What was significant about the Woodstock festival held in August 1969?

The Woodstock festival held in August 1969 is significant primarily because it gathered approximately half a million people, making it one of the largest music festivals in history. This event not only showcased performances by iconic bands and artists of the era, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who, but also became a cultural landmark symbolizing the peace and love ethos of the 1960s counterculture movement. The massive turnout demonstrated the appealing power of music as a unifying force, as attendees celebrated ideals of harmony, community, and opposition to the prevailing societal norms. Woodstock represented a moment in time when a diverse array of individuals came together, reflecting significant social changes in American society during that period. The other choices do not capture the essence of the event in the same way; while Woodstock did occur during a time of social and political upheaval, it was not solely a political rally, nor did it signify the founding of the New Left or represent the first organized music festival in history.