An Era of Social Change 1960s & 1970s America

An Era of Social Change The 1960s & 1970s were a time of significant change for US Boomers born into victorious, prosperous US that defended freedom & fought oppression Why wouldn’t these morals expand to race & gender equality? Latino Americans immigrated from Spanish-speaking Caribbean islands, Mexico & Central and South America

An Era of Social Change Population began with Mexicans when land ceded after 1848 war (SW US) Population continued to increase during Mexican Revolution during early 20th century Further increased when US needed cheap, migrant, bracero labor during WWI & WWII Puerto Ricans migrated after 1898 Spanish American War (NYC) Cubans immigrated after Castro declared communism (Miami & NJ)

An Era of Social Change Central & South Americans immigrated following civil wars (started by US’ CIA) involving spread of communism Regardless from where Latinos haled, many suffered from de jure & de facto segregation Most lived in impoverished, segregated barrios overlooked by most Americans Schools lacked, unemployment typically 50% higher because employment based on agricultural seasons Many Americans sought to deport “wetbacks” or prejudice them as mindless, illiterate laborers

An Era of Social Change Latinos began fighting for change during 1960s due to progress of Black Americans Cesar Chavez, product of migrant, agricultural laborers Believed Mexicans had to unionize if group wished to access the American dream & succeed in US 1966, formed United Farmer Workers Organization Committee combining Mexican & Filipino agricultural unions Launched boycott against CA grape growers until UFWOC was recognized

An Era of Social Change Chavez & UFWOC ultimately recognized by CA fruit & vegetable companies by 1970 Continued Latino immigration during 1980s undermined progress of Chavez However, publicity of Chavez & Latino movement increased cultural identity & social equality Brown Power & Brown Berets in NYC, NJ & CA pushed Congress to pass Bilingual Education Act Money set aside for bilingual education & cultural programs

An Era of Social Change Latinos also sought political recognition as well La Raza Unida & Mexican American Political Association Independent political movement helping Latinos get elected throughout high Latino cities, congressional districts & states Alianza Federal de Mercedes Sought to reclaim land loss by Mexicans during 1800s Using force for publicity, seized county courthouse in Tierra Amarilla, NM

An Era of Social Change American Indians, arguably most oppressed group in US history Germ warfare decimated Native population from 7 million in 1600, to 200,000 in 1900 Natives treated horribly during westward expansion Early 1800s, Indian Removal relocated Natives to reservations Late 1800s, assimilation attempted to strip Natives of their culture Early 1900s, Natives given “citizenship”, but Indian New Deal/Reorganization did very little due to corruption

An Era of Social Change Moving had devastating affect Natives disadvantaged for centuries, now forced into urban centers without skills or tools necessary to succeed Many experienced increase poverty or hardship De facto & de jure segregation coupled with success of Black Americans pushed Natives into action 1961, Red Power begins push for equality in society Declaration of Indian Purpose, Natives seek to control own way of life within US society

An Era of Social Change American Indian Movement Protected Natives against brutality, advanced Natives’ issues Returned lands lost & US follow treaties 1969, Alcatraz occupied for potential Native center and/or university 1972, Trail of Broken Treaties, occupation of Bureau of Indian Affairs 1973, Wounded Knee, SD, Sioux took city hostage to commemorate 1890 massacre

An Era of Social Change American women always dealt with sexism Outside of American Indians, last group to get suffrage—by five years Following WWII, many American women couldn’t understand their dissatisfaction with marriage, family, and home Betty Friedan, documented dissatisfaction in The Feminine Mystique Women wanted more than being barefoot & in the kitchen

An Era of Social Change Women’s movement has been around since 19th century Rekindled during 1960s due to feminism and political activism of the decade Women wanted economic, political, and social equality with men Although suffraged, women still discriminated against Paid less, excluded from sports, limited in civil rights movement(s)

An Era of Social Change Civil Rights Act of 1964 Prohibited discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or gender Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Enforcement agency of civil rights act, but women wanted immediate progress National Organization for Women Helped founded by Friedan, pushed EEOC to be vigorous in enforcing prohibition of gender discrimination

An Era of Social Change Similar to every other “minority” group, women’s movement had a radical faction 1968, Miss America pageant demonstrated on by NY Radical Women Burned bras, girdles, wigs etc. in “freedom trash cans”… Gloria Steinem, organized National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 Pushed women to pursue political office

An Era of Social Change 1970s marked beginning of significant gains for American women Higher Education Act Contained historic, Title IX, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in any program receiving federal funding Girls can play sports Roe v. Wade 1973 Women have right to abortion during first trimester

An Era of Social Change Although women experienced significant gains during 1970s, many still wanted Equal Rights Amendment Specifically declared men & women would enjoy the same rights Similar to 15th specifically declaring rights not being infringed due race, color or former state of servitude Never gets requisite 38-state ratification

An Era of Social Change Phyllis Schlafly & New Right Backlash to social change doesn’t exclude women Conservatives, led by Evangelical churches, wanted to stop change Many believed new gender roles threatened country’s survival If women enjoyed same rights as men, they wouldn’t want to be mothers

Counterculture Counterculture movement began during the 1960s, followed path of 1950’s Beatniks Between 1960-1970, 15 to 24 year olds increased from 24 million to 35.5 million These boomers grew up middle class, suburban, and had access to what they wanted They felt empowered by size of their generation, felt they could do anything When not immediately satisfied by society, a small percentage “dropped out” of mainstream America

Counterculture Counterculture White, middle-class college co-eds Grew disillusioned with inability to solve problems of their time Poverty, prejudice, war Wealth & materialism, things their parents went without during the Depression, didn’t satisfy them Idealistically they wanted more than what middle class had to offer

Counterculture Several components allowed counterculture to last a decade 7.9 million boomers at college, away from control of parents Size of generation provided reassurance of their actions Divisiveness & unrest of time period overwhelmed societal structures Epicenter of hippie culture, Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco Ironic, Americans seeking fresh start always go west

Counterculture The 1,000s, or maybe even 10,000s that called themselves “hippies”, rejected mainstream society Cohabitated in communes Forewent possessing material wealth Engaged in uncommitted, free sex with one another in attempt at finding happiness & love “Expanded their minds” with drugs, attempting to find themselves and what they couldn’t find being middle class

Counterculture Lysergic acid diethylamide, was promoted by Dr. Timothy Leary, Harvard psychology professor Encouraged co-eds to “Tune in (to themselves), turn on (their minds), and drop out (of an unloving world)” Marijuana for those less adventurous Many practiced Zen Buddhism, to “enlighten” themselves through reflection—not scripture

Counterculture Counterculture’s music, the Age of Aquarius Black Americans twisted rock ‘n’ roll into “Motown Sound” Counterculture twisted rock ‘n’ roll into “Acid Rock” Began w/ “British Invasion”, February 1964 when 74 million Americans tune into the Ed Sullivan Show Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Barry McGuire, Grateful Dead & other notables

Counterculture Counterculture’s music culminated in upstate New York at Woodstock Music and Art Festival in August 1969 400,000 in attendance, 100,000s more couldn’t get in due to traffic backups Three days of peace, love, and higher cultural cause Counterculture’s art illustrated by Andy Warhol’s bright, psychedelic prints Counterculture’s art quickly lost popularity when easily copied by others

Counterculture Counterculture’s popularity began to wane by end of ‘60s Drug abuse killed Jimi Hendrix (sleeping pills) and Janis Joplin (heroin) in 1970 Hippies disillusioned with mainstream culture grew frustrated in communes Food, rent, clothes, etc. costs more than ideals of peace & harmony Raising (illegitimate) “Love Children” costs more than the free love it took to procreate them Divorce & illegitimate birth rates begin to rise during ‘60s, peak in 1990s

Counterculture Counterculture ended with Tate-Labianca Murders in 1969 and following trial between 1970-71 Charles Manson head of a commune in Los Angeles called the Manson Family S. Atkins, P. Krenwinkle, L. Kasabian, & C. “Tex” Watson murder Beverly Hills residents to start racial war in US, Helter Skelter Actress Sharon Tate and the Labiancas brutally murdered & butchered Murders illustrate dangers of communes & weakness/susceptibility of hippies to powerful, corrupt leaders

Counterculture Vietnam Era, along with social unrest of civil rights movements & counterculture, changed US Americans became titillated by violence & sex, of which pop culture is consumed Democrats that led country out of Depression & WWII, now blamed for country’s problems FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover warned that US is endangered by revolutionary terrorism Republicans promised to restore law & order, resulting in Nixon being elected president in 1968 & 1972