Ch. 11 L2: Working for Change

Ch. 11 L2: Working for Change

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The Need for Change

• Many African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans faced segregation, a policy of keeping different groups of people separate.

• In the 1950s, people all over the United States began fighting against segregation and other forms of discrimination.

• African Americans were denied the right to vote.

Martin Luther King Jr.

• Martin Luther King Jr. led the movement to gain civil rights for African Americans in the 1950s and 1960s. Civil rights are the rights granted to every citizen by the United States Constitution.

• To fight for civil rights and other rights, King organized peaceful demonstrations. A demonstration is a large gathering of people who want to call attention to a problem.

Civil Rights in California

• State Assembly member, Jesse Unruh, wrote the Unruh Civil Rights Acts of 1959. This law made it illegal for restaurants, hotels, and other businesses to refuse to serve African Americans and other minorities. It also made it illegal for landlords to choose their renters based on race.

• Despite the new law, progress in civil rights came slowly. Some landlords still refused to rent to minority families.

Jesse Unruh

Civil Rights in California

• In 1963, state assemblyman William Byron Rumford helped pass the Rumford Fair Housing Act. This law made it illegal to discriminate against home buyers based on a person's skin.

• The United States Congress passed a series of civil rights laws. These laws guarantees equal opportunity in housing, jobs, schools, and public services.

William Byron Rumford

Civil Rights in California

• By the 1970s, African American had won important leadership positions in California.

• In 1966, Yvonne Braithwaite Burke became the first African American woman elected to the legislature.

• In 1973, Tom Bradley became the first African American mayor of Los Angeles.

Native Americans Protest

• Thousands of Native Americans moved to California in the 1960s. They faced discrimination in jobs, schools, and housing.

• In November 1969, a group called Indians of All Nations began a protest. They occupied Alcatraz Island by setting up a kitchen and a school. They refused to leave.

Native Americans Protest

• Richard Oakes, a leader of the group, called for the government to set up a Native American museum and educational center on the island.

• The government would not agree to meet their demands. After 18 months, police forced the protesters from the island. However, the group did raise awareness of Native American rights.

Cesar Chavez

• Farm workers spent long days picking crops for little money.

• Cesar Chavez thought they could ask for better wages and working conditions if they formed a labor union. A labor union is a group of workers who make an agreements with their employers to improve their working conditions.

• In 1962, Chavez and Dolores Huerta organized the National Farm Workers Association.

Cesar Chavez

Boycotts and Protests

• In 1965, the National Farm Workers Association joined another union and refused to work for grape growers until wages were raised.

• Some farm owners used violence to try to stop the union. Chavez refused to answer violence with violence.

• In 1968, his union called for a worldwide boycott of California grapes. A boycott is when people refuse to buy a certain product.

• The Boycott ended when 26 grape growers agreed to improve working conditions.

The United States During the Vietnam War

• The United States entered the Vietnam War on the side of South Vietnam. The Vietnam War was a war between North Vietnam and South Vietnam.

• People in the United States, especially students, called for the U.S. to end its support of South Vietnam. In addition, many young people did not believe they should serve as soldiers when they couldn't even vote.

• The United States left Vietnam in 1973.

The Women's Movement

• In the 1960s, women earned less than half of what men earned working the same jobs. Women were also kept out of many types of jobs.

• Women started a movement for equal rights for women. It became known as the women's movement.

The Women's Movement

• The women's movement led to the passage of national laws that banned discrimination against women. The laws called for women to receive equal pay for similar jobs.

• The laws also made sure that women could not be kept from taking jobs of any kind.

A Revolt Against Taxes

• Many Californians believed that their taxes were too high and their state government was spending too much of their money.

• In June 1978, voters passed a law called Proposition 13. It cut taxes on properties such as homes and office buildings.

• Proposition 13 forced the state to spend less money on public services.

Multiple Choice

What did minorities face?

• majorities

• segregation

• justice

Multiple Choice

What did Cesar Chavez plan on forming to help the farm workers?

• labor union

• government

• country

• their own farms

Multiple Choice

What fruit did the union ask people to boycott?

• apples

• carrots

• oranges

• grapes