How did the hippie movement start?

Answer by  nitroburst (147)

The term "Hippie" was a moniker given to beatniks, or hipsters.The beatniks where a sub-culture of people who had different social,artist and political views of the mainstream . A youthful counterculture grew from this Philosophy.These people where commonly known as Hippie's,And had a major impact on 60's cultural events.

Answer by  beck (1099)

Hippies were a reaction to the conservative ideas and culture of the 1950's. Beatniks were the precursors to the hippie movement which grew around the ideals of the anti-war movement and civil rights issues. As a way of identifying their movement they adopted similar dress and hair styles in an attempt to be a different as possible from the masses.