Everyone’s heard it; the older generation complaining about the newer one, citing their laziness and ungratefulness for their better opportunities due to advancements. Sound familiar? This phenomenon has been around in the modern Western world since the late 19th century when the first distinguishable classification of modern American generations began.

So what sets them all apart?

It starts with the Lost Generation, a term made popular by Ernest Hemingway in his book The Sun Also Rises. Those born between 1883 and 1900 fall under this category. They saw the rise of American industrialization and the first world war. Aptly named for the attitude prevalent in literature of the time, authors during this time such as Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Cummings made up the Modernist movement and wrote of the disconnectedness in society and human interactions. “You are all a lost generation”, an epigraph in Hemingway’s novel stated.

The Greatest Generation, which was coined by Tom Brokaw, grew of age during Great Depression. These were the people who were old enough to have served in World War II and are praised as being the most resilient and hardworking groups.

The Silent Generation spans from 1925 to 1942. They were also accurately named, and sometimes also ironically referred to as the Lucky Few, as they were born into up in times of extreme economic depression, and class distinctions were blurred to a general lack of wealth. This blurring of social class also blurred their identities as a result, making this generation flexible and due to their difficult upbringings, highly ambitious and seeking economical advancements.

Next come the Baby Boomers- the generation everyone loves to hate. Also sometimes passive aggressively called the “Me Generation”, it spans from 1946 to 1964 and makes up most of the American Millennial’s grandparents. During this time period there was a 20% in births as well as an increase in suburbization. More and more people left the hustle and bustle to have a family in the outskirts of the city. They are often blamed for ruining the economy and opportunities for the younger generations. Because at the time many Baby Boomers were able to pay for college with a part time job, that attitude sometimes carries over into the present and results in many of them expecting Millennials to be able to do the same.

This is where it starts to get uncertain. Next is Generation X, born after the Post-WWII Baby Boom, from approximately 1965 to 1980, making up most  of the Millennials’ parents. Also called the “middle child” due to the larger generations behind and in front of them, they began to experience some of the consequences caused by their parents. Growing up quicker at a younger age caused them to be independant and have to face the music- they could not grow up the same way their parents or grandparents had. The American Dream shattered for them. They pioneered a new path and are currently in charge of caring for their aging parents and school-aged children.

Millennials, or Generation Y, are said by most sources to make up those born between 1980 and the early 2000’s. This generation gets the most criticism from older generations, often described as being lazy and seeking immediate gratification due to the rise of the Internet and other technological advances. However, they are also being cited as being one of the most liberal groups yet, with a collective progressive value set surrounding topics such as gender, sexuality and reproductive rights.

Though a name is still in works and no precise years are agreed on yet, the next group of people is often referred to as either Generation Z or Generation Alpha. Some sources start thus generation at around the mid- to late 90’s or early 2000’s, cutting into the Millennial generation. Due to these inconsistencies, there is confusion at what years they should end or begin exactly. However, most people tend to agree that this classification currently encompasses most of the children currently in middle school and below.