Ms. Sue_11-12

What is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?

• a U.S. Constitutional amendment that aimed to change the rules around who could become President

• a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that made it illegal for people to discriminate on the basis of sex

• a U.S. Constitutional amendment that aimed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex

• a U.S. Constitutional amendment that made it illegal for women to compete in some different forms of sports

How does the author describe the quilt "Ms. Sue, Alive and Liberated?"

• as a collection of hopeful visions from many different women about how the world could change if the ERA passed

• as one woman's vision of the world after the ERA passes, including different things she personally wanted to accomplish

• as a collection of different women's memories of times in their lives when they'd been mistreated

• as a collaboration between two female artists, one from England and one from California, who became friends

Read the following sentences from the text. "[ERA opponents] worried that women would be drafted into mandatory, combat military service. Others felt that the wording of the amendment would lead to the destruction of other laws that protected women in some way, such as those protecting employment both before and after childbirth, or efforts towards equal pay, guaranteed breaks, and overtime compensation... Because of the difference in protections offered by different states' laws, many ERA supporters hope for a national foundation for equality regardless of sex. They feel that the rights established by law, and especially by court cases, are too fragile and could be repealed if there is no constitutional basis for them.” What can you conclude about the argument between ERA supporters and opponents based on this information?

• ERA opponents think that the current laws in the U.S. are beneficial for women, while ERA supporters think the current laws need to be stronger.

• ERA opponents think it could be dangerous to keep laws the way they are in the U.S., while ERA supporters think the current laws should be protected.

• ERA supporters are more worried about sex-based discrimination in the military, while ERA opponents are more worried about discrimination in the workplace.

• ERA supporters have many different reasons why they think the current laws are unfair, while ERA opponents have one main reason why they think the current laws are fair.

Based on the history of the ERA, what is one effective way that American people can affect the paths of constitutional amendments?

• They can ask state representatives to hold off on voting on an amendment until the amendment is about to hit its deadline.

• They can draft a new amendment that contradicts other amendments and get it passed quickly to block other amendments.

• They can contact the Supreme Court directly and discuss rulings with them to make sure they approve.

• They can try to convince government officials in different states not to ratify the amendment so it doesn't pass overall.

What is the main idea of this text?

• Phyllis Schlafly, who spent her career arguing that the Equal Rights Amendment should not be passed for various reasons, was famous for sending bread to government officials with a joke about a “Congressional jam” attached.

• The Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed Constitutional amendment that would eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex, has strong supporters and opponents who have a long history of battling over whether the amendment should be passed.

• Because there is no Constitutional amendment protecting against discrimination based on sex, some states have different rules regarding how they handle cases of sex-based discrimination.

• Some early opponents of the Equal Rights Amendment were worried that the amendment would destroy protections for female workers, such as maximum hour limits, minimum wages, and bans on night work.

Read the following sentences from the text. "This initial proposal, called the Lucretia Mott Amendment, was controversial even among the suffragists who had campaigned for the 19th Amendment. Some hoped it would find success where similar state-based efforts had failed, while others worried it would undermine labor protections for women workers, such as maximum hour limits, minimum wages, and bans on night work. (Men did not have such protections.)" What does the word undermine most closely mean as it's used here?

• to weaken or make less effective

• to make stronger or more interesting

• to anger and upset someone

• to redo something in a confusing way

Choose the word that best completes the following sentence. ERA opponents ______ Phyllis Schlafly worked very hard to ensure that the ERA wouldn't be ratified as a constitutional amendment.

• first

• such as

• however

• therefore

How do ERA opponents think the passage of the ERA could affect women's place in the military?

• ERA opponents believe that the passage of the ERA could lead to women being drafted into mandatory, combat military service.
• Women would no longer be allowed to serve in the military at all.

• Women would automatically be promoted to higher ranks than men.

• Women would only be allowed to work in medical jobs in the military.

According to supporters of the ERA, what different populations could be protected by the ERA?Only women who work in government jobs

• Supporters of the ERA believe that the amendment could protect all populations from sex-based discrimination, ensuring equality regardless of sex.
• Only women who work in government jobs

• Only women who are married

• Only women over the age of 30

Do you think the ERA should be passed today? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.