Lesson 3: Years of Protest and Change

Lesson Focus

The Vietnam War caused many to question US policy. This era of protest inspired movements for social justice, as women, Native Americans, and Hispanic Americans organized to fight discrimination and demand equal rights.

People to Know

Shirley Chisholm, Betty Friedan, Phyllis Schlafly, Cesar Chavez, Russell Means

Learning Objectives

• Describe the political, economic, and social gains made by women and minority groups during this era of protest.
• Explain the arguments for and against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and why it ultimately failed to be ratified.

Escalation of the Vietnam War caused widespread opposition, starting on college campuses. The antiwar movement grew to include people from all walks of life, using sit-ins and demonstrations. In May 1970, President Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia triggered intense protests. This led to tragic violence where National Guardsmen killed students at Kent State University and police killed students at Jackson State University, sparking a nationwide student strike and closing hundreds of colleges.

During the 1960s and 1970s, women faced significant political and economic inequality, inspiring a new rights movement. Betty Friedan's book, The Feminine Mystique, rejected the idea that women belonged only in the home. This thinking led to the 1966 founding of the National Organization for Women (NOW), which successfully fought to end discriminatory practices in employment and credit, opening up new professional opportunities for women like Shirley Chisholm.

Building on their momentum, women's groups successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1972. However, a strong conservative backlash emerged to stop its ratification by the states. Led by Phyllis Schlafly and her organization STOP ERA, opponents argued the amendment would harm traditional family roles. This effective counter-campaign ultimately prevented the ERA from gaining enough support, and the amendment failed to become law.

In the 1970s, many Hispanic Americans, especially migrant farm workers, faced exploitation and lacked legal protections. In response, Cesar Chavez organized a nationwide grape boycott in 1965 to demand fair treatment. After five years, this pressure forced growers to sign union contracts. Meanwhile, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) won key court cases, securing rights to unsegregated schools and greater political representation for Hispanic communities.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Native Americans suffered from extreme poverty, disease, and the loss of their culture. This injustice inspired a new wave of "red power" activism to demand self-determination. Militant groups like the American Indian Movement (AIM), with leaders such as Russell Means, took direct action, including the 1973 seizure of Wounded Knee. These protests successfully forced the federal government to change its policies, leading to the return of sacred lands.