1960s Counterculture Movements

Latinos and Native Americans Seek Equality What did Latinos campaign for? How did some Latino individuals and groups go about getting what they wanted? What federal laws (if any) were passed to address these needs? Improved working conditions and better treatment for farm workers César Chávez & Dolores Huerta formed United Farm Workers Union Went on a three-week fast and launched a nationwide boycott of grapes None Educational programs for Spanish-speaking students Various groups fought for classes taught in Spanish, smaller classes, more Chicano teachers and programs to reduce the dropout rate Students held strikes Bilingual Education Act More Political power The Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) sponsored candidates and registered voters La Raza Unida sponsored a number of winning candidates

Latinos and Native Americans Seek Equality What did Native Americans campaign for? How did some Native American individuals and groups go about getting what they wanted? What federal laws (if any) were passed to address these needs? Healthier, more secure lives of their own choosing A group of 61 Native Americans organizations drafted the Declaration of Indian Purpose Advocated self-determination, end to the termination program, and policies that would create economic opportunity on reservations The Indian Education Act The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Restoration of Indian lands, burial grounds, fishing and timber rights Various groups used militant actions to confront the government The American Indian Movement (AIM) sized and occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs in D.C. and the town of Wounded Knee Several groups took land claims to federal court Alaska Native Lands Claim Settlement

Women Fight for Equality Experiences in the workplace Experiences in social activism Widespread wage and job discrimination awakened many women to their inferior social status Discrimination that women faced within the civil rights and antiwar movements (Vietnam) awakened them to their unequal treatment

Women Fight for Equality “Consciousness raising” Feminism Helped women to discover that their personal experiences were part of a larger pattern of discrimination Provided a theory for the movement The belief that women should have economic, political, and social equality with men

Women Fight for Equality Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique Civil Rights Act of 1964 Encouraged women to organize and take action Book which encouraged suburban women to ask themselves “Is this all?” Gave women legal tools to fight discrimination

Women Fight for Equality National Organization for Women (NOW) Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine Actively pursued the movement’s social and political goals A journalist, political activist, and ardent supporter of the women’s liberation movement Magazine that informed women about the women’s movement

Women Fight for Equality Congress Supreme Court Banned gender discrimination in educational and other activities supported by federal funds (Title 9) Expanded the EEOC’s enforcement powers Gave working parents tax breaks for child-care expenses In Roe v. Wade, recognized women’s right to have an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy

Women Fight for Equality The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would have guaranteed equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Who opposed this amendment and why? Who? Why? Conservative political and religious groups Anti-feminists Phyllis Schafly The Stop-ERA Campaign Fears that it would lead to the drafting of women, the end of laws protecting homemakers, and same-sex marriages Fears about its impact on families Fear that it would end a husband’s responsibility to provide for his family “Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” – Pat Roberston, TV evangelist and 1988 presidential candidate

Culture and Counterculture of the 1960s Members or participants Beliefs about American society Goals for society and themselves Idealistic or disillusioned young people White, middle-class youths Hippies People experimenting with drugs Followers of Eastern religions It had grown hollow, materialistic, cold and cruel It was best to “tune in, turn on, drop out” An idyllic setting of peace, love, and harmony – the Age of Aquarius Greater self-awareness and inner-peace Living together in communes and renouncing private properties

Culture and Counterculture of the 1960s Movement center Attitudes and activities Violent episodes San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury Listening to and playing rock ‘n’ roll music Wearing outrageous clothing Using drugs Living in communes Attending concerts Casualness and individuality – “do your own thing” Urban communes became dangerous Deaths of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix from drug overdoses