The counter-culture movements of the 1960s occurred in many different countries, not just the United States. One factor that the United States had in common with other places, such as Western Europe, was the baby boom. With the large post-war population surge, there were enough dissatisfied youth in various democracies to make the counter-culture movements a viable thing and lead to widespread social and political upheaval. Having this large population of young people, combined with rising economic prosperity, meant that those dissatisfied with society often had the means to effectively form their various movements rather than focus on matters of day to day personal survival.

The expansion of mass-media also linked these movements and cultures. Television, in particular, meant that the events of the world brought people together like never before. Nightly news coverage of current events made them relevant, encouraged dissatisfaction with the status quo, and encouraged many people to strive for societal change. This was accelerated by numerous sub-culture publications, newspapers, and magazines.

While there were common elements that spanned nations, the United States had unique factors. For one thing, the civil rights movement was a large part of the cultural upheaval that defined the United States at the time. Ending segregation and Jim Crow laws became a large part of how America's youth challenged traditional authority. Furthermore, the Vietnam War and the military draft led to massive levels of dissatisfaction among the nation's youth. This spawned the anti-war movement, which was a major part of the country's counter-cultural movement as a whole. While these were cultural protests, they also had a political element to them. The civil rights movements and anti-war movements challenged the nation's leaders to make changes.