During the 1960s in the United States, young people began saying and writing as a form of rebellion against what they perceived as the oppression of the older generation. In particular, the Black Panthers used the slogan "All Power to the People" to protest white domination of society and leftist students used it to protest America's military campaign in Vietnam.
In the 1974 book Computer Lib Ted Nelson connected computer use with political freedom with the rallying cry "COMPUTER POWER TO THE PEOPLE! DOWN WITH CYBERCRUD".
In the mid-1980s the People Power movement arose in the Philippines to oust Ferdinand Marcos.
In the late 20th century the phrase has been most often used with regard to energy policy.