CRM(women, gays, NA’S, Hispanics)

Civil Rights Movement Overview

  • The civil rights movement in the late 1960s and 1970s inspired various marginalized groups to form their own movements:
    • Native Americans
    • Hispanics
    • Gays
    • Women
  • These movements supported one another's struggles for rights and recognition.

Native American Rights Movement

  • Population & Conditions:
    • In 1970, the Native American population was approximately 800,000.
    • Faced significant hardships: unemployment rates were 10 times the national average, with an average lifespan of 46 years.
  • Goals:
    • Safeguard tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.
    • Preserve Native American culture.
  • Key Events:
    • American Indian Movement (AIM): Founded in 1968, embraced the concept of "Red Power."
    • Inspired by Black Power Movement.
    • Key protests:
      • Alcatraz Occupation (1969): 19-month protest to draw attention to grievances.
      • Wounded Knee Standoff (1973): 71-day occupation demanding changes in Pine Ridge Reservation administration.
  • Achievements:
    • Indian Education Act (support for schools under tribal control).
    • Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (extended Bill of Rights protections to tribal governments).

Hispanic American Movement

  • Demographics:
    • Growth from 3 million in 1960 to 14.5 million by 1980, primarily Mexican Americans.
  • Focus:
    • Advocacy for fairness in immigration laws, bilingual education, and farm workers' rights.
  • Key Figures:
    • Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta: Co-founded National Farm Workers Association (NFWA, later UFW).
  • Major Actions:
    • Delano Grape Strike (1965-1968): Protest against vineyard owners refusing to recognize the UFW.
    • Chavez's tactics included a 28-day hunger strike, peaceful protests, and a nationwide grape boycott involving 17 million consumers.
  • Cultural Impact:
    • Formation of a Chicano political identity and La Raza Unida (political party).
    • Landmark legislation:
    • Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1974 (increased bilingual education availability).

Gay Liberation Movement

  • Background:
    • 1960s: Homosexuality was viewed as immoral and illegal; police raids were common.
  • Stonewall Riots (1969):
    • Raids on Stonewall Inn led to protests and are viewed as the spark for the gay liberation movement.
  • Growth of Organizations:
    • By 1973, around 800 gay organizations existed across the U.S.
  • Significant Achievements:
    • American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental illness (1973).
    • Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected official (1977).

Women’s Rights Movement

  • Domestic Roles:
    • In the early 1960s, housewives spent an average of 55 hours on chores weekly.
  • Influential Literature:
    • The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963) highlighted women's frustrations in domestic roles.
  • Goals:
    • Focus on equality in education and employment, fair pay, reproductive rights, and domestic freedom.
  • Key Legislation:
    • Equal Pay Act of 1963 (mandated equal pay).
    • Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (outlawed employment sex discrimination).
  • National Organization for Women (NOW): Founded in 1966 by 28 activists including Friedan; aimed to ensure women's full participation in society.
  • Radical Feminism: Early feminists advocated for broader issues such as reproductive autonomy and combatting sexual objectification.
  • Title IX of the Educational Amendments (1972): Ensured equal opportunities in education, greatly increasing female participation in sports.
  • Roe v. Wade (1973): Supreme Court ruling protected the right to abortion as a privacy issue.

Comparison of Women’s Movements

  • Past Achievements:
    • 1890s-1920s movement won the right to vote (Nineteenth Amendment).
  • Continuing Struggles:
    • 1960s-1970s movement did not achieve the Equal Rights Amendment despite significant advocacy.

Key Takeaways

  • The civil rights movements of the 1970s addressed inequalities faced by various groups and witnessed significant collective and individual achievements.