Six Generations Since 1900

There have been six generations observed since 1900. Each one had dramatically different experiences in their formative years and brought different political and social value into society as they matured.

Today, the Baby Boomers’ influence is receding as its oldest members near 70 and Generation X (32 to 49 years old) is assuming power. However, much of the recent change seen in American values is ascribed to the newest generation flooding into politics, the Millennials (Generation Y) born after 1982.

Formation of political orientation was a complex process, but experiences in early adult years has significant impact on a generation’s general orientation toward politics. A Gallup poll points out that Baby Boomers, now entering their senior years and replacing the Greatest and Silent Generations, were more Democratic in outlook if their formative years were in the early 1960s was the Vietnam War, and more conservative if major influences was the rise of Richard Nixon, and conservative backlash reflected in the Silent majority.

See Gallup: Baby Boomers to push U.S. politics in the years ahead