2. The 1960‟s
The legacy of the sixties has
been definitely very
important for the
development of society and
culture in Britain
The sixties were in many
respects revolutionary.
It was marked by not only
pop music, mods and
rockers, flower power, the
Vietnam War, the Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament, or
CND for short and a
rediscovery of poverty.
3. Decolonization
In 1960 that the British Prime
Minister, Harold MacMillan
gave his “Wind of Change
speech” to the Parliament of
South Africa, on 3 February
1960 in Cape Town
The speech signalled clearly
that the British Government
intended to decolonise and
most of the British possessions
in Africa subsequently
became independent nations
in the 1960s.
4. Was Britain really swinging?
In some ways, the cliches
of the 1960s are true for
some.
In the media the economy
seemed to be
good, unemployment
appeared to be non-
existent and wages were
steadily rising.
• Millions of families bought their first cars, washing machines, fridges and
televisions. Millions of teenagers, too, were transfixed by the sound of the
Beatles and the look of Mary Quant
• But it doesn‟t mean that they could imitate the lifestyle.
5. In other ways no..
A true reflection of Britain in the 1960‟s
also includes “a rediscovery of
poverty” – there was an assumption by
the post-war government that the
welfare state had eradicated poverty.
The continued existence of poverty in
the Sixties was also
characterised, tragically, by differences
in health between different social
classes. Slum housing still existed.
Wages for many people were still low –
creating extreme socialism and strong
unions which would mark the 1970s.
The Beatles were the icons of the
decade, but the lifestyle they
represented was not a reality for
ordinary Britons.
The Beatles did not reflect a
widespread take-up of alternative
lifestyles throughout the country.
6. Social blur between the
classes
The increasing pay slightly blurred the
boundaries between classes this
concerned mainly the working class and
the middle class, the upper class being a
bit detached.
Regional accents, many of which had
been connected with the working class
(e.g. Cockney), began to be generally
accepted and started to appear on
television and radio
And above all, people of working class
origin began to be successful, of which
the Beatles are an excellent example.
7. Changing Attitudes
Many of young people of Britain were
against the “Victorian moral code” with its
prejudices and uptight attitudes.
The sixties can be considered to be a
response to the fifties.
Marked by
affluence, youth, drugs, pop, and equality
movements.
The sexual revolution that started in the U.S
in the sixties influenced the country and
inspired many important changes.
8. Changes and important
cases in British Law
„Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ is a novel by D. H.
Lawrence that was written in 1928 and printed at
that time privately in Florence.
The publication of the book caused a scandal
due to its sexual content. When it was published
in Britain in 1960, the publishers were charged
under the Obscene Publications Act of 1959 was
a major public event and a test of the new
obscenity law.
At the trial various academic critics, were called
as witnesses, and the verdict, delivered on
November 2, 1960, was not guilty. This resulted
in a far greater degree of freedom for publishing
explicit material in the United Kingdom.
9. Changes and important
cases in British Law
Abolition of the Death Penalty
Act 1965
In 1967 two crucial laws were
passed.
The Abortion Act made it easier
for women to have an abortion.
Sexual Offences Act ended
prosecution of homosexuality.
The “Victorian moral code” was
The Moors murders were carried out by relaxed, British society became
Ian Brady and Myra Hindley between more liberal
July 1963 and October 1965, death
penalty abolished while awaiting trial
10. Music
In the sixties entertainment and
fun ceased to be the chief and
only purpose of music, and a
new form emerged: music that
carries a message, songs in
which the lyrics are more
important than the tune.
Bands such as the Rolling
Stones, the Beatles and The
Who
11. John Lennon - Rhythm Guitar
George Harrison - Lead Guitar
Paul McCartney - Bass
Ringo Starr - Drums
12. The Beatles
Most people in Western
society who has not heard
“She Loves You” or “Help!”
The hairstyle the Beatles were
wearing in the first half of
their career is usually referred
to as the „beatle-hairstyle
Glasses with round rims are
called „lenonky‟ in Czech,
Allusions to their songs and
lives are often used in movies
13. Why were they
so popular?
Their fresh and cheeky
behaviour must have been
appealing to British
teenagers in the early sixties.
Fashion does not last very
long, but Beatlemania
lasted more than three
years (it started in October
1963 and stopped by 1967)
Popular with teeny boppers
/ young girls
14. Influences
For example, when in the late
1960s the Beatles, who had
previously been marketed as
clean-cut youths, started
publicly acknowledging using
LSD, many fans followed.
"All You Need Is Love" was a
popular saying in the '60s anti-
war movement. The song was
released in the middle of the
Summer of Love (1967). It was
a big part of the vibe.
15. Brian Epstein - Manager
The Beatles' early success has
been attributed to his
management and sense of
style. Paul McCartney said of
him: "If anyone was the fifth
Beatle, it was Brian.”
Epstein's homosexuality was a
secret that had to be avoided
throughout his public life, as it
was not decriminalised in
England and Wales until the
year of his death of an
accidental drug overdose at
his home in London.
16. Going into the 1970s
1967 was the beginning of the end of the
Beatles after Brian Epstein‟s death
“More popular than Jesus” comment
The contradictions at the heart of the
affluent society were becoming
increasingly apparent.
Despite Harold Wilson's promises of endless
growth thanks to his National Plan, the
economy was running into serious trouble.
A year later, the public punished the
Labour government for its perceived
under-achievement. A new and much
unhappier era was at hand.
an era of industrial confrontation, rampant
inflation, an unexpected oil shock and an
unwelcome return of mass unemployment.
