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The Merry Pranksters **Social Change Movement:** The main goal of the Merry Pranksters was to promote the usage of drugs, by both adults and the coming youth. The drugs they especially aimed on promoting were psychedelic drugs, like LSD. They strove to increase the need of using by following a three-stage movement. First, they traveled in the summer of 1964, across the country in a bus called Further. This travel included states anywhere between California and New York; in which they made several stops to distribute the drugs to anyone willing to try them. After this, they attempted a community in which all could reach their attempted goals. They would use the drugs, test their benefits, and live out their dreams. Their last stage was to participate in Acid Tests between the years 1965 and 1966. The groups of individuals involved in the Merry Pranksters were hoping to achieve a peaceful community, in which the citizens living there could live in peace, and reach their optimum potential. The ideas were made after the beginning of the 'hippie era'. They promoted the idea that using LSD and other types of mind-altering drugs; and that in doing so the person would then be able to reach the stage of self-actualization. Also, they could tap into their unconscious, and gain the knowledge of themselves, and how they can make a difference in the world around them. Finally, they felt that the drugs could increase the knowledge level of the youth, and could further advance the education in the future years. The Pranksters consisted of a number of people, who all agreed solely on the hippie lifestyle. In this, it means that they were simple people, who actively practiced ideas like peace, love and living the dream. While each person involved was part of the united group, they were very separate when it came to background and occupation. The main four people were Ken Kesey (the group leader), Ken Babbs (the co-leader), Neal Cassady (the driver) and Carolyn Adams (mountain girl). The Merry Pranksters were the people who wanted to make a sure change for the future youth. They hoped to someday reach the ideals of self-actualization, as well as maximize the knowledge and educational abilities of children. During their stages, they included ideas of peace, unity and love to create a harmony on Earth. Through the teachings, they hoped to gain attention and followers, all so that the ones after them could be benefited. They were selfless individuals and need to be noted for their stresses in finding the answers to new levels of youth knowledge, as well as the need for peace and common love.
 * Promotion/ Drive for Change:**
 * Occupations/ Socio-Economic Backgrounds:**
 * Ken Kesey:** As a young boy, he grew up in a very strict Christian family. All around him were the needs of highly religious individuals, and he was very goal oriented. In high school, the won the “most likely to succeed” and was a particularly unlikely candidate for Prankster leader. It all started after he began writing books on drug promotion, and he tried to carry it out to fellow citizens.
 * Ken Babbs:** This man was the group’s co-leader. In college, he participated in Stanford’s NROTC program and graduated as a second lieutenant. From there, he was involved in the Marines and as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.
 * Neal Cassady:** The driver of the bus. He was unlike the leaders of the group. His parents were addicts and alcoholics, so he started off the way he ended. At age 18 he moved in with his 16-year-old wife. From there, he owned a marijuana farm; until he joined the Pranksters in later years.
 * Carolyn Adams:** She was the lady leader of the group. As did Cassady, she had a poor record back in the day. She was expelled from high school; and ended up being Kesey’s mistress. They eventually had a child together, but never got together.
 * Arguments:**
 * Friends:**
 * Timothy Leary:** This man was also a promoter of the use in mind-altering drugs. He hoped to gain the same knowledge at the Pranksters; as well as show LSD’s spiritual and emotional gains. He did meet with the group once on their tour, and expressed his appreciation.
 * Bob Dylan****:** The views that were shared between these two are the need for peace, and an overall betterment of the country. They both were anti-war and vocal on the need for a united country, and world.
 * Joan Baez****:** The two share the same views on anti- war tactics, as well as trying in gain social unity. She agreed that being equal was important, and the Pranksters were striving to gain a whole community, and were willing to accept anyone who wanted to join. They are both open and freedom is important.
 * Harvey Milk:** This was the man who tried to legalize marijuana. We see eye- to- eye in the terms that we feel drugs are okay, and are a valuable resource to society. Also, we agree on expressing ourselves is important; hence being non-judgmental.
 * Foes:**
 * Malcolm X:** This man was against the ideas of hippies. He felt they were whites that were just imitating blacks, and were being discrimitory. They never agreed, and he has a hatred for hippie like individuals.
 * People who supported war at the time, as well as those who felt drugs were hurting the individual rather than helping them.

Works Cited** "Biography of Ken Kesey | List of Works, Study Guides & Essays | GradeSaver." Study Guides & Essay Editing | GradeSaver. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Carolyn Adams -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Hippie -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. . "Ken Babbs: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . Merry Prankster History Project. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Merry Pranksters -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Merry Pranksters: Definition from Answers.com." Answers.com: Wiki Q&A combined with free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedias. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. . "Neal Cassady - Biography." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Psychedelic 60s: Ken Kesey & the Merry Pranksters." University of Virginia Library. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . (print) "Timothy Leary -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Wavy's Biography." Wavy Gravy's Homepage. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Welcome to Hippyland, Home of the Hippies, Young and Old!" Hippyland Redirect. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . "Who Were the Merry Pranksters?" WiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Web. 23 Dec. 2009. . *Wolfe, Tom. //The Electric Kool-Aid Test//. //Tom Wolfd//. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. .