1. An Era of Social Change
1960s & 1970s America

2. 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

3. 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)

5. 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

7. 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

9. 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

10. 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

12. 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

14. 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

15. 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

17. 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

19. 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)

20. 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

21. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

27. Counterculture
Counterculture movement began during the 1960s, followed path of 1950’s Beatniks
Between , 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

29. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

35. 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

37. 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

40. 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

41. Counterculture
Counterculture ended with Tate-Labianca Murders in 1969 and following trial between
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

44. 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