movements of 60s & 70s  

under construction

Chapter 30 – Other Special Movements – 1960-1975

                                    The Women’s Movement

Feminism- In 1895, word to describe the theory of political, economic and social equality of men and women.

The women’s movement of the 1960’s sought to change aspects of American life that had been accepted for decades. Society expected women to put home and family first.

The stereotypical women in the 1950s placed them in the home, married and raising children. After World War II more and more women entered the labor force. By the beginning of the 1960s, about half of all women held jobs. 

The civil rights movement provided a model for techniques and an inspiration for action. Black and white women joined in the struggle for civil rights and gained valuable skills from their work in the movement.

As they worked to bring racial discrimination to an end, many women in the civil rights movement were discouraged. They were expected to do all the work while men made most of the policy decisions.

The Civil Rights movements also provided women with legal tools to fight discrimination. One important piece of legislation was the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Originally it prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin. Opponents of the bill added an amendment to outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender. This strategy failed, both bill and amendment passed. The new Civil Rights Act now had a provision that gave women a legal framework to fight discrimination.

Betty Friedan “The Feminine Mystique”

Friedan described the cultural patterns that prevented women from achieving their full potential.

Women form support groups in kitchens and living rooms, women in these groups began to talk about their lives in new ways.

Women Organize NOW (National Organization for Women) – In 1966 a small group of women decided to form an organization to pursue their goals of achieving equality with men.  28 professional women, including Betty Friedan, established the National Organization for Women. Their goal was “to take action to bring American women into fully participation in the mainstream of American society now.

The Impact of Feminism

            The women’s movement came of age in early 1970s. Songs helped to express the energy of the struggle. In 1971 pop singer Helen Reddy recorded a song that was soon broadcast on radio stations around the country. Reddy’s lyrics reflected a sense of women’s strength self-confidence and a strength that drove the movement on.

Books and magazines like wise promoted the cause. Our Bodies, Ourselves, a handbook published by a women’s health collective in Boston, encouraged women to understand their own health issues. In 1972 journalist Gloria Steinem and several other women founded Ms. Magazine. Devoted to feminist issues.

One issue that had the potential to divide the movement was abortion. Roe vs. Wade. Roe vs. Wade was a landmark case that legalized abortion in 1973

1972 Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment or (ERA) to the constitution. It made discrimination on account of sex illegal.

Opposition to the Women’s Movement.

            Conservative political activist Phyllis Schlafly led a national campaign to block ratification of ERA. Some African American women felt that combating racial discrimination was more important than battling sex discrimination.

Ethnic Minorities Seek Equality

Inspired by the Civil rights and women’s movements, other ethnic and racial groups began to fight for equality during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1967 Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales, an activist, wrote a long poem that raised Mexican American self-awareness nationwide. Yo Soy Joaquin (“I am Joaquin”)

Schools in Latin neighborhoods were crowed and rundown with high dropout rates. In March 1968 10,000 Mexican American students walked out of five such Los Angeles high schools to protest their unequal treatment.

Cesar Chavez, organized the United Farm Workers (UFW), became a hero to millions of Americans, both Anglo and Latino. He was born is Yuma, Arizona. He and a group of loyal followers went from door to door and field to field. By 1965 the union had 1700 members. In 1975 California passed a low that required collective bargaining between growers and union representatives. Chavez’s efforts not only made him a national hero but also brought migrant farm workers into the movement for civil rights.

Asian Americans Fight Discrimination

            Prejudice against the Japanese reach its peak during WWII, while the communist takeover in China in 1949 influenced attitudes toward Chinese Americans.

            A major issue was compensation for the losses they had suffered during their wartime internment in the 1940s.  The main voice for Japanese American, the Japanese American Citizens, in 1948 won passage of the Japanese American Claims Act. Under the act Congress eventually paid relatively small amounts for property losses.

            Asian Americans earned less than white Americans. In California, for each $51 a while male was paid, a Chinese man would earn $38, and a Japanese man, $43. As a group, Asian American in the 1960s and 70s made economic gains faster than other minorities, but they still faced discrimination and relied on the example of civil rights movement to push for gains. In 1959 Asian American self-image took a major step forward with the granting of statehood to Hawaii.

Native American Struggles.

            Native Americans were another minority group that was inspired by the civil rights movement to seek equality and control over their own lives. By 1871 the United States no longer recognized Indian nations as independent power. It didn’t extend Native Americans full citizenship. After 1924 Native Americans were recognized as citizens of both the United States and their own nations or tribal groups. Native Americans have routinely been denied equal opportunities. Many states refused to give them the vote until pushed by Native American Communities.

            In 1948, Arizona and New Mexico granted Indians the right to vote. In Minneapolis in 1968 Dennis Banks and George Mitchell, sought organize a new coalition that will right for Indian treaty rights and better condition and opportunities for their people, the new organization was called the American Indian Movement (AIM).

            Confrontation at Wounded Knee

                        In 1890 the army’s Seventh Cavalry massacred more than 200 Sioux men, women and children. In 1973 AIM leaders Russell Means and Dennis Banks and some 200-aim members took over the village. They refused to leave the reservation until the United States government agreed to investigate the treatment of Indians and the poor conditions on the reservation. They also demanded that the United States review 371 treaties they said the government had broken over the years. FBI agents arrested some 300 hundred people, including news reporters and outside supporters. It finally came to an end in May, when AIM agreed to surrender their weapons and leave the reservation. During the siege, two AIM members had been killed and about a dozen people hurt.

Environmental Movement

                        The civil rights movement inspired several other movements. Environmentalists demanded actions that would preserve and restore the earth’s environment and resources. In 1962 Rachel Carson published a book titled “Silent Spring”. Carson attacked the use of Chemical pesticides, particularly DDT.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 1974. The NRC became responsible for overseeing the use of nuclear materials in civilian life. Its goal was to ensure that nuclear power plants and facilities were operated safely.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

            In 1970, President Nixon established the EPA. The EPA was formed by combining existing federal agencies concerned with air and water pollution.

            Clean Air Act – Passed in 1970. Designed to control pollution caused by industries and car emissions.

            Clean Water Act – In 1972 gained further responsibilities when congress enacted the Clean Water Act to regulate the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewater.