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Equal Pay Act 1963
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was signed into law by John F. Kennedy. This law was designed to take out the wage gap based on sex. The law caused labor disputes, which burdened and obstructed commerce. It also contributed to an unfair method of competition. Its intention was to create fair pay for jobs that are preformed under similar working conditions. -
California Grape Boycott
Members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, went on strike against Delano-area grape growers. The members protested years of poor pay and working conditions. The strikes turned to boycotts that spread across the US. The strikers risked everything to achieve their goal of widespread change. -
N.O.W.
The National Organization for Women was founded at the Third National Conference of Commissions on the Status of Women by 28 women. The organization was created when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission failed to end discrimination based on sex in employment. The federal government wasn't enforcing the anti discrimination laws. It also worked to promote more feminist ideas. -
Brown Berets
The Brown Berets are a social justice organization founded in Eastside Los Angeles. The group was created to get Latinos into politics and make them more active in the community. It was also created in response to discrimination based on ethnicity. In the 1960s Latinos had little to no support with issues that occurred around them. The Brown Berets became a way for them to get help. -
Chicano "blowouts"
The Chicano "blowouts" were a group of students who organized and carried out protests. The protesters were primarily concerned with the quality of their education. The movement focused on equal rights. The group wanted bilingual education, and an end of unfair punishments. Primarily, they fought for civil disobedience in schools. -
AIM Founded
AIM was formed to address Native American affirmation, treaty issues, spirituality, and leadership while simultaneously addressing issues such as police harassment and racism against Natives forced to move away from reservations and tribal culture by the Indian Termination Policies. -
Stonewall "Riots"
he Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. They are widely considered to constitute the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement. -
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Occupation of Alcatraz
The occupation of Alcatraz was when 89 American Indians occupied the abandoned island. They had said that under the treaty of Fort Laramie, all retired, abandoned or out-of-use federal land was returned to the Native people who once occupied it. Since Alcatraz penitentiary had been closed on March 21, 1963, and the island had been declared surplus federal property in 1964, a number of "Red Power" activists felt the island qualified for a reclamation by Native people. -
La Raza Unida
La Raza Unida is a political party formed in 1970 by Mexican Americans. The people were concerned about the lack of Mexican American representation in their local and county politics. Also, they were very concerned with the few number of Mexican Americans registered to vote. The group was part of social and political movements that focused on labor rights, education, and sexism. -
Phyllis Schlafly and the defeat of the ERA
Phyllis Schlafly was an American constitutional lawyer, movement conservative, and conservative. She held staunchly conservative social and political views, supported anti-feminism, opposed abortion, and successfully campaigned against ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She feared the loss of the protective labor legislation. The ERA failed when it was sent to the states for ratification. -
Equal Rights Amendment
The National Woman's Party campaigned for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee women to have equal rights as men. It said that the United States shall uphold the equality of rights for everyone. People feared however, that women would lose privilege and protection from exemptions from military service and combat duty. Also fearing that they would struggle with economic support if they didn't get it from their husbands. -
Trail of Broken Treaties
The Trail of Broken Treaties was a cross-country protest, that was staged in the autumn of 1972 in the United States by American Indian and First Nations organizations. Designed to bring national attention to American Indian issues, such as treaty rights, living standards, and inadequate housing, it brought to the national capital the largest gathering ever of American Indians protesting. -
Roe v. Wade
Jane Roe, who's real name was Norma McCorvey, instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional.The Supreme Court disagreed with Roe’s assertion of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time. It attempted to balance a woman’s right of privacy with a state’s interest in regulating abortion. -
Siege at Wounded Knee
The Wounded Knee incident began when approximately 200 Oglala Lakota and followers of the American Indian Movement (AIM) seized and occupied the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota. They controlled the town for 71 days while the United States Marshals Service, FBI agents, and other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area.
Protesters criticized the United States government's failure to fulfill treaties with Native American people and demanded treaty negotiations. -
Assassination of Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician in the US. After his killing, An impromptu candlelight march started in the Castro leading to the City Hall steps. After the crowd arrived at the San Francisco City Hall, violence began. The events caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property damage to City Hall and the surrounding area, as well as injuries to police officers and rioters. Several hours after the riot had been broken up, police made a retaliatory raid on a gay bar. -
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act provided a legislative basis for the operation/regulation of Indian gaming, and protected gaming/gambling as a means of generating revenue for the tribes, encouraging economic development of these tribes, and protecting the enterprises from negative influences such as organized crime. -
United Farm Workers Movement
The National Farm Workers Association held their first convention in Fresno California. It started a movement of many different races that resulted in the creation of United Farm Workers. The group redefined farm labor activism and contributed to a new era of social justice. The strategies used continue to influence movements for farm worker justice today. -
Murder of Matthew Shepard
Matthew Shepard was a gay student at University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured, and left to die. The attack was most likely a hate crime. This attack led to changes in hate crime laws. Two of these were: The victim no longer had to be engaging in a federally protected activity, like voting or going to school. It also gave federal authorities greater ability to engage in hate crimes investigations that local authorities choose not to pursue. -
Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve openly in the United States Armed Forces. It ended the policy in place since 1993 that allowed them to serve only if they kept their sexual orientation secret and the military did not learn of their sexual orientation. -
Obergefell v. Hodges
The Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. Obergefell overturned Baker so all states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Also they have to recognize same-sex marriages the same as any other. Same-sex marriage throughout the United States and its territories is now guaranteed. Justice Anthony Kennedy and the Court said these fundamental rights are guaranteed to all by the Constitution.
