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Equal Rights Amendment is Introduced
The ERA is introduced by senator Curtis and representative Anthony in congress which was the idea of Alice Paul -
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Introduction to Congress
The equal rights amendment is introduced to congress each year -
Fighting Tirelessly
The National Organization for Women have vowed to fight tirelessly for the ratification of the ERA -
Disrupting Congress
20 of the NOW leaders disrupt hearings of the senate demanding that the full congress hear the changes for the ERA -
Hearing the ERA
The senate subcommittee finally hears the ERA due to senator Birch Bayh -
Leaving the House
The ERA left the house of judiciary because of a discharge petition filed by Martha Griffiths -
Approved with an Amendment
The ERA was approved by the house of representatives in a vote of 354-24 (no amendment was created still) -
Approved with a time limit
The ERA is approved by the senate with no changes (84-8) they set a time limit of seven years for ratification.
Phyllis Schlafly established the National Committee to stop the ERA -
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Strong Allies
The ERA won a powerful ally, the AFL-CIO which voted to endorse it in 1973 -
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Pressure and Changes
Pressure from the anti-ERA starts surfacing in many places.
Indiana becomes the 35th state to ratify.
Many pro-ERA candidates are being voted into office spots. -
Boycott
NOW creates a boycott within the states that haven't ratified, creating a larger group of pro-ERA groups. 450 groups representing more than 50 million Americans. -
Seeking a Time Change
Now seeks for a longer time limit than seven years for the ratification to occur. Only congress has the power to change this. -
Extension for the ERA
Elizabeth Holtman calls for an extension for the ERA until March 22nd, 1979 -
The Death of Alice Paul
Alice Paul, the author of ERA dies. -
Everything within 1978
February, the NOW devotes all of its time to meeting the ratification deadline.
February-March, Missouri files against NOW saying that it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act
July 9, NOW organizes an extension mark, holding the largest amount of women to march in history
August 15, The U.S. House of Representatives approved the deadline extension (233-189)
October 6, The U.S. Senate joins the House in approval (60-36) setting the new deadline to June 30, 1982 -
Everything within 1979
January-June, ERA opponents launch an attack with a recession bill in 12 states (all 12 being rejected)
February, The ERA boycott is marked legal
May, Legislatures from 3 states bring it to the courts with the idea that the ERA late date is illegal and ask to take back the ratification within their states. Changing the Mormons to hate the ERA -
Everything within 1980
In May, there were 85,000 people who marched in Chicago to bring to light the idea of the ERA in Illinois
In July, the republican party had taken back their feelings of which on the ERA, the ERA picket their convention but Ronald Reagan still actively opposes it.
In August, the democratic party pledges its support to the ERA and tells them that without support they won't fund
In November, the polls had shown the difference in voting between women and men. "Reagan had a woman problem." -
Everything within 1981
In January Ronald Reagan was the first president to oppose a constitutional amendment.
In April, decided to follow Mormon footsteps and inform people by going door to door
In May, the ERA filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General of Missouri for injuring them
In June, NOW announces new chair and co-chair while also rallying for the deadline
In October, NOW begins a nationwide advertising campaign
In December the ERA extension is marked as illegal -
Less Confusion
ERA was granted a unanimous stay after appealing the Calister ruling -
Not Enough
The ERA gets dropped by many as their last focusing states (Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, and North Carolina) do not have enough support as the support from the women are mainly black women and less than 50% of men are supporting the ERA -
Official Reintroduction
The ERA is officially reintroduced into congress, losing it's vote by 6 for a 2/3rds vote. The majority voters being democrat. -
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Bringing it Back
The ERA is brought back into each session of congress and held in committees -
Adding Committees
NOW passed a resolution creating 2 separate committees: ERA grassroots committee and the Legislative History Committee -
Discussion on What Women Want
Women begin to discuss what they want within the lines of the ERA discussing such things as abortion and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation -
A Change is Needed
Patricia Ireland, president of NOW decided that a change was needed. To be able to change the idea that men don't have control over women they needed to make a shift in things that put them in positions that may display such an idea. -
Expanding the idea
Now members within committees offer the idea to start including more needs into the ERA such as sex, race, sexual orientation, marital status... etc. -
Continuing on
The ERA committees continue to evolve and educate many all over