ABSTRACT
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club was founded like many other motorcycle clubs in the 1960s. With the unrest in American society, the war in Vietnam, and the unrest among those returning from active duty in the various military units of the U.S. government, the returning veterans were often suffering from posttraumatic stress. A lack of personal bonding with other men like they had developed with members of the military while in the service, their own unrest as well as a sense of a lack of appreciation by the average citizens for what they had done in the war itself, caused many to turn to others who shared many of their own thoughts and values. A dissatisfaction and lack of respect for the U.S government permeated many of the motorcyclists’ minds and mentalities. They sought an outlet for their feelings and their needs, and the motorcycle clubs seemed to be the best social club to meet their needs.
