Women Changes Wanted: Women wanted workplace equality, an end to sexism, and passage of the equal rights amendment. Some also wanted expanded birth control options. How Achieved: Betty Friedan and others formed the National Organization for Women, which focused on legal reforms and workplace discrimination. Women s groups also worked to win passage of the ERA. Successes: The movement had success when the ERA passed Congress in 1972, but the ERA was never ratified by the required number of states. Despite that loss, women s efforts to attain equal rights succeeded in the field of education. Women s wages have increased in relation to men s, and the number of women achieving higher education has greatly increased.
Latinos Changes Wanted: Latinos wanted an end to employment discrimination, higher wages, improved living and working conditions, and better education for their children. How Achieved: Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and the United Farm Workers joined a strike against grape growers. La Raza Unida ran candidates in state and local elections across the Southwest. The Brown Berets worked to improve housing and employment and instill pride in the Chicano culture. Successes: The grape boycott leads to farmworkers being granted union recognition, higher wages, and benefits. Latinos had success in 1968 when President Johnson signed the Bilingual Education Act, legalizing instruction in languages other than English. In 1969, grape growers granted most of the farmworkers demands.
American Indians Changes Wanted: American Indians wanted equal rights and opportunities in American society, federal recognition of Indian land and tribes, government funding of cultural and educational centers, Indian control on reservations, and protection for Indian cultures and religions. How Achieved: Indians of All Tribes took over Alcatraz Island. American Indian Movement protesters led the Trail of Broken Treaties to Washington, D.C., in 1972 and occupied the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973. Other Indians fought for rights through the legal system. Successes: Protests increased pride and recognition of American Indians and drew attention to their concerns. In 1975 Congress passed the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act. Legal victories also led to some tribes receiving land or monetary compensation.
Asian Americans Changes Wanted: Asian Americans wanted an end to discrimination. Some wanted academic programs on ethnic and racial issues. Some also wanted reparations for internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. How Achieved: Asian American college students organized strikes to increase minority participation in university affairs. The Japanese American Citizens League pursued reparations for interned Japanese Americans. Successes: Asian American college students succeeded between 1968 and 1973 when many colleges established Asian American studies programs. In 1988, Congress apologized for Japanese American internment and authorized payment of $20,000 to each survivor.
Disabled Americans Changes Wanted: Disabled Americans wanted the same rights of access to federally funded programs as other Americans. They wanted better accessibility, mainstreaming of disabled children in education, and equal access to employment. How Achieved: Deaf and blind groups set up organizations to provide education and services for the disabled. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Ed Roberts started a program to make it easier for physically disabled students to attend the university. Later protesters, including many in wheelchairs, took over the offices of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in an effort to gain rights for disabled Americans. Successes: Disabled Americans had success in 1977 when the government finally implemented provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In 1975, Congress passed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which stated that students with disabilities must be in the least restrictive environment possible. The biggest civil rights victory for disabled Americans came in 1990 with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which provided better public access for people with disabilities.
Gay Americans Changes Wanted: Gay Americans wanted equal rights and an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation. How Achieved: Gay rights activists held protests at Independence Hall. During the Stonewall riots, gay customers fought for their rights. Successes: The Stonewall riots of 1969 made the gay rights movement highly visible. After Stonewall, more Americans joined the movement and formed groups like the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. In 1977, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay candidate to win office in a major American city.
Older Americans Changes Wanted: Older Americans wanted an end to ageism and workplace discrimination, improved health insurance, and a higher retirement age. How Achieved: AARP was founded and lobbied for government health insurance. The Gray Panthers spoke out against unfair treatment of older Americans. Successes: In 1965, Congress established Medicare, which helped pay medical expenses for seniors. In 1967, Congress passed the Age Discrimination Act, making it illegal for employers to use age as a factor in employment. In 1978, Congress raised the mandatory retirement age from 65 to 70.