1. Social Movements of the 1960s
Focus Questions: Why are the late 1960s called “tumultuous”? Why does counterculture arise in the late 60s? Why do various social movements emerge in the late 1960s?

2. The Feminist Movement
In 1963 Betty Friedan published the Feminine Mystique.
Feminine Mystique was a book that interviewed housewives and discovered that many women were NOT happy being a housewife.
Leads to a Sexual Revolution– more women become liberated and feel like they can have a life and a job,etc.

3. Feminist Movement Continued
National Organization of Women: Women’s rights organization formed in the 1960s
Goal: Equal rights for women, equal pay for women, creation of child-care facilities so women could pursue jobs or education
They also wanted an equal rights amendment (guaranteed that both men and women could enjoy the same rights under the law)
Gloria Steinem: Leader of the NOW movement

4. Feminist Movement Continued
Roe v. Wade: 1973 Supreme Court case, ruled women DO have the right to choose an abortion in the first three months of pregnancy
Title IX: Male & Female Education experiences must be equally funded (for example: Girls’ sports teams at a high school must get same amount as boys’)

5. Chicano Movement
Cesar Chavez- Mexican-American farm worker who organized a union for California farm workers. Led farm workers on a boycott of the grape industry

6. Chicano Movement Continued
Many Latinos faced prejudice and discrimination
Lived in segregated barrios (Spanish Speaking Neighborhoods)
Jobless rate for Latinos was 50% higher than whites and more Latinos lived in poverty than whites
Demanded equal opportunity and fair treatment!

7. Chicano Movement Continued
Grape Boycott: led by Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee.
California grape growers (who employed many Latinos) refused to recognize this labor union.
Chavez launched a nationwide boycott of the company's grapes– convinced supermarkets and shoppers not to buy California grapes.
Successful– after three weeks the union was recognized and Latino workers got higher wages and benefits!

8. American Indian Movement
American Indian Movement (AIM): Native American rights organization formed in the late 1960s
Ben Nighthorse Campbell: Native American leader, first U.S. senator of Native American origin

9. American Indian Movement Continued
Native Americans suffered the highest unemployment rate and they were frustrated after years of mistreatment by the U.S. government
Demanded that Native American lands be restored
Demanded respect of their culture

10. American Indian Movement Continued
Trail of Broken Treaties: led by AIM, march from Washington D.C. to protest the U.S. government’s treaty violations throughout history. Marched across the country
Seizure of Alcatraz Island: group of AIM members overtook the Alcatraz Prison (which belonged to the U.S. government) off coast of San Francisco to protest government treatment of Native Americans. Lasted for 19 months and involved around 400 people

11. Environmental Movement
Rachel Carson- wrote a book called Silent Spring that warns that using pesticides and other chemicals poisons Americans food source.
Carson had a big influence on making environment clean and safe

12. Environmental Movement Continued
Goals of the Movement: To clean up the environment and prevent pollution
Earth Day: First earth day was celebrated April 22, 1970 and promotes awareness about the environment
Endangered Species Act: created a list of species that were in danger of becoming extinct and created rules to protect those animals
Clean Water Act: Congress regulated pollution that businesses could put in water

13. Environmental Movement Continued
Three Mile Island incident: March 1979
Nuclear reactors at a plant on three mile island malfunctioned. People feared that radiation might escape the plant. Over 100,000 residents had to be evacuated. **Sparked debate about nuclear power and caused many people to call for abolishing that power source*

14. Counterculture Movement
Counterculture- a movement made up of mostly white, middle-class college youths who were disillusioned with the war in Vietnam and injustices of America in the 60s.
Hippie movement: rejected mainstream American culture- grew their hair out, wore ragged clothes--- embraced drugs & rock and roll.

16. Counterculture Continued
Woodstock: Music Festival that began in Represented a movement for peace & love

17. Counterculture Continued
Goal of Counterculture Movement: Tried to establish a whole new society based on peace and love--- rejected “tradition”

18. Counterculture Movement Continued
26th amendment- lowered voting age from 21 to 18
Haight-Ashbury: Famous hippie neighborhood in San Francisco– became the “center” of the counterculture movement