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The Upsurge of the 1960's (including the Vietnam War)
The summary of the Vietnam War
The tension of the cold war was still in the air and more was added with Vietnam. The Vietnam war was an extension of the Cold War and was a example of the United States trying to dominate Southeast Asia. The Vietnam war was a very unpopular war with the American people. They thought it was a useless and that it should end. Loads of movements were formed against the nine-year war.
The Vietnam War
The era of the 1960's was a period incredible change. Americans, especially young Americans became disillusioned by the discovery that society had racism, sexism and oppression. Some young people dropped out and others became very politically active. It was a decade that was marked by huge social movements for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam War and the emergence of the Modern day Women's rights movement. Women were heavily involved in all the movements.
The 1960's were a blow to the Cold War repression of McCarthyism and also saw the "sexual revolution" and changes in social attitudes.
The modern day women's rights movement drew ideas, leaders and tactics from the Civil Rights movement. The focus was on Equal Rights.
During the Nixon administration the Supreme Court ruled in Griggs v. Duke Power co.(1971)- prohibiting intelligence tests or other devices that had an effect of excluding women and youngings. Women workers could use the protection only against charges of discrimination.
Rachel Carson- author of the “Silent Spring” brought attention to the poisonous effects of pesticides and she became one of the leaders of the new environmental movement.
The decades of the 60's closed with big advances for the women's movement and women's rights. Thousands of women marched in the Women's Stride For Equality on the 50th anniversary of Women's suffrage in 1970. Two years later, Congress passed the landmark Title IX, which outlawed discrimination and federally funded educational programs. The same year, Congress passed the equal rights amendment, however, it was not ratified by the states.
The Supreme Court also struck down discrimination in legislation and jobs and laws prohibiting abortion.
However, Conservatives soon organized a backlash against these gains. Phyllis Schlafly, antifeminist, campaigns that were against the Women's rights movement and other progressive changes.