The 1960s and 1970s was a very unique time, with a very large cultural shift occurring especially in the United States or in the West in general during that period. It was a time of new ideas, and people were exploring new ways of life never like before. Also during this time was the period of the Cold War which was a complex and tense situation with Russia, which had a heavy influence on this time period. But would I say that the world in general in the West was a dangerous place in the 60s and 70s? If so in what sense was it dangerous?
During the 1960s and 1970s the Cold War was in full fledged, and America and Russia had a pretty tense relationship. Though neither country was harmed in the physical military sense there still was a lot of issues with spies from either side, threats such as threats of attack from both sides, etc. The Cold War in many ways also influenced the Vietnam War which was a war against communists who were funded by the Soviets, and the non-communists who were eventually supported by the United States. The Vietnam War is one that many believe America should not have been involved in, and many Americans at the time were against the war. There were many mass anti-war protests during the United States involvement in the Vietnam War.
A very important key event was the assassination of president Kennedy in 1963, which caused a very large disruption in America. The vice president who became president, president Johnson, implemented what is called The Welfare State. Though the Welfare State seemed to be a sound thing that would help the poor it in the long run had many negative long-lasting effects, such as the loss of the work ethic. Though the Cold War, Kennedy’s assassination, the implementation of the welfare state, and the overall cultural change during this period of time caused much mental strain and stress to the people of the West overall it was not a dangerous time. Compared to the 40s during World War II the 60s and 70s was not a dangerous time in history in the physical standpoint, though it could be said otherwise in the mental standpoint.
In conclusion, though the 60s and 70s was a very tense and serious time in history it overall for the average American was not a dangerous time. It was a very unique time in history, where people began to lose their trust in the government, and other authority figures which had previously been fully trusted.
The Dreamer 