American Social Issues

1. American Social Issues Unit 11 chapters 23, 24, 25, and 26 Gateway Chapter 17 Part 4

2. Impact of the Civil Rights Movement: Social Activism by Minorities • In recent decades, several minorities have followed the example of African American and women in fighting prejudice and demanding greater opportunities and equal rights. • In general, these groups used non-violent means of protest.

3. American Indians and the American Indian Movement (AIM) • American Indians have been greatly affected by frequently changing federal policies. • The Dawes Act (1887) allowed individual Indians to make claims on tribal lands. • The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 stopped the breaking up of tribal lands and encouraged Indians to preserve their traditional cultures.

4. Indian Claims Commission Act of 1946 attempted to settle all remaining Indian claims. • In 1953, the federal government announced the termination of its obligations to the reservations. • In 1963, the federal government reversed itself again. It ended the termination policy and attempted to encourage tribal life.

5. In 1970, President Nixon recognized the obligations of the federal government towards the American Indians. • The Seminoles have reservations lands in Florida, run a school and museum, and frequently interact with tourists. • Indian activists introduced the term “Native Americans.”

6. The American Indian Movement, or AIM, was founded in 1968 to mobilize public opinion on behalf of “Red Power.” • Indian activists occupied Alcatraz Island in 1969, and AIM members occupied Wounded Knee in 1973. • AIM demanded increased federal aid and an improved treatment of American Indians in movies, television, and textbooks.

7. Hispanic Americans and the United Farm Workers Association (UFW) • Migrant farm workers, many of whom were Hispanic Americans originally from Mexico, • were badly paid and badly treated by growers. • performed back-breaking work like picking fruits and vegetables at harvest time.

8. Cesar Chavez helped to organize the migrant farm workers. • Chavez started the United Farm Workers (UFW) and launched national boycotts of grapes and lettuce to force growers to recognize the UFW and to treat their migrant workers with greater dignity. • Chavez also went on personal hunger strikes.

9. IV. Other Groups • Young Americans protesting the Vietnam War led to the passage of the 26th Amendment, which gave 18 year-olds the right to vote.

10. Americans with disabilities also demanded equal rights. • They argued that society had created an artificial environment that had not taken into account their needs for accessibility. • Individuals with disabilities and their relatives formed DREDF, which sought greater accessibility. • The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) requires restaurants, hotels, theaters, and offices to make their facilities accessible to people with disabilities. • Employers also have to be willing to make accommodations to hire individuals with disabilities.

11. The Gray Panthers were formed by Maggie Kuhn to fight against mandatory retirement laws and age discrimination (or “ageism”). • The AARP also represents older Americans. • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of age.