British Cultural Changes in the 1960s Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

British Cultural Changes in the 1960s - Essay Example It is very certain that the experience of the World War II had a very severe impact and was the main reason that led to these changes. It is because of the Second World War that people wanted more. The British people demanded a higher level of equality and fairness (Gilbert, 1992, p. 67). It was after the World War 2 that the Britons realized that everyone had a part to play in social responsibility, and education was entitled to everyone. It was also a common belief in Britain that the British government could control the economy and ensure that their dreams were fulfilled. The British people went to great lengths to ensure that their dreams were fulfilled but still, they did not attain what they wanted. It is during the periods of the 1960s that attention was brought on the weakness of what the people wanted and strived to obtain. Many in Britain’s history consider the period of the 1960s as a watershed socially. It is also during this time that the idea of youth culture was fully developed and in action. The youth culture led to the greater rejection of the British culture together with other traditions. It is also during this period that individualism became more common and rampant (Harris, p. 228). Ideally, the British youth expressed greater dissatisfaction with the British political system, and they expressed it far more willingly (Tames, 1983, p. 231). The result for this is a greater individuality and withdrawal from the British culture. The changes of the 1960s set the pace for the following decades, and it can be agreed that Britain is still dealing with the fallout of the 1960s. So that one can understand the changes that took place in the 1960s, it will be valuable to know what took place in Britain during the world war and immediately after the world war.