Topic 2 - Civil Rights (MINORITY)

Question 1

what are the three themes of minority

Answer 1

hispanics
native americans
LGBTQ

Question 2

discuss the black CRM in aiding minority rights

Answer 2

• success gained 1950-65 left lasting impression
• encouraged other groups to push for equality
• opened up the path for change
• ride on success
• liberalism of the period also helped

Question 3

why do native americans deserve rights more than anyone else

Answer 3

• here first so deserve them
• in 19th century as white colonials expanded to mainland America natives persecuted
• many forcible removed under 1830 Indian Removal Act
• federa gov arranged treaties with the tribes to provide alternative land or money for the land but in reality this was usually inferior or unsuitable

Question 4

what were the two main issues and aims of the native american search for rights and equality

Answer 4

• return to former tribal homelands of which many were sacred and spiritual territories taken under 1830 Indian Removal Act but hard as you can’t just knock down new buildings
• right of self-determination - make your own healthcare, education etc… live your own way

Question 5

what was the BIA

Answer 5

Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs created 1824 to administer Indian Affairs

• NA’s hated it

Question 6

what is both good and bad numerically about the number of NA

Answer 6

• good as only 1 million its not a lot of people to have to give rights to
• bad as lack of representation - not as many to protest - get less attention - most tribes don’t even like each other so not even a small but united force

Question 7

what did the BIA begin to do to NAs

Answer 7

• press them into modernising
• encouraged them to relocate to towns/cities and undertake job training
• to be eligible for these opportunities NA had to accept policy of Termination
• forced assimilation
• if you do termination you are a US citizen and so protected by CRA
• but also meant the end of traditional tribal life and any lands held in ‘trust’ were sold

Question 8

what did the NA think about termination

Answer 8

• most resisted the idea but by 1970 around half of all the 830,000 natives were living in towns and cities
• it was good in some ways as it meant they now spoke English, were protected by the constitution and could go to courts to push for equality
• termination created the education system that made the activists of the future

Question 9

what was the NA movement like in the 1960s

Answer 9

• even the gov started to agree that NA had been treated unfairly and NA began to campaign for fairer treaties and return to their homelands
• idea of self-determination was second nature for the NA whose reservations became independent nations within the USA
• however the BIA began to interfere more with Indian culture as the years progressed
• schools were made to teach only in English, students forced to wear proper clothes and cut their hair
• actions led to widespread resentment of the BIA by NA and a desire to push for fairer treatment/freedom

Question 10

what was the (NCAI) National Congress of American Indians

Answer 10

• main civil rights group for Indians
• worked within the government system and avoided radicalism
• peaceful and legal
• gain sympathy
• good intentions but it didn’t achieve much as there isn’t enough of them to be peaceful, they need to get noticed

Question 11

what was the (AIM) American Indian Movement

Answer 11

• took a very anti-federal perspective to their protests
• comprised mostly of young Indians who had not experienced traditional tribal life
• coined slogan ‘red power’
• adopted tactics of black CRM organising sit ins and occupations often in areas of land that were heavily disputed
• radical one - forceful
• occupy old spiritual grounds and refuse to move
• kick up a fuss - military - attention

Question 12

what was the Alcatraz Red Power Movement (ARPM)

Answer 12

• a smaller NA group
• contributed towards the growing desire for change within the NA ranks
• occupied Alcatraz for 10 years 1969-71
• but empty so America didn’t care and it was one event
• some tension and attention

Question 13

AIM protest in 1971

Answer 13

• membership at 4,500
• total India population about 1 mil
• small but if in right place can kick up a massive fuss
• AIMS methods get recognition
• violence when AIM protests at white Boy Scouts for performing ‘Indian Dances’ in Topeka, Kansas
• protests at Fort Snelling Minnesota and the Black Hills of Dakota

Question 14

what was the 1972 AIM trail of broken treaties

Answer 14

• a protest drive to Washington to protest outside the BIA about BIA management
• the BIA building was occupied

Question 15

president Nixon on the NA CRM

Answer 15

• Nixon sympathised with the Indian cause and wanted to provide amicable solution
• rejected policies of termination and forced assimilation
• instructed his advisors to consult tribal leaders to agree a solution
• 1972 Indian Education Act - funding for tribal schools not forced to teach in English
• 1974 India Financing Act - lent tribes money to build housing and improve their settlements
• did not reform BIA or return sacred sites seen as limitation but still lots of self determination
• many continued to be evicted once their land was deemed useful to the USA

Question 16

president Ford on the NA CRM

Answer 16

• 1975 Indian Self Determination Act - allowed natives control of their own education/healthcare - big victory
• 1975 VRA - re-iteration - vote for natives

Question 17

why did the natives get their rights

Answer 17

• small so not expensive
• overdue they deserve it more than most
• people can accept this more than gay rights e.g. - less deep seated hatred
• decent goals and achievements

Question 18

what was the limitations of the NA CRM

Answer 18

• lacked a leader to galvanise it
• wouldn’t have happened without been able to ride on coat tails of black CRM
• small number - lack representation

Question 19

what is a difference between the NA CRM and the Hispanic one

Answer 19

• did have a figurehead Cesar Chavez

Question 20

what did Chavez set up in 1962

Answer 20

National Farm Workers Association (NFWA)

Question 21

what did Chavez want

Answer 21

• representation for Mexican Farm Workers in the South
• wanted workers rights
• whites accused Mexicans of taking their jobs on farms
• and educational equality to an extent

Question 22

what discrimination did Hispanics face

Answer 22

• widespread segregation in public facilities
• general prejudice
• they were viewed in a lesser and demeaning manner
• Mexicans esp faced resentment/hatred due to the fact many found work on farms and worked for less than their white counterparts

Question 23

why did most Mexicans face hatred due to working for less on farms than white people

Answer 23

• US governmental initiative the Bracero Programme
• a Mexican immigration drive in which Mexicans signed a contract to work in the USA for a set period of time in return for guaranteed housing and working conditions
• between 1942-64 over 4.6 mil Bracero contracts were signed
• war effort then to push the economy
• ended in 64 as couldn’t afford it

Question 24

what was the issues with the Bracero Programme

Answer 24

• expensive for gov
• these workers were in USA for up to 10 years, got married had kids and then suddenly expected to go back to go to Mexico when end
• are they not citizens in that ten years
• people just stayed illegally after its end
• surely they deserve rights after been there 10 years contributing to US economy
• created immigrants
• JFK, Ike, Johnson

Question 25

what four key areas did the Hispanic campaign for equal rights cover

Answer 25

• land
• workers rights
• discrimination
• deportation
• only achievable for legal Hispanics

Question 26

who was Cesar Chavez

Answer 26

• most famous Hispanic activist
• campaigned mainly for workers rights
• set up NFWA
• his method was non-violence, organised strikes, marches and protests, hunger-strikes
• like MLK and Gandhi

Question 27

who were the Brown Berets (Mexican) and Young Lords (Puerto-Rican)

Answer 27

• modelled on the Black Panthers in the sense they wore uniforms and campaigned against Police Brutality and aimed to improve conditions for school children

Question 28

who were Rejes Lopez Tijerina and Rodolfo Gonzalez

Answer 28

• more extreme minded leaders
• fought against land rights and discrimination respectively and although peaceful initially were more than willing to resort to violence if needed and if progress was not quick enough
• radical
• Gonzalez shot 2 Cali policemen

Question 29

what did the Supreme Court rule in 1954 for Hispanics

Answer 29

• that they were now equal citizens but it took over a decade for any other significant achievements to be made
• supreme court rulings not always enforced

Question 30

1966 Cuban American Adjustment Act

Answer 30

• granted citizenship for all Cubans who had lived in the USA for more than a year
• no other hispanic group given this right
• more cold war than CR tho

Question 31

1968 Mexican Legal Defence and Education fund

Answer 31

• fund set up to fund and pursue CR in the courts

Question 32

1973 Equal Provision of Education

Answer 32

• granted in some states

Question 33

1974 Equal Opportunities Act

Answer 33

• led to more bilingual teaching in schools

Question 34

what success did Chavez have

Answer 34

• campaigns for working conditions gained significant improvements
• degree of success on a local level in terms of schooling and housing

Question 35

how successful was deportation rights in the hispanic CRM

Answer 35

• no success
• mid to late 70s economy bad
• get rid of black workers and give jobs to white

Question 36

what is different about gay rights to other minority groups

Answer 36

• unlike other minority groups LGBT people were not a visible race in society
• challenge straight away as you have to choose to reveal yourself

Question 37

discuss the background of issues to gay rights

Answer 37

• widespread discrimination and prejudice
• refused service in public places
• the fact they were somewhat ‘invisible’ led to fear among Americans
• similar to communism - invisible disease
• could lost job if they came out etc.

Question 38

what did Congress ‘support’ in the 1950s in terms of gay rights

Answer 38

• 1948 psychologists and psychiatrists stated that they considered homosexuality a form of mental illness
• a notion which Congress supported in the 1950s

Question 39

what was the Lavender Scare

Answer 39

• ran alongside the red scare to root out homosexuals
• lead to thousands losing their jobs and many been forced to relocate
• weak minded homosexuals more likely to give into communism and evil information

Question 40

discuss the Lavender Scare senate report in 1850

Answer 40

• Dec 1950 (Truman)
• Senate Report titled ‘Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government’ distributed to members of Congress after the federal gov had covertly investigated employees sexual orientation
• report said since homosexuality was a mental illness it constituted a security risk to the nation as those who engaged in overt acts of perversion lacked the emotional stability of normal persons

Question 41

discuss the purge of the Lavender Scare

Answer 41

• in early 50s more than 4,380 gay men and women had been discharged from the military and around 500 fired from their jobs within the gov

Question 42

discuss general issues the gay rights cause faced

Answer 42

• legislation a local rather than federal matter which made it difficult to instil widespread change
• homosexuality was illegal in every state until 1962
• not fully decriminalised until 2003
• gay community were a significant target of the KKK and subject to some extreme hostility
• activists had to use human rights laws and argue the CRA applied to gay people also
• difficult for pres to push as would lose religious vote
• need whole country for federal change
• can’t start till 1962

Question 43

discuss hostility towards gay people

Answer 43

• religious fundamentalism and new conservatism ran a crusade against homosexuality
• lacked financials, numbers, influence and political sophistication to counter the threat
• during 1970s a series of local legislation that protected LGBT people from discrimination were repealed across America
• voters repealed them in their thousands
• campaigns led by Anita Bryant Christian New Right Mother

Question 44

who was Anita Bryant

Answer 44

• Christian New Right Mother
• massively homophobic
• high profile celebrity
• presidential links
• made it worse for herself tho as got media attention needed for the cause by making herself a household name

Question 45

what took place in terms of gay rights in 1969

Answer 45

• June 1969 Raid of Stonewall in the gay bar the police used to ‘rough up’ followed by gay rights protests
• July 1969 - Gay Liberation Front founded in response to Stonewall

Question 46

what was removed in 1973

Answer 46

• homosexuality removed from the list of Mental Illnesses by the American Psychiatric Association
• late after liberal 60s

Question 47

who was elected to be a Councillor in 1974 and why was this significant

Answer 47

• Kathy Kozachenko became the first openly gay American to be elected as Councillor in Michigan
• small role but a start
• gay in high profile roles

Question 48

what was the Briggs initiative

Answer 48

• Nov 1978

- state legislator John Briggs called for LGBT teachers to be dismissed from California’s Public Schools

Question 49

when was the march on Washington for gay rights

Answer 49

• October 1979

- National LGBT march on Washington with over 10,000 protestors campaigning for equal rights and legislation

Question 50

what did the Democrats announce in August 1980

Answer 50

• acceptance of rights for gays
• huge victory
• massive representation

Question 51

what problems were faced by the LGBT CRM

Answer 51

• legislation was a state matter not a federal one
• Until Illinois repealed its anti-gay laws in 1962, homosexuality was illegal in every state in the US
• not decriminalised until 2003 across country
• campaigners had to use human rights laws or CRA
• discrimination in employment
• political conservatism, persistent arrests, police discrimination, economic entrenchment and lack of attention to sexism and racism
• police brutality put people off joining the movement
• it was political suicide for a president to endorse as more religious voters than gay
• gay people stigmatised

Question 52

what were the four aims of the gay rights movement

Answer 52

• decriminalisation of homosexual acts
• dissemination of accurate and objective information about homosexuality
• equal treatment and equal rights under the law
• public demonstrations and emphasis on visibility
• their aims still not achievable by 1980 though not enough time, still a fight today

Question 53

list some of the achievements of the gay rights movement from 1969

Answer 53

• right to publish gay and lesbian magazines
• first employment discrimination cases won
• constraints on police harassment
• dialogue opened in the scientific and religious communities
• media visibility
• denunciation of how gays and lesbians are a mistreated and persecuted minority
• new rhetoric of pride and affirmation
• political, social and cultural organizations that helped build a movement and a community
• public affirmation of homosexual identity (coming out in public)

Question 54

what were the Stonewall riots

Answer 54

• 1969
• The Stonewall Inn, a well-known gay bar in NY, was raided by police supposedly for breaking a liquor license law
• days of protests and violence over gay rights followed in the surrounding area
• 2 day stand off after
• gained the gay movement lots of publicity
• first catalyst for the gay community to rally behind and gain enough support to hold marches and protests
• hope and massive support
• July 69 GLF (Gay Liberation Front) founded in response and without a group they movement couldn’t get far
• 1970 first gay pride on stonewall anniversary in the smaller liberals states

Question 55

who was Harvey Milk

Answer 55

• 1977 won a seat on San Francisco County Board
• inaugurated 1978 becoming the city’s first openly gay officers and one of first openly gay individuals to be elected to office in US
• he galvanised the movement as it was someone to get behind
• under Milk’s leadership the Briggs Initiative was defeated - big victory for the movement
• campaigners encouraged people to ‘come out come out wherever you are’
• believed if voters knew of a homosexual within their lives they would vote down the motion
• remarkably brave campaign tactic by those affected
• but paid off
• Milk went on to be legend of LGBT movement

Question 56

discuss the assassination of Harvey Milk

Answer 56

• assassinated in 1978 as well as mayor of San Francisco
• suggested politics of gun still alive and well in the USA
• Dan White (the killer) sentenced to just 7 years in prison many believed the short sentence due to Milk been gay
• over 5000 protestors marched on San Frans town hall and riots broke out
• he became a martyr and his death a beacon in the media
• better dead than alive as bad as that sounds

Question 57

discuss the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s

Answer 57

• although by no means a ‘gay disease’ it had a devastatingly disproportionate effect on the gay community in America
• since 1981 close to 636,000 people have died from AIDS in the US
• wall of silence from repub pres Reagan and Bush
• repubs who had gained votes from religious rights claimed it was Gods way of punishing homosexuals
• essentially all just shows the gay rights movement still had far to go especially in terms of federal intervention