the extent of progress in individual and civil rights Flashcards
during the 70’s and 80’s how had attitudes changed regarding desired advances of personal freedom?
- advances were not always admired or attained
- Richard Nixon’s silent majority were tired of demands for rights that seemed to threaten their own,
when did the supreme court legalise abortion and was the case that cause this verdict?
1973
- Roe Vs Wade
- one of the most divisive rulings in American History
how many states was abortion a crime in before 1973?
- 30
- and legal in 20
- e.g. Colorado 1967 became the first state to allow abortions in cases of rape or threat to a women’s health.
- by 1972 13 other states had a similar law.
what did many feminists believe was the most important of women’s rights?
- was the right to abortion as it meant they had rights over their own body.
who were the National abortion rights action league?
1971 they lobbied state legislatures for the legislature of abortion.
what was the Roe V Wade case?
- impoverished texas women who did not want to bear a child that would grow up in poverty
- led to the supreme court rulling that women could abort in the first 13 weeks when a foetus could not sustain life on its own
what conservative organisation was set up during the late 60’s?
- 1967 National rights to life committee set up by the Catholic church to oppose abortion and campaigned against roe in the courts, elections and streets.
what methods to the National Rights to life committee use to gain support?
- mass mailing containing highly emotive language and graphic pictures “stop the baby killers”
who was the most influential opponent of abortion and women’s rights?
- Phyllis Schlafly “sweet heart of the silent majority”
how did the Henry Hyde, republican politician, lead congress into further restricting abortion rights?
- led congress into passing of a law that banned federal funding for abortion
- 1977 the supreme court ruled Hyde’s measure constitutional.
how had women’s rights increased since the early 60’s?
- women had gained greater sexual freedom and the right to abortion
- attitudes towards women and work had changed
- e.g. over 2 thirds of women at college thought the idea that women’s place is in the home is nonsense
how did feminists fail to achieve economic equality?
- despite 1963 equal pay act
- women still only received on average 75% of a professional man’s salary.
- 62% of adults classified as poor were women.
- failed to obtain the equal rights amendment and encountered increasing conservative opposition.
what examples of opposition to women’s rights were there?
- 75% of those contacted by the National rights to life committee turned out to vote in the congressional elections 1978
- cons campaign agaisnt abortion defeated liberals such as George McGovern
- 1979 Beverly LaHaye established concerned women for America (CWA) with 500,000 members by the mid-80’s and encouraged women to stay at home and look after the family.
how many people belonged to a union in 1970
- 0ver 19 million and there were many strikes including:
- largest strike in American histroy, 200,000 postal workers went on strike the federal gov approved their collective bargaining rights although not their right to strike
what was the reason for the decline in the unions and workers rights?
although unions had retained the right to strike in 1973-80 workers rights were threatened:
- firstly employers naturally disliked unions because they were associated with communism , corruption scandals and belief that they damaged the economy.
- declining in industries where unions were most common e.g. manufacturing industries.
- booming economy of the south = less support from the south
- 1965 immigration legislation led to foreign workers willing to work for poor wages
what is meant by non-unionised workers?
those who didnt have the support of union and worked in low waged or part time employments and had few rights?
- what was revealed about the garment industry in the 70’s?
- sweatshops
- in NYC ans LA usually women and usually suffering from discrimination
- e.g. their wages were only 65% of a mans in 1985.
how were gay people treated in the early 70’s?
- 1973 gays suffered from employment discrimination and public hostility and humiliation
- it was considered an illness that could be cured
- ## authorities harassed bars and restaurants who served homosexual customers
what is an example of a organisation for gay rights in the 70’s?
- New York gay liberation front 1970
- urged gays to come out proudly