responses to social divisions

Question 1

what was written at the time of Ford’s presidency

Answer 1

Time magazine wrote that a ‘time for healing’ was needed, but bitter divisions were hard to overcome.

Question 2

key elements of social divisions

Answer 2

Poverty
Race
Womens rights

Question 3

women’s inequality

Answer 3

By the 1970s, most women now expected to work. More women entered traditionally masculine occupations such as Medicine and law, but only received 73% of the salaries paid to professional men. Women remained overwhelmingly dominant in low-paid jobs and constituted 66% of adults classified as poor.

Question 4

what act was meant to give equal rights

Answer 4

ERA 1973

Question 5

The ERA

Answer 5

The democrat - controlled congress voted for the ERA in 1972. Many people opposed it

Question 6

who was the single most influential opponent of women’s rights

Answer 6

Phyllis Schlafly

Question 7

Phyllis Schlafly

Answer 7

Nicknamed the ‘sweetheart of the Silent majority’
Established a ‘Stop ERA’ organisation in 1972 which attracted 50,000 members when 20,000 feminists met in Texas for a National Women’s Conference in 1978, Schlafy’s counter-rally drew 8000 supporters

Question 8

who agreed with Phyllis Schlafly

Answer 8

Conservative states

Question 9

what happened to the ERA

Answer 9

It never obtained the assent of the 75% of states required for an amendment to the Constitution even though the issue remained high on the political agenda throughout the 70s

Question 10

Ford and Womens Rights

Answer 10

Legislation to support women was easier to pass as the majority of voters were women by 1980

Ford signed the Equal Credit Opportunity Act which outlawed credit discrimination on the basis of colour, religion, sex, marital status or age - introduced by Nixon

1975- Taylor vs Louisiana- Supreme court ruled that excluding women from a jury was illegal

Ford was pro- women’s right but his wife made more of an impact - spoke out on issues

Question 11

Carter and women’s right

Answer 11

Carter was sensitive to women’s rights- criticised for not speaking out more

Insisted that at least one woman be considered for each cabinet post- appointed two female members and more women to high- level posts than any previous president

Supported the ERA
Passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act- 1978
Made 5 universities admit women- 300 enrolled in 1976
Shelters for victims of domestic violence were created
South Dakota first state against marital rape- 1975- 1993 completely outlawed
Carter saw the voting advantages of supporting women’s rights

Question 12

reproductive rights - aborting before 1970

Answer 12

Before 1973, abortion was a crime in 30 states and legal in cases such as rape, incest or a threat to the womens health in 20

Question 13

what began to happen to abortion by 1971

Answer 13

From 1971, the National Abortion Rights Action League lobbied state legislatures for the legislation of abortion

Question 14

influential court case about abortion

Answer 14

Roe v Wade 1973

Question 15

conservative opposition to abortion

Answer 15

Beverly LaHaye established Concerned Women for America (CWA)
Fought against the ERA and abortion
500,000 members- wanted women to stay in the home
Led to Social Conservatism in Republican politics
1976- Henry Hyde led congress to ban the use of federal funds for abortion
Roe vs Wade revitalised the Republican Party- led to a bigger turnout in 1980 to support Reagan

Question 16

statement concerning poverty

Answer 16

In 1978, Senator Edward Kennedy said the development of a ‘permanent underclass in our society’ constituted ‘the great unmentioned problem of America today’.

Question 17

anti-poverty views

Answer 17

The less sympathetic criticised the ‘welfare mentality’ - the way in which welfare became an accepted way of life for successive generations. Ford was a firm believer in self-help and had no real ideas or impact on poverty and welfare - Carter was expected to care and do more about poverty. But he faced several problematic demographic trends

Question 18

demographic trends faced by Carter - poverty

Answer 18

The fastest-growing section of the American population was the elderly which necessitated increased federal government expenditure on Social Security and health care. Carter wanted to balance the federal budget and wanted to reform those government programmes without increasing federal expenditure
The continuing white flight of middle class taxpayers from the North to the Sun Belt exacerbated urban problems in poverty-stricken Northern city centres

Question 19

economic recession

Answer 19

There was an economic recession in 1973-5, the number living below the poverty line was growing. It rose from 11.2% in 1974 to 12.5% in 1976. It included 50% of all black female heads of household. The numbers eligible for food stamps grew from 18.5m in 1976 to 20M in 1980, when the US suffered another recession.

Question 20

what did Carter do for poverty

Answer 20

Carter made little progress on these problems, despite the allocation of $4B for public works in 1977 and increased federal aid to the poor for eg food stamps. The problem was that taxpayers did not want to subsidise the poor, Carter was a fiscal conservative who wanted to balance the budget

Question 21

how much did homelessness grow by

Answer 21

200,000 to 1M during the 1970s

Question 22

reasons why homelessness grew

Answer 22

1. The number of institutions for mentally ill people decreased. This was because liberals campaigned successfully for inmate discharges on the grounds of their right to greater personal freedom and independence. Conservatives wanted to decrease expenditure on such institutions and were reluctant to make up for the shortfall. Many former residents ended up homeless
2. Due to continuing urban renewal policies many inner city skid row hotels that housed the exceptionally poor were demolished. Former residents struggled to find alternative accommodation
3. Rising unemployment led some people into depression and life on the streets. Budget cuts and lower welfare benefits restricted the welfare safety net which contributed to homelessness
4. Homeless women increased because of declining marriages
5. The increased use of cocaine resulted in addicts who spent all their money on drugs and could not afford or access regular living accomodations

Question 23

who made the most of those in poverty

Answer 23

African Americans as always