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Termination Policy
Description and Significance: In 1953, the US government's "Termination Policy" aimed to dissolve federal recognition of American Indian tribes and relocate them to urban areas. This policy, enshrined in House Resolution 108, ended the federal government's "trustee" relationship with tribes, transferring jurisdiction over tribal lands and resources to state governments.
Type: Legal policy -
Brown v. Board of Education
Description and Significance: Brown v. Board of Education was a huge Supreme Court case that declared state decision segregation in public schools unconstitutional, effectively ending the "separate but equal" format. This decision, delivered in 1954, paved the way for the desegregation of schools across the United States and had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
Type: Civil disobedience (legal challenge) -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Description and Significance: The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a protest in 1955-1956 where African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, refused to ride city buses to protest segregated seating. This boycott was started by Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger and led to the integration of public transportation in Montgomery.
Type: Civil disobedience -
The Feminine Mystique
Description and Significance: The Feminine Mystique is a 1963 book by Betty Friedan, critiques the idea that women's primary fulfillment lies in domestic roles and motherhood. Friedan argued that this prevailing "feminine mystique" limits women's potential and identity, urging them to pursue careers and personal interests beyond the home.
Type: Social awareness -
Equal Pay Act
Description and Significance: The Equal Pay Act of 1963 requires employers to pay men and women the same wages for the same work. It's essentially a law that prohibits sex-based wage discrimination. To put it simply, it ensures equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
Type: Legal reform -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Description and Significance: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark federal law that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, education, and public accommodations.
Type: Legal reform -
Voting Rights Act
Description and Significance: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B
Type: Legal reform -
Delano Grape Strike
Description and Significance: The Delano Grape Strike, a pivotal event in American labor history, began in 1965 when Filipino and Mexican farmworkers in Delano, California, protested poor pay and working conditions by striking against grape growers. This strike, lasting five years, was notable for its nonviolent tactics and the successful consumer boycott that followed, eventually leading to improved wages and working conditions for farmworkers.
Type: Civil disobedience -
National Organization for Women
Description and Significance: The National Organization for Women (NOW) is a prominent feminist organization in the United States founded in 1966. It advocates for women's rights and equality, focusing on issues like reproductive rights, economic justice, and ending violence against women. NOW's mission is to eliminate discrimination and achieve equal rights for all women.
Type: Advocacy -
Bilingual Education Act
Description and Significance: The Bilingual Education Act of 1968, specifically Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was the first federal legislation to address the educational needs of students with limited English proficiency. It provided federal grants to school districts. This was a significant step in recognizing that students with limited English skills might need specialized instruction to succeed in the educational system
Type: Legal reform -
Fair Housing Act
Description and Significance: The Fair Housing Act is a US law that prohibits discrimination in housing-related activities based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. It ensures that everyone has equal access to housing opportunities and prevents discriminatory practices in selling, renting, or financing homes.
Type: Legal reform -
American Indian Movement
Description and Significance: The American Indian Movement (AIM) was a Native American civil rights organization founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It aimed to address issues of police brutality, racial profiling, and poverty in urban areas, and later expanded its focus to broader tribal issues like treaty rights, land claims, and self-determination. AIM became a prominent voice in the Red Power movement, advocating for Native American rights and self-determination
Type: Advocacy -
Title IX
Description and Significance: Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funds. It ensures equal opportunities for all, including in areas like athletics, academic programs, and protection from sexual harassment and assault.
Type: Legal reform -
Roe v. Wade
Description and Significance: In simple terms, Roe v. Wade was a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that established a constitutional right to abortion, which meant the government couldn't ban it. Specifically, the Court recognized a woman's right to privacy, and that included the decision of whether or not to continue a pregnancy
Type: Legal reform -
Indian Self-Determination Act
Description and Significance: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), passed in 1975, grants Indian tribes greater control over their own affairs, including the administration of federally funded programs. It allows tribes to contract with the federal government to operate programs and services that were previously managed by federal agencies, promoting tribal self-governance and participation in decisions that affect them
Type: Legal reform