Chapter 23An Era of Activism

1. The Women’s Movement2. Ethnic Minorities Seek

Equality3. The Counterculture4. The Environmental and

Consumer Movements

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

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)

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.