were known as the "Love generation". They made love promiscuously and openly, and preferred open to formal marriages. Weekend "love-ins", free form gatherings, communal living quarters, and rock festivals were held in response to the "love movement". The "love movement" was the hippie belief for peace and harmony. It reached its peak in the summer of 1967, and by then it had over 300,000 followers who referred to themselves as the "love children" or the "gentle people". They gathered in San Francisco, the hippie center of the world, during the summers. During these "Summers of love", they lived on the streets of Haight-A

The lure of the festival was an all-star cast of top rock artists, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jefferson Airplane. But the good vibrations of the good groups turned out to be the least of it. What the youth of America, and their observing elders saw at Bethel was the potential power of a generation that had in countless disturbing ways rejected the traditional values and goals of the U.S. Thousands of young people, who had previously thought of themselves as an isolated minority realized now what power they had as a group over society (Fass 3).

Grunwald, Henry. "Youth Trip." This Fabulous Century: 1960-1970. 1986 ed.

Hertsgard, Mark. A Day in the Life: The Music and Artistry of the Beatles. New York: Dell

"Woodstock Music and Art Fair." Newsweek. August 1969:88.

"Rock Audience Moves to Dusk-to-Dawn Rhythms." New York Times. 18 August 1969:25.

"Woodstock: Peace Mecca." Billboard. August 1969:1,10.

Frike, David. "Minor Epiphanies and Momentary Bummers." Rolling Stone. August 1989:62-91.

Some common words found in the essay are:
San Francisco, Acid Rock, Jefferson Airplane, Rock Revolution, Watkins Glen, Bethel Consequently, Max Yasgur's, Tired Rock, Hog Farm, Glen York, rock music, music art, rock roll, woodstock music, woodstock music art, music art fair, art fair, peace mecca, san francisco, grateful dead, jefferson airplane, rock festivals, music festival woodstock, 19 march 1999,
Approximate Word count = 2965
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page double spaced)