In many ways, Hippies were direct descendants of the Beat Generation, though they were more politically active than the Beatniks. Hippies brought counter-culture into the mainstream. In the early 60s, with the arrival of the Beatles, music and clothing had grown more outrageous (in the eyes of the older generation). Also, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy disillusioned many of the younger generation.
But the issue that made Hippies into a major social force was the Peace Movement, and the Vietnam war became their main focus. The hippies became the leaders in the protest movement against Vietnam. They organised large anti-war demonstrations, burned their draft cards and tried to influence public opinion in many different ways. They wore peace symbols, had sit-ins in schools and universities and painted anti-war graffiti on public buildings. They had slogans like "Flower Power", "Make love not War", and "Never trust anyone over 30" which became catchcries for the younger generation. Timothy Leary summed up the Hippy movement with his call to "Tune in, Turn on, Drop out."
Music was also an important part of the Hippy Movement. Bob Dylan, one of the main protest singers of the 60s, was popular with the Hippies. While most pop singers were still singing about Love and Doves and the Moon in June, his lyrics were very political with messages about social issues. "The Times They are a-changing" became an anthem for change, as did 'Blowin' in The Wind'. Other singers like Joan Baez and Buffy Saint Marie (who wrote "Universal Soldier", one of the most famous anti-war songs ever) were also part of the protest movement. Other music that was popularised by the Hippies was psychedelic music, played by bands like Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd.