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The United Farm Workers Movement
The United Farm Workers union was led by Cesár Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The group was comprised of Filipinos and Mexican-Americans in order to accomplish their goals together. They wanted fair pay, to not be exposed to pesticides, and overall safety. They organized the California Grape Boycott which added to their momentum of accomplishing their goals. This group is still active today with their nonviolent protests. -
Equal Pay Act of 1963
The purpose of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was to get rid of differences in pay based on sex in order to fix the Fair Labor Standards Act. After this bill was signed by President John F. Kennedy, women’s wages became closer to men’s wages. Still, men mainly have jobs which pay overtime, while women tend to have jobs that don’t. This combined with the fact women having to go on maternity leave results in the different sexes still not having equal pay. -
California Grape Boycott
The California Grape Boycott was a labor strike organized by the UFW. The strike began on September 8, 1965, and lasted more than five years. This was because the UFW spread the work nationally, asking people to not buy grapes to help support their cause. The strike was a large success and ended with table grape growers signing union contracts that granted workers better pay, benefits, and protections. -
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women was established in order to pressure the government to enforce its anti-discrimination acts. N.O.W. wanted more women to get a good education, hold professional jobs, and be able to hold a government position. N.O.W. persuaded people to take part in boycotts and marches. They also filed lawsuits in order to get equal access to public areas. -
The Brown Berets
The Brown Berets were a pro-Chicano group that focused on inequalities in the Mexican-American community. This included organizing against police brutality. They helped organize protests and keep young protesters safe from the police. This group was not opposed to violence in order to get their demands heard. In 1969 they merged with the Denver Chicano Youth Liberation Movement. The Brown Berets had weakened greatly by 1984 because of spies. -
Chicano Blowouts
The Chicano Blowouts were a series of walkouts organized by students and the Brown Berets in protest of Mexican-Americans not having fair treatment by the educational system. March 6, 1968 marked the first protest against the Los Angeles Unified School District. Throughout the movement the Mexican-American students got to learn more about their heritage. The school board eventually allowed negotiations, which resulted in more Mexican-Americans in the district being recruited to go to college. -
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement was a group dedicated to making sure Native Americans were treated fairly. Their goals pertained to making sure treaties weren’t broken, spiritual beliefs were respected, and stopping police from discriminating against them. The major cause of these issues was the Indian Termination Policy. This policy ended the tribes’ powers to rule themselves. Instead, the federal government wanted all American Indians to become part of America’s modern society and pay taxes. -
Stonewall Riots
During the 1960s and before homosexuality was not welcomed or accepted, and the law reflected this. Following a police raid that took place in the morning of June 28, 1969, a series of violent demonstrations by members of the LGTBQ community broke out. They took place at the stonewall inn in Manhattan, New York City. The riots helped propel the gay rights movement forward. The LGBTQ community had simply had enough with the status quo and this caused the movement to pick up pace. -
Occupation of Alcatraz
Starting on November 20, 1969, American Indians and allies, called the Indians of All Tribes (IOAT), occupied Alcatraz Island. This was a protest about American Indians being treated unfairly. Alcatraz was closed in 1963, so it should have been returned to the Native Americans based on the Treaty of Fort Laramie. The treaty stated that land no longer used by the government must be returned to the Native Americans. However, the protest was ended by the government on June 11, 1971. -
La Raza Unida
The Raza Unida Party was a group committed to making sure Mexican-Americans were being heard by voting. They wanted their issues to be heard and conquered by the Democratic Party. This party also ran their own candidates to try and bring awareness to their issues. Even though La Raza Unida officially disbanded in 2008, they still maintaining a presence in modern society by holding leadership conferences and having a Facebook page. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was introduced to allow everyone, no matter their sex, equal legal rights. The amendment was passed by Congress in 1972 and needed 38 states to ratify it to be added to the Constitution. However, even with the extended deadline in June 1982, only 35 states voted yes. However, 5 of these states then revoked their ratification of the amendment. -
Phyllis Schlafly & the Defeat of the ERA
Phyllis Schlafly was an antifeminism and came up with the “STOP” acronym of “Stop Taking Our Privileges Away.” She then started the “STOP ERA” campaign where she argued that the ERA needed not be passed because it would change women’s gender roles in society. She argued her side successfully when the ERA did not have enough votes from the states to pass. -
Trail of Broken Treaties
The Trail of Broken Treaties was a protest made to bring awareness to American Indian issues. At the capitol, there was a large gathering of American Indians wanting to talk about their demands. AIM then wrote the Twenty-Point Position paper which stated their requests. When the Nixon Administration refused to meet with the crowd, they went into the building which had the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where they destroyed documents. This ended when the Nixon Administration agreed to negotiate. -
Roe v. Wade
The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in the Roe v. Wade case that women had the right to an abortion with restrictions pertaining to keeping the human race alive. It was established that states would regulate the abortions by not allowing one after the baby was “viable” - the ability to survive outside of the womb without help. This case also started the debate of pro-life and pro-choice. The argument revolved around what the political atmosphere should embrace involving religious and moral beliefs. -
Siege at Wounded Knee
The Siege at Wounded Knee was when Oglala Lakota tribal people and AIM took control of the city Wounded Knee in SD, which was on an Indian reservation. The town was picked because of its popularity for the Wounded Knee Massacre. The town was held for 71 days while law enforcement sectioned off the community. Publicity was given to this event which led to Americans becoming more educated on American Indian issues. Two American Indians were also shot, along with lots of distress done to the town. -
Murder of Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was assassinated by Dan White, who was in opposition of the gay rights ordinance of San Francisco. Milk was the first openly gay official in the state of California White. White was charged with Voluntary manslaughter and sent to jail. However, the gay community was outraged thinking that the jury was homophobic and that White should have been charged with First-Degree Murder. -
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
The purpose of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act was to keep the tribes economically developing, as well as keep out crime. In order to relay information about the American Indians’ status, the National Indian Gaming Commission was made, which falls under the Department of the Interior. However, this has caused controversy. There is an ongoing debate about whether these groups will be good at regulating the economic state of tribes affiliated with gaming. -
Murder of Matthew Shepard
Matthew Shepard was a gay student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were suspected and arrested for first-degree murder. Both McKinney and Henderson were convicted of the murder, and each received two consecutive life sentences. In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard Act, Obama signed in on October 28. Shepard's death inspired films, novels, plays, songs, and other works -
Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 established a process for ending the Don't ask, don't tell policy. This would allow LGTBQ people to serve openly in the military. Obama Signed it on September 20, 2011. The repeal had a domino effect on the Military, with many more acts opening it up to increasingly diverse people. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
In this case the supreme court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The supreme court made the ruling 5-4. This was an amazing step forward in the LGTBQ movement. It was opposed by numerous individuals however despite its opposition, the case was a huge success.
