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Civil Rights and Social Movements Overview

Civil Rights Movement

  • Causes:

    • Reconstruction Era Failures.
    • Lack of effective enforcement of equality.
    • Jim Crow Laws enforced racial segregation ("separate but equal").
    • Significant economic oppression for Black people.

  • Significant Figures:

    • Malcolm X: Influential in advocating for Black empowerment.
    • Key figures: Stokely Carmichael, Huey Newton.
    • Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK): Promoted non-violence and civil disobedience.
    • Associated figures: Andrew Young, Diane Nash, John Lewis.

  • Significant Events:

    • 1955: Emmett Till’s murder ignites outrage.
    • 1957: Little Rock Nine integration crisis.
    • 1963: 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
    • 1965: Watts Riots signify urban discontent.
    • 1966: Founding of the Black Panther Party.

  • Tactics:

    • Direct action for voter representation rights.
    • Non-violent protests (e.g. sit-ins).
    • Legal challenges (court cases).
    • Armed self-defense when necessary.

  • Community Upliftment:

    • Media coverage helped disseminate movement messages.
    • Establishment of community programs (food, shelter, education).
    • Coalition building among various civil rights organizations.

  • Contemporary View:

    • Past media coverage was often biased against Black people.
    • History is now viewed more favorably, inspiring films and honoring the struggle.

  • Legacy:

    • Civil Rights seen as a crucial touchstone for racial justice.
    • Mainstream media now depicts the movement positively.
    • Inspired subsequent movements, such as for women’s rights and farmers' rights.

Latino Movement

  • Founding and Core Issues:

    • Response to segregation in schools and job discrimination.
    • Important organizations: LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens).

  • Significant Figures:

    • Cesar Chavez: Labor leader advocating for farmers’ rights ("Si Se Puede").
    • Dolores Huerta: Co-founder of United Farm Workers union for farm labor.

  • Key Events:

    • 1965-1970: Delano Grape Strike, highlighting worker injustices.
    • 1968: East Los Angeles Walkouts by students protesting education quality.

  • Tactics:

    • Non-violent protests and strikes.
    • Organization of community grievances regarding education and employment.

  • Legacy:

    • Legal changes such as the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975.
    • Increased awareness of Latino issues within U.S. society.

Women's Movement

  • Second Wave Feminism:

    • Focused on equal rights in employment, sexuality, and reproductive rights.

  • New Organizations:

    • National Organization for Women (NOW) by Betty Friedan, promoting ERA.
    • New York Radical Feminists challenged patriarchal structures.

  • Significant Events:

    • 1963: Equal Pay Act; addressed gender wage gaps.
    • 1965: Griswold v. Connecticut expanded women’s reproductive rights.
    • 1973: Roe v. Wade legalized abortion under privacy rights.

  • Significant Figures:

    • Shirley Chisholm: First Black woman in Congress.
    • Gloria Steinem: Founded "Ms. Magazine" to empower women.
    • Betty Friedan: Author of "The Feminine Mystique" advocating for women’s rights.

  • Tactics:

    • Mass demonstrations and grassroots organizing.
    • Consciousness-raising sessions for community awareness.

  • Legacy:

    • Influenced modern rights policies and enhanced women's participation in politics.

Native American Rights Movement

  • Founding Issues:

    • Response to federal policies and urban relocation of Native Americans.

  • Key Events:

    • 1969-1971: Occupation of Alcatraz as a protest against unjust policies.
    • 1973: Wounded Knee Occupation highlighting the struggle for sovereignty.

  • Significant Figures:

    • Richard Oakes: Key advocate for Native rights.
    • Russell Means: Prominent leader in AIM fighting for indigenous rights.

  • Legacy:

    • Increased awareness of Native rights and identity.
    • U.N. adopted measures promoting Indigenous people's rights.

Gay Rights Movement

  • Founding:

    • Society for Human Rights (1924): One of the first gay rights organizations.

  • Key Figures:

    • Harvey Milk: First openly gay elected official in California.
    • Marsha P. Johnson: Activist at the forefront of the Stonewall Uprising.

  • Significant Events:

    • 1969: Stonewall Uprising, pivotal moment for LGBTQ rights.

  • Legacy:

    • Legalization of same-sex marriage and protections against discrimination.

Environmentalism

  • Founding and Key Events:

    • Establishment of national parks, early conservation efforts by leaders like Theodore Roosevelt.
    • Silent Spring by Rachel Carson raised awareness about environmental pollution.

  • Significant Legislation:

    • Clean Air Act (1970), Clean Water Act (1972), Endangered Species Act (1973).

  • Tactics:

    • Grassroots campaigns focused on education and direct action (e.g., tree sitting).

  • Legacy:

    • Cultivated a greater public awareness of environmental issues and activism.

Anti-War Movement

  • Core Causes:

    • Opposition to the Vietnam War and conscription; disillusionment with government narratives.

  • Significant Figures:

    • Martin Luther King Jr.: Advocated peace and criticized war expenditures over social justice.

  • Tactics:

    • Civil disobedience, teach-ins, protest marches to mobilize public opinion.

  • Legacy:

    • Helped shape public policy regarding military engagement and war powers over subsequent decades.

Conservative Movement

  • Founding Causes:

    • Reaction against rapid social changes and civil rights movements.

  • Significant Figures:

    • Phyllis Schlafly: Key opponent of the ERA advocating for traditional values.
    • Ronald Reagan: Promoted conservative policies focusing on lower taxes and military strength.

  • Legacy:

    • A shift in American political landscape towards conservative values and policies.