TOPIC 3 THE EXTENT OF PROGRESS IN INDIVIDUAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS

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  • Created by: x_a_ali_x
  • Created on: 04-03-20 01:55

THE EXTENT OF PROGRESS ON INDIVIDUAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS

THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ROE v. WADE

1973, the SP Court legalised abortion in Roe v. Wade, one of the most divisive rulings in American history.

Abortion before Roe v. Wade 

  • abortion was a crime in 30 states and legal in certain cases in 20 states
  • 1967 Colorado became the first state to allows abortions in cases of **** incest or a threat 
  • many resulted in backstreet abortion
  • many feminist considered the right to abortion the most important of women's rights
  • from 1971, the National Abortion Rights Action League lobbied state legislatures for the legislation of abortion
  • Roe v. Wade.. Texas woman who did not want to bear a child that would grow up in poverty led to the supreme Court's Roe v. Wade 1973 ruling
  • women could abort in the first 13 weeks
  • the rulings were politically and socially divisive and liberal were thrilled

Opposition to Roe v. Wade

  • Conservative Organisation, National Right to Life Committee 1967, Catholic Church opposed abortion and campaigned against against Roe v. Wade in the courts, in elections and in the streets
  • highly  effective fundraisers and recruiters 
  • mass mailings containing highly emotive language and graphic pictures
  • Catholic lawyer and mother "Sweetheart of the Silent majority" Phyllis Schlafly influential campaigned for skirts to be below the knee
  • Republican reps led Congress in the passage of a law that banned tue use of federal funds for aborrion

WOMEN'S RIGHTS

Women's rights had increased since he eraly 1960's:

  • wome had gained greateer freedom in their sexual lives and the right to abortion
  • attitudes towards women and work had changed

feminist failed to achieve economic equality, despite the Equal Pay Act, professional women still recieved on average 73% of the salaries paid to professional men and women remained in the lowest paid jobs

feminist failed to obtain the ERA:

  • equality of rights under the law shall not be denied 
  • congress shall have the power to enforce these laws

Opposition

  • National Right to Life Committee
  • they turned out to vote in the congressional election in 1978 and 50% of them donated atleat $ 25 to the committee
  • several liberals were defeated 

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