Latinos and Native Americans Seek Equality

1. Latinos and Native Americans Seek Equality Mr. White’s US History 2

2. Main Idea and Objectives • Main Idea - Latinos and Native Americans confronted injustices in the 1960s. • Big questions: • How can equality and social justice be achieved? • Should Americans assimilate to one common culture, or should people keep some of the culture of their home country? • After this section, we should be able to: • Describe the growth and diversity of the Latino population in the United States during the 1960s • Summarize the efforts of Latinos to secure civil rights and respect for their cultural heritage • Explain the efforts of Native Americans to secure reforms in government policies

3. Many Latino Americans in the United States are descended from Latin Americans who immigrated to the United States from other countries such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, etc. Part I: The Latino Presence Grows

4. The Latino Presence Grows • During the 1960s, the Latino population in the U.S. grew from 3 million to over 9 million • Includes people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, and South America • Each group has its own set of economic, social, cultural, and political concerns

5. Latinos of Varied Origins - Mexicans • Mexican Americans – largest Latino group • Mostly in the southwest and California • Some are descendents of Mexicans who lived in territory taken by the U.S. • Some came in the 1910s, after the Mexican revolution • 1940s and 1950s – many came as temporary laborers • 1960s – close to half a million Mexicans immigrated to the U.S.

6. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Others • Puerto Ricans • Many Puerto Ricans immigrated to the U.S. after the U.S. occupied Puerto Rico in 1898 • By 1960, almost 900,000 Puerto Ricans were living in the U.S., most in New York City • Cubans • Communities formed in New York City and New Jersey • Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled Cuba to escape Castro in 1959 • Other groups as well – Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, and Colombians

7. Discrimination and Prejudice • Latinos encountered prejudice and discrimination in jobs and housing • Most lived in segregated Spanish-speaking neighborhoods – barrios • Jobless and poverty rates were nearly 50 percent higher than the average

8. As the Latino population grew in the United States, many Latinos began to call for equality and respect for Latino culture Part II: Latinos Fight For Change

9. Farm Worker Movement • Many workers in California’s fruit and vegetable farms did hard work with little pay and few benefits • Cesar Chavez – believed farm workers should unionize • Chavez and others organized a boycott of California grape growers – grape growers eventually recognized the union – United Farm Workers Organizing Committee

10. Cultural Pride • In New York City, Puerto Rican groups began to demand that schools offer classes in Spanish for Spanish-speaking children • 1968 – Congress enacted the Bilingual Education Act, which provided funds to develop programs for bilingual students • Chicano groups in Los Angeles walked out of schools, demanding smaller classes, more Chicano teachers, and programs designed to reduce the Latino drop-out rate

11. Political Power • Latinos began to organize politically, as well • Some worked within the Democrat-Republican system – elected Hispanic Americans to the House of Representatives, Senate • Others organized independent Latino political movements • 1970 – La Raza Unida – political party separate from Democrats and Republicans, ran Latino candidates for mayors, school boards, city councils

12. Native Americans began to push for greater respect for their culture and rights in the United States. Part III: Native Americans Struggle for Equality

13. Native Americans Struggle for Equality • Sometimes Native Americans are viewed as one, homogenous group, but they come from many different groups • Shared a mostly bleak existence in the United States, with little power to govern themselves • Many Native Americans refused to assimilate to American culture, and clung to their own

14. Native Americans Hardships • Native Americans have historical faced many difficulties • Highest unemployment rate (for a group) • More likely to suffer from tuberculosis or alcoholism • Death rate among infants nearly twice the national average • Life expectancy much lower

15. “Termination” Policy • 1954 – Eisenhower administration enacted a “termination” policy – Native Americans were relocated from reservations into urban American life • Some didn’t like it • Most stayed desperately poor

16. Declaration of Indian Purpose • 1961 – representatives from 61 Native American groups met in Chicago and drafted the Declaration of Indian Purpose • Stressed the determination of Native Americans to “choose (their) own way of life.” • Called for an end to the termination program • Wanted to create economic opportunities for Native Americans on reservations

17. Voices of Protest • Many young Native Americans weren’t satisfied with the slow pace of reform • American Indian Movement formed • Formed initially for self-defense against police brutality • Later branched out to include protecting the rights of Native Americans • Demanded that Native American lands, burial grounds, and fishing and timber rights be restored

18. Confronting the Government • Sometimes Native Americans violently confronted the government • Trail of Broken Treaties – march in Washington, D.C., to protest U.S. treaty violations • Temporarily occupied Bureau of Indian Affairs Building • Destroyed records, caused $2 million in property damage

19. Wounded Knee • 1973 – American Indian Movement (AIM) led nearly 200 Sioux to the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota • In 1890, U.S. cavalry had massacred the entire village • Sioux seized the town, took hostages • Negotiations with the FBI led to a shoot-out that left two Native Americans dead • Government promised to re-examine Native American treaty rights

20. Native American Victories • Congress and the federal courts did make some reforms • 1972 – Congress passed Indian Education Act • 1975 – Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act • These laws gave tribes greater control over their own affairs and children’s education • Native Americans also regained some lost land, using copies of old land treaties with the U.S. government

21. Main Idea and Objectives • Main Idea - Latinos and Native Americans confronted injustices in the 1960s. • Big questions: • How can equality and social justice be achieved? • Should Americans assimilate to one common culture, or should people keep some of the culture of their home country? • After this section, we should be able to: • Describe the growth and diversity of the Latino population in the United States during the 1960s • Summarize the efforts of Latinos to secure civil rights and respect for their cultural heritage • Explain the efforts of Native Americans to secure reforms in government policies

22. Wrap-up • So… • One of the groups of Latino people that had come to the United States during its history was… • And one of the problems that they faced was… • One of the ways that Latinos worked to win greater civil rights and respect was… • And one of the results of this was… • One way that Native Americans worked for great equality was… • And one of the results of this was…