1. 1970: Women, Minorities, and Carter

2. Women’s Rights Eleanor Roosevelt’s Commission on the Status of Women highlighted inequalities women faced, endorsed improvements in education, equal employment, child care, and governmental opportunities for women.

3. Betty Friedan Feminine Mystique (1963) considered a classic of women’s protest literature. -- Criticized plight of women with domestic duties (cult of domesticity) who also had to work full-time employment at jobs that paid women less than men. With other feminists founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966. – Called for equal employment opportunities and equal pay. – Argued for changes in divorce laws to make settlements more fair to women – Sought legalization of abortion (most controversial issue)

4. NOW CONTINUED 1967, began advocating and Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution extending the same guarantees contained in the 14th Amendment for racial and religious minorities. (Alice Paul had started this idea in 1923) – Passed in Congress in 1972 but failed by early 1980sto get required 38 states necessary for ratification. – Failed to pass as movement limited to middle class women and pro- life groups argued against it. -- Feared ERA would deny those rights to financial support in case of divorce, or would end special treatment women had received in the way of "protective" courtesies in a male- dominated society. – Opposition spearheaded by Phyllis Schlafly

5. GAINS 1972, federal gov’t required colleges receiving federal funds to establish "affirmative action" programs for women to ensure equal opportunity. Roe v. Wade -- Legalized abortion in 1973. -- Hitherto states had the right to determine legality of abortion. Several corporations forced to provide back wages to female employees who had not received equal pay for equal work. -- Also had to abolish hiring and promotion practices that discriminated against women (Title VII of Civil Rights Act of 1964)

6. Woman experienced more inclusion in the military Title IX guaranteed equal access for girls to programs boys benefited from (e.g. sports) Sally Ride -- first female astronaut Geraldine Ferraro -- became first woman in 1984 to be on a presidential ticket. – Democratic politician and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. – She is best known as the first and only woman to date to represent a major U.S. political party as a candidate for Vice President. – Ferraro and running mate Walter Mondale were defeated in a landslide by incumbent President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush in the 1984 election.Walter MondalePresidentRonald ReaganGeorge H. W. Bush1984 election

7. Other minorities fight for rights Chicanos (Mexican-Americans) – Caesar Chavez led the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC) and succeeded in gaining improved work conditions for mostly Chicano agricultural workers. – La Raza Unida -- locally-based political parties sought to increase the Mexican-American vote in urban areas. – Since 1970s a number of Mexican-Americans elected to prominent political positions.

8. Native Americans AIM seized Indian Bureau in Washington in 1972. -- Protested desperate conditions in reservations (e.g. unemployment and illiteracy). 1973, militant Indians led by leaders of AIM and the Oglala Sioux occupied Wounded Knee, South Dakota. – Held it for two months and gained national publicity. Several Indians dead and 300 arrested. Leaders acquitted – Eventually led to Indian gain of lost fishing rights and receiving of millions of dollars in payments for lands taken earlier in U.S. history.

9. 1970’s to Today

10. The New Immigration Immigration Act of 1965 spawned a flood of immigration from Latin America (especially Mexico) and Asia (esp. Southeast Asia, Korea, and the Philippines) for the next three decades Estimated undocumented aliens by 1985: 8 million

11. The New Immigration Sunbelt most impacted esp. California, Texas, and Florida; mostly Hispanic immigrants – By 1990, Hispanics accounted for 25% of population in Texas, Arizona, and California (over 50% of Hispanic population was Mexican) Resentment among native-born Americans resulted in political backlash against immigrants in the 1990s, especially California

12. The Sexual Revolution (began in early 1960s) Birth control pill and antibiotics encourage freer sexual practices beginning in early 1960s. Challenged traditional values of pre-marital sex as taboo. Gay and Lesbian rights activists emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) became an epidemic in the 1980s – Initially received little attention as earliest victims were gay men and intravenous drug-users – GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) – By end of 1980s, at least 600,000 were infected. Many were heterosexual; nation became intensely alerted. – By mid-1990s drugs to prevent the onset of AIDS showed promise.

13. Fundamentalist resurgence -- "Religious Right" Born-again Christians began to exert more political influence in late 1970s. "Culture War": Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority allied with Ronald Reagan during his presidency. – Denounced abortion, pornography, homosexuality, the ERA, and esp. affirmative action. – Championed prayer in schools and teaching of creationism in the public schools. – Advocated tougher penalties for criminals and strong national defense. Mid-eighties, Pat Robertson emerged as leading figure as head of Christian Coalition -- Ran an unsuccessful bid the Republican nomination in 1988. The "Religious Right" became an influential minority in the Republican Party -- A significant portion of this group rested in the "Bible Belt" of the Old South.

14. Civil Rights African American rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s Women's Rights movement in the 1960s Chicanos in the 1960s and 70s Native Americans in the 1970s Gays and lesbians after 1970

15. Abortion Roe v. Wade: Challenge to the Texas law that prohibited abortions except to save a mother’s life Griswold v. Connecticutt (1965) had established the right to reproductive privacy Jan. 22, 1973, Court will allow abortion on demand in first trimester