Unit 5B Part 4: Counterculture & Other Americans’ Rights Environment: Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring, kicking off the environmental movement Feminism Inspired by Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique Called the home “a comfortable concentration camp” where women suffocated National Organization for Women (NOW) Wanted to end discrimination in the workplace & legalize abortion
Introduction of “the pill” in 1960 gave women more freedom In 1973 Supreme Court made abortion legal with Roe v. Wade decision Title IX of Educational Amendments Act Colleges must ensure equal opportunities for women
Hispanic Rights Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers to improve the life of migrant farm workers Organized boycott of grape industry In time, rapid growth of Hispanic population led to more political power
American Indian Movement (AIM) Movement began with sit-ins and confrontation with the government Militant occupation of Wounded Knee Battle Site and Alcatraz Soon found a more effective tactic – go to federal courts with copies of old treaties
LGBTQ Rights Started with Stonewall Inn riots In 1969 NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, NYC The patrons fought back – rioting lasted through the weekend Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans set on fire in 1973, killing 32 Movement initially focused on encouraging homosexuals to “come out” More recently, it has focused on gaining equal marriage rights and legal protection
Hippies After conflicts in 1968 some baby boomers moved away from politics altogether Mostly well-educated, middle-class young whites alienated by Vietnam, racism, demands of parents and life Embraced credo of Harvard prof. Timothy Leary: “Tune in, turn on, drop out”
Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco was a center of the counterculture Woodstock music festival - 1968