To What Extent Did Individual And Civil Rights Improve 1973-80 Flashcards
What was the significance of the Roe v Wade decision?
It declared that state laws forbidding abortion were unconstitutional and recognized women’s rights to privacy and control over their bodies.
The ruling allowed abortions in the first three months of pregnancy.
What was the impact on the number of legal abortions following Roe v Wade?
The number of legal abortions increased dramatically, rising to 1.7 million in 1977.
This was a significant rise following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Which organizations opposed Roe v Wade?
- Right to Life organization
- Catholic Church
- Fundamentalist Protestant Christian churches
These groups exerted pressure on the government and lobbied against the ruling.
What legislative action did Congress take shortly after Roe v Wade?
They passed a Human Life Amendment attempting to negate the Supreme Court decision.
This was part of a broader opposition to the ruling.
What was the Hyde Amendment?
It outlawed the use of federal funds for abortion unless the mother’s life was threatened.
This amendment was passed in 1974.
What was the effect of the Hyde Amendment upheld by the Supreme Court?
The number of abortions began to fall after its enactment.
This ruling reinforced restrictions on abortion funding.
What political trend began during Nixon’s presidency related to Roe v Wade?
The concept of the silent majority.
This trend culminated in Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980.
How did pro-life groups influence the 1976 elections?
They actively opposed pro-abortion candidates, contributing to the defeat of some politicians.
For example, Senator Frank Church of Utah was defeated partly due to this opposition.
What was the role of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in relation to Roe v Wade?
NOW pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment and supported the Supreme Court decision.
Their efforts were part of a broader feminist movement during the 1970s.
Fill in the blank: The Roe v Wade decision was made by the US _______.
Supreme Court
True or False: The Roe v Wade decision allowed abortions at any point during pregnancy.
False
It allowed abortions only in the first three months of pregnancy.
What film did Francis Schaeffer and Dr Everett Koop create in 1979?
They created a four-hour film entitled ‘Whatever Happened to the Human Race?’ which urged voters to oppose abortion.
What organization did Reverend Jerry Falwell found in 1979?
He founded the Moral Majority, a new right pressure group to support Reagan’s candidacy for the presidency.
What is the US Supreme Court?
The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the USA, created under the Judiciary Act of 1789, presided over by nine justices.
How are justices appointed to the US Supreme Court?
Justices are nominated by the US president and must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the US Senate.
What is the major role of the US Supreme Court?
Its major role is interpreting the US Constitution, a right established in the early 19th century under Chief Justice Marshall.
What was the impact of Chief Justice Earl Warren and Chief Justice Warren Burger on the Supreme Court?
They took an active role in interpreting the Constitution in controversial areas including abortion and civil rights.
What was the Equal Rights Amendment and its outcome?
The Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress in 1972 but ultimately failed to gain support from three-quarters of the states.
What was a significant change in women’s rights from 1973 to 1980?
The women’s movement began to fragment, with moderate groups facing more radical feminist groups demanding full equality.
Who was Ella Grasso?
In 1974, Ella Grasso was elected governor of Connecticut, marking an important advance for women in politics.
What percentage of women were in the workforce in 1980?
By 1980, 52 percent of women over 16 years were in the workforce.
What did the Supreme Court’s majority judgement in Roe v Wade (1973) state?
It recognized a woman’s right to privacy, which encompasses her decision to terminate her pregnancy.
What economic challenges did US workers face from 1973 to 1980?
Workers faced rising prices and unemployment, leading to a fall in living standards and the relocation of businesses.
What happened to New York City in 1975?
New York City faced bankruptcy, with President Ford refusing federal aid, leading to job losses for thousands of workers.
What was the cost of the eniler?
$1 million
What significant act was passed in 1789?
The Judiciary Act of 1789.
What major social and political changes occurred in the 1970s?
Changes included advancements in abortion and civil rights.
What was the role of the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Marshall?
Its major role was to interpret the law.
What legislation improved workers’ rights in 1970?
The Equal Pay Act and the Safety at Work Act.
What did the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 accomplish?
It provided civil rights protections for people with disabilities.
What was the aim of the Labor Law Reform bill in 1978?
To extend workers’ rights.
What event in 1969 marked a significant moment for the gay rights movement?
The Stonewall Riots.
How many gay and lesbian organizations were formed by 1973?
Almost 800.
Who was Harvey Milk?
He was an openly gay city supervisor elected in San Francisco in 1975.
What happened to Harvey Milk on November 27, 1978?
He was assassinated.
What impact did Milk’s election and murder have?
It brought awareness to the gay rights movement.
What was the reaction of the gay community by 1980?
They were becoming a more prominent feature of life in most US cities.
What was the Native American population in the 1970 National Census?
The Native American population stood at 800,000, a mere 0.4 percent of the US population.
What was the Native American population by the 1980 census?
The population rose to 1.4 million by the time of the 1980 census.
Where did the majority of Native Americans live during this period?
The majority lived in the West on reservations, facing unemployment, poverty, and alcoholism.
What movement was formed in 1968 to advocate for Native American rights?
The American Indian Movement (AIM) was formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What was the nickname for the movement for Native American rights?
The movement was nicknamed Red Power, referencing Black Power.
What conditions did Native Americans face that led to the formation of AIM?
They faced slum housing conditions, the highest unemployment rate in the country, and police brutality.
What significant event did AIM organize in 1969?
AIM activists occupied the former federal prison of Alcatraz to highlight the plight of Native Americans.
What happened during the AIM occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1972?
AIM activists occupied the Bureau for six days.
What confrontation occurred at Wounded Knee in 1973?
There was a major confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in two deaths and twelve injuries.
What was the significance of Marlon Brando’s actions at the Oscars?
He refused to accept his Best Actor Oscar in person, sending a Native American woman to highlight their issues.
What was the outcome of the Red Power movement in 1974?
The Indian Self-Determination Act was passed by Congress.
What did the Indian Self-Determination Act allow tribes to do?
It allowed tribes to assume administrative responsibility for federally funded programs.
What major changes occurred for black Americans in the 1970s?
Many benefited from civil equality and affirmative action programs established by the federal government.
How many firms were embraced by affirmative action by 1972?
Affirmative action embraced 300,000 firms that worked on federal contracts.
What percentage of federal jobs were reserved for black Americans?
35 percent to 45 percent of federal jobs were reserved for black Americans.
What was the Bakke case about?
Allan P. Bakke challenged affirmative action after being denied admission to the University of California.
What was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Bakke case?
In a split 5-4 decision, the court ruled that Bakke had been treated unfairly.
What principle did the US Supreme Court uphold in 1980?
The principle of affirmative action.
What did the Court declare in Fulliove v Klutnik?
Ten percent of federal jobs should be allocated to ethnic minorities.
What challenges did black Americans in inner-city slums face despite civil rights improvements?
Continued poverty, unemployment, and poor housing.
How did black family income change from 1971 to 1980?
It declined from 60 percent of a white family income in 1971 to 58 percent by 1980.
What was a significant feature of post-1970 America regarding black Americans?
The bifurcation of black American society.
What did the US Supreme Court demand to bring opportunities to black Americans in poor communities?
School integration between predominantly black and white schools.
What controversial idea was instituted in Swann v Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education?
Bussing black and white children across school districts for full racial integration.
What major event occurred in Boston in September 1974?
Major riots occurred during an attempt to bus school children between predominantly white and black areas.
What happened in other cities regarding bussing for racial integration?
Similar riots occurred, but by the end of the decade, bussing became the norm across the USA.
