The Power of Rock: The British Invasion of the 1960s and Its Effects on American Popular CultureAn article submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of United States HistoryJay JadejaDepartment of HistorySt . Albans SchoolWashington, DCAApril 22, 2014Rock and roll. These three words represent a culture of freedom and rebellion, innovation and individual expression. This distinct genre of music is not only recognized and respected by many populations around the world, but it also inspires new genres, such as pop and rap. But the creation of his identity lies in his past. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a new genre emerged in America. It encompassed a combination of elements from other musical genres such as jazz, blues, western swing and country music. Eventually, in the 1950s, the genre acquired its name: rock and roll. It had a new name and a new style, and as American culture evolved, many Americans adopted the rock and roll philosophy. Rock and roll culture spoke to young people about rebellion and questioning authority. This prompted listeners to transform their norms: the way they spoke, the way they dressed, the way they thought. In its early years, rock and roll was primarily American. Foreign musicians, like Cliff Richard and the Shadows, recognized American supremacy over the genre, while American musicians, like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry, controlled the music scene. However, as the genre progressed in the 1950s, it spread to Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, and generated reactions that changed its style forever; one reaction, in particular, influenced the genre so much that it was given a name: the British Invasion. The ba...... middle of paper......the creation of a single country into an art form that spread across the world. After the United States invented the genre and had a chance to monopolize it, the British stepped in and changed it forever. The flow of British influence on American popular music had a completely transformative effect, not only on listeners, but also on other artists who produced music. British musicians have infiltrated almost every aspect of popular culture and transformed it: they changed fashion, music and the mentality of young people. The British Invasion launched a creative competition to expand the genre of rock and roll and expose each country's unique imprint on the art form: each musician's mark allowed others to improve. He raised the standard of music produced in the 1960s and cemented rock and roll's position at the top of the popular music mountain in America..