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?

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.

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

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’)

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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: 1970- created a list of species that were in danger of becoming extinct and created rules to protect those animals Clean Water Act: 1970- Congress regulated pollution that businesses could put in water

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*

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.

Counterculture Continued Woodstock: Music Festival that began in 1969. Represented a movement for peace & love

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

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