Shaping New America

1. Shaping New America

2. “Black Power” • “Black Power” was a phrase coined by Stokely Carmichael that was meant to rally the blacks in America. • Was led by Stokey Carmichael, founder of the SNCC, after James Meredith was shot in an ambush during a peaceful march from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi. • James Meredith was also the first black to enroll in the University of Mississippi. • Carmicheal and Floyd McKissick of CORE were determined to finish the walk despite Meredith’s assassination. • The two were frustrated that despite the assassination, white townspeople still harassed the marchers while police didn’t intervene. • The movement emphasized some points made by Malcolm X • Rejected Integration as short-term goal. • Racial Pride. • Self-sustaining African American communities.

3. Gay Liberation 1. During the 1950s, many gay people were treated badly. For example, police raided and closed Gay Bars. 2. The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis were homophile organizations who campaigned to reduce the discrimination against gay people or homosexuals in employment, armed forces, and social life. 3. During the 1960’s, gay and lesbian organizations multiplied. Many publicized their sexual identity with the saying, “Say it Loud, Gay is Proud”.

4. Fight for reproductive rights 1. In the 1960s, men and women did not have equal rights. Many, both men and women, thought that this was not fair. 2. Men had more rights than women. They said that men “sow a few wild goats” but for women, “good girls don’t”. 3. During this time, most relationships resulted and pregnancy and some men chose to not be responsible for it. Therefore, birth control pills were invented so that women would have a choice if they want to be pregnant or naw. 4. Many religious groups like the Catholics were against these birth control pills because they believed that it was against the Bible’s law. Roe vs. Wade: (1973) Supreme court case ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the life of the mother. The Court ruled that the states were forbidden from outlawing or regulating any aspect of abortion performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, could only enact abortion regulations reasonably related to maternal health in the second and third trimesters, and could enact abortion laws protecting the life of the fetus only in the third trimester.

5. Feminist Movement • During the 1950’s, it was expected that all women acted the same way. • This was referred to as the “Cult of Domesticity.” • However, some women rejected this set of rules and some wanted to be different. • In 1963, Betty Friedan published the book “The Feminine Mystique” which encouraged women to break this social norm. • This book was very controversial as it questioned why women didn’t do things other than domestic duties. • Within three years of publication, the book’s ideas incited a feminist movement. • This movement demanded equal employment rights. • The National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed. • The goal for this organization was to attain “full participation of women in mainstream American society.” • The feminism movement soon turned radical, much like the antiwar and civil rights movement. • Radical women demonstrated feminism via “Freedom Trash Cans.” • These trash cans were meant as a place to dispose symbols women oppression, such as fake eyelashes and hair curlers.

6. · Equal Rights Amendment • It said, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." • This amendment was proposed by the National Women’s Party • They wanted to eliminate all gender based discrimination • The house of representatives and the senate both approved of this, so it was then taken to the states • 30 out of the necessary 38 states ratified it • The amendment was never passed because not enough states were willing to enforce this law

7. Environmental Reform • Citizens wanted to protest in order to preserve the nation’s wilderness areas • Trash began to pile up and emissions into the atmosphere were creating smoggy haze rings above many metropolitan centers • Rachel Carson wrote a book called Silent Spring and this book was a wake up call to Americans • It rose awareness about what was happening to the environment • President Johnson enforced laws to protect the environment • Wilderness Protection Act, Water Quality Act, and the Air Quality Act

8. Others Demand Equality • Everyone wanted to obtain the same rights and demanded reforms • Mexican American (chicanos) population was growing in American • Cesar Chaves • followed Martin Luther King’s way • led a strike in California to better pay and conditions • organized the united work farmers union and had a nationwide boycott of grapes • received national attention by having people participate in a hunger strike lasting three-week • Brown Berets • modeled after the black panthers • tried to take control of Chicano neighborhoods • battled the Immigration and Naturalization Service • Native Americans • “Red Power” movement • American Indian movement • did stunts to grab people’s attention • Seized Alcatraz islands • offered America the same amount of trinkets as Peter Minuit • Occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs • Final battle of the Great Plains seized Wounded Knee in South Dakota • siege collapsed after 71 days • Homosexual Americans • Gay rights movement began when officers raided the Stonewall Inn in New York • New York parade on the one year anniversary • American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from their mental illness list • FBI no longer saw them as a security risk • no longer denied from civil jobs