Final answer:
The 60's and Vietnam Era, compared to the materialistic Roaring 20's, is best characterized by protest movements that sought societal reforms, equality, and freedom, influenced by the events like the Vietnam War and a growing counterculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks about the cultural and social character of the 60s and Vietnam Era compared to the Roaring 20's. The Roaring 20's is often associated with materialism, symbolized by a collective zeal for money, comfort, and consumerism. In contrast, the 60's and Vietnam Era is characterized by widespread social and political activism, with a focus on rights, freedom, and the questioning of traditional authority. During this latter period, many young Americans believed that society required substantial reforms and change.
Amid the technological advancements and economic growth of the 1920s, cultural shifts towards consumerism and credit use began to take hold. However, by the end of this decade, the Great Depression would starkly reveal the temporal nature of material wealth. As the 60s approached, a generation saw fundamental issues in the American experience that money and comfort could not resolve, leading to widespread protest movements seeking equality and freedom, influenced by the complexities and controversies surrounding the Vietnam War.