The Consciousness Revolution (Second Turning, 1964–1984) began with urban riots and campus fury and swelled alongside Vietnam war protests and a rebellious “counterculture.” It gave rise to feminist, environmental, and black power movements—and also to a steep rise in violent crime and family breakup. After the fury peaked with Watergate (in 1974), passions turned inward toward New Age lifestyles and spiritual rebirth. The mood expired during Reagan’s upbeat reelection campaign, as onetime hippies reached their yuppie chrysalis.

• G.I.s entering elderhood
• Silent entering midlife
• Boomers entering young adulthood
• Xers entering childhood