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Chapter 23 An Era of Activism

Chapter 23 An Era of Activism. The Women’s Movement Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality The Counterculture The Environmental and Consumer Movements. The Women’s Movement. Background to the Women’s Movement

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Chapter 23 An Era of Activism

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  1. Chapter 23An Era of Activism The Women’s Movement Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality The Counterculture The Environmental and Consumer Movements

  2. The Women’s Movement • Background to the Women’s Movement • Feminism: The pursuit of equality between men and women in economic, social and political areas • Fight began back in the 1800’s • WW2 saw advances but women were expected to return to their “traditional” roles after the war • Education and Employment • Only ¼ college degrees earned by women in 1950 – 43% by 1970 • Employers were reluctant to hire women because they traditionally quit after they married and/or when they had children • Women who did work were paid less than men for the same work or were delegated to specific lower paying jobs • The Impact of the Civil Rights Movement • “How To” model from the Civil Rights Movement gave a blue print for success • Women grew frustrated with the lowered expectations/demands • The Civil Rights Act gave women legal tools to challenge status (EEOC) • Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress but failed at the state level

  3. The Women’s Movement • “Feminine Mystique” • Women became more active in pressing for their rights • Freidan’s book got women talking about their lives and their hopes and aspirations and their roles in society • Women’s Groups Organize • Support Groups: women met in each other’s homes to talk about what they were going through and what they could do to improve their situations • Organizing NOW (National Organization of Women) • 1966 – 26 professional women gathered to take action * Sought fair pay & equal job opportunities * Attacked the false image of women in the media * Called for marriage to be more balanced * Within a year, more than 1,000 members had joined * Within 5 years, 15,000 belonged * Many felt NOW was too aggressive * NOW served as a rallying point to end sex discrimination and to promote equality for all women

  4. The Women’s Movement • The Impact of Feminism • A Shift of Attitudes • 1972 – Congress passed a law outlawing sex discrimination in education • 1971 – National Women’s Political Caucus formed to get more women in politics • Most women did not participate in NOW activities but agreed with their goals • Radical Feminists pushed to end the male dominated world as it was known, rejecting marriage, child birth • Roe v. Wade • Abortion became an issue that could split the movement • NOW pushed for laws allowing women the ability to choose abortion rather than continue an unwanted pregnancy (controlling their own bodies) • Many states had laws outlawing abortion or severely limiting access • Supreme Court (1973) ruled for abortion stating a women’s right to privacy • No restrictions in the first 3 months, states could put limitations after that • Still today a very controversial issue

  5. The Women’s Movement • The Equal Rights Amendment • “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” ERA 1972 • Fell 2 states short of passing, but most gender based laws had been stricken from the books by then • Opposition to the Women’s Movement • Some opposition to the ERA came from women • Unneeded, laws could be changed without amending the Constitution • Many women likes their roles as stay-at-home moms & homemakers • Many men hostile to the whole Women’s Movement • Didn’t want things to change

  6. Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality • Latinos Fight for Change • The Latino Population • Big increase in people from Central America in the 1960-70’s • Centered in areas around the US (FL, TX, AZ, CA) • 1960’s – began to organize to protest discrimination in education, employment and the legal system • Cultural Identity • Pride in their original cultures expressed • Claims that “Anglos” used pressure to control Latinos (church, school) • Students walked out of their schools to protest and demand improvements • Organizing to Fight Discrimination • Cesar Chavez united the migrant workers for better pay, conditions • Chavez believed in non-violent protests like Dr. King • United Farm Workers (UFW) fought for changes • 1975, CA passed law requiring collective bargaining • Chicano’s pushed for political power (getting Latino’s elected)

  7. Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality • Chinese and Japanese Americans have fought for equality since coming to the US • Asian Americans Fight Discrimination • Japanese Americans after the war • Interned during WW2; lost all property ($100,000,000’s) • Japanese American Citizen’s League won passage of the Japanese American Claims Act which allowed survivors small compensation • Not until 1988 did Congress apologize and further compensate them • Economic and Political Advances • Despite being well educated, Asian Americans earned less • Faced prejudice in hiring/workplace • As a group, made faster economic progress • When Hawaii became a state in 1959, Asian Americans gained a voice in Congress • Hiram Leong Fong, Senator • Daniel Inouye, Representative

  8. Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality • Native Americans Face Unique Problems • Unique social and legal position in the US • Routinely denied their rights • Land Claims • US government took lands that traditionally were tribal territory • 1946 Congress created the Indian Claims Commission to look into land claims by native tribes • Most tribes refused money offered, they wanted their land back • The American Indian Movement (AIM) • A coalition to fight for Indian treaty rights • Fought and won tribal autonomy, control of natural resources • Continues to confront government (militaristic) • Confronting the Government • 1972 – Broken Treaty Caravan – traveled to DC/BIA; occupied for 6 days • 1973 – Wounded Knee SD – took over town and refused to leave until government agreed to investigate problems on reservations. Federal marshals storm the protest. 300+ arrested, 2 killed • The Government Response • Some positive laws were passed in response to the protests • Indian Education Act of 1972 – more tribal control of schools/education • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 – gave local control to social programs administered to help Native Americans

  9. The Counterculturesymbol of the sixties is the hippie, peace symbol, flower power • A Time of Change • “Counterculture” – youth adopted values counter to those of their parents • “HIPPIES” promoted peace, love and freedom • Experimented with styles, music, sex and drugs • “Generation Gap” • “Baby Boomers” had huge impact on society – in shear numbers, goods produced to appeal to this group of people, politicians played to their concerns • Sixties Style • Distinctive, frivolous and free • Hair, clothing were loose, free, easy: Rejected 50’s standards • Hippies adopted the clothing of the working and oppressed, who they were fighting for • Bright colors painted EVERYTHING • Much of the art, music were as if created when on drugs

  10. The Counterculture • The Sexual Revolution • Counterculture demanded freer choices • Believed sex should be separated from traditional ties to family structure • Traditional relationships rejected, different living patterns emerged (living together, communes) • More open discussing in mainstream media • Birth Control & Abortion changed options, behavior • The Drug Scene • Psychedelic drugs used to reach “a new consciousness” • These drugs caused brain to alter perception of reality/hallucinate • Use of other drugs went up dramatically as they experimented • Timothy Leary became the guru • “Tune in, Turn on, Drop Out” • Danger of overdosing and other serious side effects of drugs very real • Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendricks, Jim Morrison all died of overdoses • The lost potential of a generation from their attempt to escape reality

  11. The Counterculture • The Music World • Music reflect and created the changes of the 60’s • Folk Songs, Protest Songs • “Fab Five” – music, attitude and style made Beattles HUGE • Woodstock - 1969 • 400,000 gathered to hear major music stars • Fellowship, Openness, Peacefulness of the crowds • Older generations looked on with disgust • Hated the drugs, sex and nudity they saw at the festival (childish behavior) • Altamont – California’s version of Woodstock • 300,000 gathered to hear the Rolling Stones • When promoters failed to provide adequate security, the Stones hired the “Hells Angels” to protect them • One man beaten to death, violence broke out • Signaled an end to the era of “peace and love”

  12. The Environmental and Consumer Movements • Both demanded honesty and accountability from industry and government by the youth of the 60’s • Protecting the Environment • Rachel Carson – “Silent Spring” – 1962 • Book that spoke against the use of chemical pesticides (DDT) and what it was doing to our environment • Sparked a national concern and a presidential advisory study • Research ordered about effect of chemicals on environment • DDT outlawed • People/Government began pushing for other environmental reforms

  13. The Environment and Consumer Movements • Nuclear Power • Concerns over “non-renewable” resources such a gas and oil • Development of new sources of energy • Nuclear power was believed to be better than burning oil, coal • Objections of Nuclear power began when it was noticed that water temperatures raised near Nuclear power plants, killing fish and plant life • Fear of Nuclear accidents caused the government to create the NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) to oversee the nuclear industry • Public Reaction • People and government were becoming more openly concerned about the environment and peoples’ impact on it • An oil spill off Santa Barbara, CA in 1969 concerned/angered many • Earth Day – created April 22, 1970 – a day to teach about the environment • It’s aim still today is to raise concern for the environment and to work to clean up pollution and litter • Government Action • EPA – Environmental Protection Agency- • Clean Air Act (1970) designed to regulate industrial pollution * Made auto industry regulate emissions and build “greener” cars

  14. The Environmental and Consumer Movements • Balancing Economic Growth and the Environment • Costly changes for businesses – said it would cost jobs • Government worked to balance environmental concerns and maintaining jobs – IE – Alaska Oil Fields • Oil Companies allowed to drill for oil • Alaska would have several million acres of lands set aside as a wildlife preserve • The Consumer Movement • Ralph Nadar led the movement to protect the consumer against unsafe products • Purified Food and Drug Act • Actions against the Auto Industry (ie-Corvair & Pinto)

  15. Test Essay Questions • How did the Civil Rights Movement influence the following groups? (give examples) • Women • Latino • Asian American • The CounterCulture rejected the ways of the generations that came before them. Explain 2 specific things “hippies” did to reject old ways. • The Environmental Movement began in the 1960’s. Identify and explain 2 areas where the government acted to change how we were impacting the environment.

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