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César Chávez believed that farm workers had to unionize, that their strength would come from bargaining as a group. In 1962, Chávez and Dolores Huerta established the National Farm Workers Association.
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Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' was groundbreaking in that it exposed the environmental problems created by cities and industrial development. She wrote the book to warn people of the dangers of pesticide on the environment.
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In 1965, when California's grape owners refused to recognize the union, Chávez sent farm workers across the country to convince supermarkets and shoppers to boycott California grapes.
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By 1966, some women argued that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) did not adequately address women's grievances. That year, 28 women, including Betty Friedan, created the National Organization for Women (NOW) to pursue women's goals.
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Many young Native Americans were dissatisfied with the slow pace of reform. Their discontent fueled the growth of the American Indian Movement, an often militant Native American rights organization. While AIM began in 1968 largely as a self-defense group against police brutality, it soon branched out to include protecting the rights of large Native American populations in northern and western states.
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The events of 1968 led other disaffected activists away from radical politics altogether. They flocked toward a youth revolt in the sixties: the couterculture.
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Woodstock Music and Art Fair occured from August 15-17, 1969 on a farm in upstate New York. This festival represented the sixties movement of peace and love. For three days, popular bands and musicians performed, including Jimi Hendrix and The Who.
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The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. It is held to make people aware of environmental problems, such as pollution, natural resources, and toxic waste.
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The President recognized that the public was worried about environmental protection. In 1970, Nixon signed legislation creating a federal Environmental Protection Agency and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972. The amendment then needed ratification by 38 states to become part of the Constitution. The ERA would guarantee that both men and women would enjoy the same rights and protections under the law.
