Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote "The great man is he who in the mist of the crowd maintains with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude." Emerson says the only way to truly be yourself is to not care what other people think. One should be able to walk in a crowd and know that one does not blend into the crowd. Many people don't like to stand out because they find comfort in conforming to society. This consensus is reminiscent of the 1950s, when conformity was everything. However, a revolution of social and political change known as counterculture arose that challenged the values ​​of the time. The counterculture movement was tremendously pervasive in spreading its values ​​by opposing and subsequently reversing the traditional norms of the 1950s through the New Left, the anti-war movement, and the Hippie movement. To fully realize the achievements and scope of the counterculture movement, one must first understand the era that preceded it: the 1950s. This was a period of extreme conservatism and conformity based on overwhelming consensus. The 1950s values ​​of anti-communism, conservatism, conformity, and consensus took root in the 1940s, when Americans began to reject the liberalism of the 1930s. World War II brought about the change from the 1930s to the 1940s. After the end of the war, American society began to completely transform. The 1930s era was known for its extreme liberalism in all aspects of the nation; it penetrated American politics, economics and culture. However, after World War II, this widespread liberalism was overturned and was completely replaced by radical conservatism in the 1950s due to America's excessive anti-communist sentiment. This led to the formation of a national consensus, which established what contributed to providing food, water, medicines and medical care. Ultimately, Woodstock demonstrated that the values ​​of the Hippie movement could successfully reverse those of the consensus. Ultimately, the counterculture movement spread its values ​​by opposing the traditional norms of the 1950s through the New Left, the anti-war movement, and the Hippie movement. . All these movements pushed people not to conform and to accept new ideas and different ways of living. Today there is still a sense of consensus and there are not enough people or groups willing to fight against contemporary conformism. Everyone likes the feeling of feeling integrated. However, copying others should be the last thing on your mind. Everyone should truly adhere to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To be yourself in a world that constantly tries to make you something else is the greatest achievement”..”