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I think I read somewhere that 1965 was the start of America's crime wave. That was the start of the hippie movement and crime started to go up with the breakdown in society connected with drugs, rock music and a lack of respect for authority. It has been downhill since then.
My parents said that before that year life was more peaceful, the crime rate was very low, families were stronger, illegal drug use was limited and kids behaved in school.
Historians: was 1965 the start of the downward spiral in American society?
They got to be a problem about 10,000 years ago when the first humans crossed the Bering Strait. Since then, we've had slavery, murder, human sacrifice, torture, rape, theft, etc.
They got to be a problem about 10,000 years ago when the first humans crossed the Bering Strait. Since then, we've had slavery, murder, human sacrifice, torture, rape, theft, etc.
It changed but was still a problem after 1492.
That stupid land bridge caused the downfall of society I tell ya!
I believe the common belief of people that lived in the 50's that people are more aggressive now is true. I also believe that they also felt safer then and am not willing to put this off as misinformation. i know that I don't need any news report to tell me what areas to avoid when i see it. It reminds me of people saying that you should not judge people by their appearance. But if I am walking in the woods and see a animal that loks like a wolf;has teeth like a wolf I will avoid it. Same goes for someone who looks like a gang member by their dress. We profile everyday in reality. Does anyone believe our schools are just as safe now. Schools are just a look at our society IMO.
I believe the crime rate increased when they outlawed cruising. The police could oversee all the kids in one area basically. When they banned cruising, all the kids went off in different areas, some good some with gangs and violence others would vandalise having nothing else to do
Pick any era which you designate "the good old days", travel back to it and you know what you would find? A bunch of people complaining about how things had really gone downhill since the "good old days."
I think I read somewhere that 1965 was the start of America's crime wave. That was the start of the hippie movement and crime started to go up with the breakdown in society connected with drugs, rock music and a lack of respect for authority. It has been downhill since then.
My parents said that before that year life was more peaceful, the crime rate was very low, families were stronger, illegal drug use was limited and kids behaved in school.
Historians: was 1965 the start of the downward spiral in American society?
Short answer? July 5, 1776.
The human condition hasn't changed and neither have Americans. It didn't start in the 60's or even the 20th century.
I don't know what history books y'all have been reading, but the "good ol' days" when people were pure and honest never existed.
I think I read somewhere that 1965 was the start of America's crime wave. That was the start of the hippie movement and crime started to go up with the breakdown in society connected with drugs, rock music and a lack of respect for authority. It has been downhill since then.
My parents said that before that year life was more peaceful, the crime rate was very low, families were stronger, illegal drug use was limited and kids behaved in school.
Historians: was 1965 the start of the downward spiral in American society?
The thing I would argue with your parents about it the "downhill since then" statement. All of the issues you highlighted certainly started to increase in the mid-60's, but then they peeked around 1990-95 and have been declining ever since.
Here are the actual curves from the BJS:
You may find some of the threads discussing Strauss and Howe's Generational Theories to be very interesting. Essentially what your parents have observed and pointed out to you are part of larger generational cycles. Seeing where you are in that mix and its context against past events helps to understand some of these macro societal trends:
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