Era of Social Change: Latino, Native American, Women, and Counterculture in the 1960s

1. All of it. Boom. Chapter 31: Era of Social Change

2. Latino • Latinos come from many backgrounds • Mexican American – especially in SW/areas ceded by Mexico • Many also escape revolution or come for work • Puerto Rican – following American occupation of P.R. - many settle in New York City • Cuban – many academics/professionals flee Communist rule • Man Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, Colombians and others also come to U.S. to escape civil war or poverty • Regardless of origins, many face prejudice/discrimination, often self-segregated, high unemployment

3. Latino 2 • As Latino population grows, so does political strength • United Farm Workers Organizing Committee • Cesar Chavez (and others) unionize fruit/vegetable pickers – when California grape producers refused to recognize union, orchestrated boycott of CA grapes – grape growers eventually relent • Increase in cultural pride • La Raza Unida (The People United) – political organization to help run Latino candidates for office

4. Native American • Suffer highest rate of unemployment, often poorest of Americans, more likely to suffer from tuberculosis and alcoholism – often highly marginalized • Failed policies to integrate Native Americans into mainstream society • Movement to seek more autonomy – Reps from 61 Native American groups meet in 1961 and draft Declaration of Indian Purpose • Stresses need for autonomy • ’68 President Johnson creates National Council on Indian Opportunity to ensure gov’t programs meet needs/desires of Indian peoples

5. Native American 2 • American Indian Movement (AIM) – began largely as self-defense group against police brutality, grew into general Native American rights group • Engaged in a couple direct/violent confrontations with government • Congress and courts DID make some positive reforms • gave groups greater control over own affairs and education • Regained some land rights based on broken treaties

6. Women • 1960s – emergence of feminism  belief that women should have social, economic, and political equality with men – great discontent with inequality • Betty Friedan captures discontent in book The Feminine Mystique • National Organization for Women – organization dedicated to fighting for women’s rights/equality

7. Women 2 • Higher Education Act - banned gender discrimination in federally funded education • Roe v. Wade – provides right to choose abortion in first trimester of pregnancy • Equal Rights Amendment – proposed Amendment to guarantee equal rights for men and women • Fell three states short of ratification

8. Counterculture • Hippie movement - mostly made up of white, middle-class, college (or college-age) youths – disillusioned with status quo • Rebelled in many ways – abandon traditional society, new music, sexual freedom, drug use, long hair

9. Some Lasting Impacts • Pop art – e.g. Warhol – bring art to mainstream, repetitive images as criticism of cookie-cutter society • Music – Rock and Roll, Beatle mania/”British Invasion,” Woodstock – important counterculture celebration

10. Response to Counterculture • As Hippie movement winds down, rather than seeing permissiveness as liberating, see it as a sign of moral decay • Long-run, produces more open society, but in short-run, leads to backlash and conservative victories – ultimately ushered in Nixon era