1970's+Government+and+Politics

= Government and Politics 1970's = = = = Feminist Movement = = The feminist movement was an important aspect that occured in politics in the 1970's and it changed the world of feminism as we know it. There was a theory that contradricted the minds of many women. The theory stated, "That men had greater familial obligations and women should only work for supplementary incomes." Society at the time labeled working women as "improper mothers." This label made women feel guilty about having a career. There were many arguments that women were fighting for such as jobs, abortions, equalism, etc. = = = = = (Wikimedia Commons)

Feminist Fighting For Their Rights
=== In 1970 Benice Sandler said she was denied lenght of service because she is a female, and she filed a complaint to the U.S Department of Labor. In 1971, the first women's shelter in Saint Paul, Minnesota and "ore than 360 colleges and universities faced lawsuits for sexual discrimiations" In 1972, three branches of feminism took over the Women's movement and the ERA passed both houses in congress the same year. The Equal Rights Amendment, influenced and motivated divided feminist groups. There was a final official approvement that required passage by 2/3 of the state's legislatures and the final counts was 22/38 states that approved the amendment. After hearing this the three branches of feminist united to spread the word within the remaining states. Phyllis Schlafly led to stop the ERA and she argued about how the ERA deprived women of valuable rights. She made her case by stating that women were being deprived of the right for their husbands to be excluded from military drafts, and her movement was joined by government supported child care, liberal divorce laws, undermined sanctity of the family, and pressured women. In 1975, Congresswomen Bella Abzug helped pass a $5 million appropriations bill to pay for IWY conference in Houston, Texas. The conference lasted four days and their were 18,000 observers and two thousand delegates. The movement run by Phyllis Schafly gathered 10,000 pro-family supporters in an anti-ERA rally and the ERA and movement group had alot of media attention. They were alot of issues such as ERA(Equal Rights Amendment), abortion, and lesbian rights for almost a week. Their was alot of pressure being put upon the congress to extend the ERA ratification for another three years and from 1977-1982. Membership in feminist organizations such as NOW, NWPC, NARAL, and others soared. The ERA failed to win any additional states after 1977, and officially died in 1982. ===

Women's Strike for Equality
=== One of the strongest organizations in the world of the feminist movement was NOW or also known as [|National Organization For Women] led by Betty Friedan. On August 26, 1970 the NOW had their 50th anniversary and at the time had 3,000 members throughout thirty cities. Betty Friedan was a strong leader at the time and on March 1970, she called a meeting to show politicians proof and support from other women who had the same thoughts. Betty Friedan had an interesting idea that she wanted to present, but she wanted to make sure that all the members supported her idea, so that it could be a success. Friedan's strike proposed many ideas so simple, yet intellegent that would catch people's attention. The stirke that Friedan had planned was had a message that she wanted to be heard throughout the nation. The message was pretty clear and was actually quite important due to the many arguments the feminist made. Betty Friedan said for al the waitresses to stop waiting, telephone operators unplug the switchboards, cleaning woman stop cleaning, and to put on hold doing a job they would pay a man more. Her proposed ideas consisted of disobedience, lack of money due to the women not doing their jobs, but did it stop them from following through with the strike? Well, it turned out the strike had good results with women demonstrating their support in 40 American cities, France, and the Netherlands. In New York City women who had marched for women's suffrage back in the 20's demonstarted their full support and participated in the march as well carrying signs that said slogans like "Don't cook dinner starve a rat today." All these women worked hard to make their message be heard throughout the country and it shows that us women have been working hard for our rights ever since the 20's. the 70's were another decade in which women worked very hard to gain valuable rights. ===

= The Vietnam War =

== The Vietnam War was a conflict that occured from 1946-1973, between the country of Vietnam and the United States. It was one of the longest wars fought by the U.S and it's involvement went through 6 presidental terms. Most people believe that the Vietnam War was merely only a conflict as others believe it really was a war. The Vietnam War caused many deaths and painful goodbyes were said from U.S citizens to their loved ones who fought in the war. Today we look back at the Vietnam War as a part of our history that truly affected our country. ==

(Wikimedia Commons)

=== According to statistics 7 million tons of bombs were dropped, and 55,000 Americans perished due to the Vietnam War. Their were 541,000 US troops in Vietnam and $150 billion was spent on the war. Among the nation protest from citizens that were against the war could be heard and seen. Congress moved toward ending the war by cutting of financial and military support. President Nixon was afraid that if the war continued it would affect his re-election, by losing South Vietnam to the [|communists]would better electoral chances. On February. 21, 1970, Presidental comission suggests an all volunteer army. At the time the United States army had something called "[|The Draft]". Due to the draft, if you were chosen to go to Vietnam you had no choice, and that caused issues among many Americans. On April.2 1970,the president announces the withdrawal of 150,000 troops over the next 12 months. On September, 1971, the white house defated a bill to end the draft and later on in March in Washingon D.C at 1:32 a.m, a powerful bomb exploded in a restroom in a original part of the Capitol Building. On June 9th, 1971, the senate adopted an amendment authorizing drug control and rehabilitation in the military, and American military ended in 1973. The Vietnam War probably changed our country forever and it was a hard experience for many of our fellow Americans. ===

= Oil Shortage = = The oil embargo era was a difficult period for us Americans due to the harsh conditions of the lack of oil. We were having conflicts with the Middle East, or also known as our providers. This time period showed how much the Middle East affected our country and they as well realized the impact they had on other countries. This oil crisis began in 1973 and it affected our generation as well. = = =

(Wikimedia Commons)

=== On October 1973, OPEC stopped sending oil to the United States to punish support of Israel. The Middle East realized the impact that the other countries and the gas prices went from 25 cents per gallon to a dollar in a few months. The lack of oil was crazy! The American Automobile Association recorded that up to 20% of the country's gas stations had no fuel. At times some drives were forced to wait 2 to 3 hours for fuel. Their was a decrease in the number of homes created with gas heat because other forms of energy were more affordable. These times called for desperate measures and the U.S governement did everything they could to improve the country's oil crisis. Congress issued 55 mph speed limit on highways, oil consumption went down, and fatalities decreased over night. The oil crisis was so fallacious that daylight savings time was issued year round so more oil could be saved. President Nixon tried his best to help his citizens across the nation by ordering department of defense to create a stockpile of oil in case of an emergency. Nixon announced a cutback on gas and gas stations would close on Sundays. It was said they would "refuse to sell to costumers who weren't regulars and wouldn't sell more than ten gallons of gas per customer." The[| Arabs] began selling oil again, but it had effects. Even though this oil crisis occured back in the 1970's, it still has long term of effects today. ===

=The Draft=

===The draft was a concept that the U.S had in which they had an invoulntary military for our country.At least one third of American troops were selected for military service and the men they chose were between the ages of 18-26. Their was a certain process that had to be done when a man was chosen for the military. If their name was drawn they were required to "report to their local draft board for evaluation, inducted to arm forces, and many young men would end up going to Vietnam". These men didnt have a choice it was either go to Vietnam or go to jail. Their were a few ways to avoid the draft, but only those who were lucky enough. "Young men who had physical problems, enrolled in college, were needed at home to support their family, and joined natural guard". According to statistics, "27 million American men who served came from being chosen in the draft, 60% of draftable men avoided service in legal ways, and out of 40% of the drafted, only 2.5 million went to Vietnam." The men who didn't serve in Vietnam remained in the U.S or served bases in Europe. Men who entered the service by enlisting rather than being drafted received better assignments. The draft officially ended in 1973. The draft was a big controversy that Americans agreed and disagreed on. This topic still affects us today, but everyone has their own opinion on an involuntary army.===