Section 23 – 1 Vocabulary Cesar Chavez United Farm Workers Organizing Committee La Raza Unida American Indian Movement (AIM)

Chapter 23 – 1 Latinos and Native Americans seek Equality

Section Objectives Describe the growth and diversity of the Latino population in the U.S. during the 1960’s. Summarize the efforts of Latinos and Native Americans to secure civil rights and respect for their cultural heritage. Explain the efforts Native Americans went to in obtaining reforms in government policies.

Latino Presence Grows In the 60’s, Latino population grows from about 3 million to more than 9 million. The largest group of Latinos live in the southwest and are of Mexican origin. By 1960, almost half a million Latinos of Puerto Rican descent live in New York. Large Cuban Latinos migrate to the U.S. To escape Castro Communist rule.

Latinos Fight for Change As the population grew, so did the cry for equality. Cesar Chavez, believing that farm workers needed to organize, formed the National Farm Workers Organization in Four years later it merged to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee.

Latinos Fight for Change Chavez and others insisted that agriculture companies recognize their organization as the bargaining agent for the workers. In 1965, he lead a nationwide boycott against California grape growers until they recognized the union. Like King, Chavez practiced non-violent protest to get the message out.

Latinos Fight for Change Chavez went on a 3 week hunger strike to emphasis his cause. In 1970, the union finally won their battle, and the first contract between grape growers and the union was signed. While no laws were passed to aid the Latino workers, their political power was on the rise.

Latinos Fight for Change As word of the victory spread, Latinos in New York began to demand that classes for children be taught in Spanish. Congress enact the Bilingual Education Act, which provided schools with funds to develop programs in education for children from non- English speaking homes. Young Mexican – Americans started calling themselves ‘Chicanos or Chicanas’ a shorten version of ‘Mexicanos’ to express pride in their heritage.

Latinos Fight for Change A Chicano community action group known as the ‘Brown Berets’ formed under the leadership of David Sanchez. In 1968, the Brown Berets organized a walkout in East Los Angles high schools. 15,000 students walked out. They demanded that the district reduce class sizes, hire more Chicano teachers and administrators and establish programs to reduce Latino dropout rates.

Latinos Fight for Change Latinos also began exerting their political power. During the 1960’s, eight Latinos served in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. In 1970, La Raza Unida (The People United)was formed. They ran Latino candidates in 5 states and won races for mayor and other local positions.

Latinos Fight for Change In 1963, the Alianza Federal de Mercedes was formed to help reclaim U.S. land taken from Mexican landholders in the 19 th century.

Native Americans Want Equality Not to be denied, Native Americans began to fight for equality. Native American as a group were the poorest of all Americans. Suffering high unemployment and various health issues, they struggled to find their voice. In the 1960’s the death rate for Native Americans was twice the national average.

Native Americans Want Equality In 1954, the Eisenhower Administration enacted the ‘termination’ policy to deal with these problems. Lack of cultural respect, relocation to remote areas, this plan failed miserably. In 1961, representatives from 61 tribes met in Chicago and drafted the Declaration of Indian Purpose.

Native Americans Want Equality This document declared that Native Americans could; Choose their own way of life, Called for an end of the termination policy, Create economic opportunities for Native Americans on their reservations. In 1968 LBJ established the National Council on Indian Opportunity.

Native Americans Want Equality This council was charged to ‘ensure that programs reflect the needs and desires of the Indian people. Like the African Americans, Native Americans felt that the wheels of change moved to slowly. Forming the American Indian Movement (AIM), often militant Native Americans took action.

Native Americans Want Equality While AIM began in 1968 as a self-defense group, protecting Native Americans from police brutality, they soon turned violent. In 1982, AIM leader Russell Means organized the ‘Trail of Broken Treaties’ march in Washington D.C. to protest the government’s treaty violations. Native Americans from all over the country joined in the march.

Native Americans Want Equality They demanded; Restoration of 110 million acres of land, and Abolition of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1973, almost 200 Sioux followed AIM into the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota. In 1890, U.S. cavalry massacred a Sioux village that had been there. AIM took hostages

Native Americans Want Equality After tense negotiations with the FBI, and a brief shootout that left 2 Native American dead, the standoff was over. The government promised to reexamine Native American treaty rights. Congress and the courts did make some strides and reforms for Native Americans. In 1972, Congress passed the Indian Education Act

Native Americans Want Equality In 1975 it passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. These laws gave tribes greater control over their affairs and education of their children. Native American went to court to try to force the government to honor its treaties with the tribes. In 1970, the Taos of New Mexico regained possession of their sacred Blue Lake, as well as surrounding forestland.

Native Americans Want Equality In 1971, Alaskan natives reclaimed more than 40 million acres in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of This act gave out over 40 million acres and paid the tribes over $962 million in cash as a result of treaty violations.