Identity
1960’s The Civil Rights movement challenged legal basis of segregation of both race and gender segregation in the US. Included activists like Rosa Parks, MLK Jr. and Malcolm X. Changed the American Identity of over a 100 years of major equality issues with these groups to all striving towards more equality.
1954 Brown vs Board was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. It was a major victory of the civil rights movement. It led to better group identity in America.
1920 19th Amendment prohibits any United States citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex. It was a huge step forward in improving the American Identity of equality for all.
1969 Woodstock was a three day peace, love, and music gathering in New York. Woodstock enforced the Anti-war identity of society throughout the 60’s and 70’s. Hippies, Jimi Hendrix, and Drugs were all also a large contributor to stereotyping the American Identity in the 60’s and 70’s
1973 Roe vs. Wade Decision is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the issue of abortion. The Court decided that abortion was protected under the right to privacy so it can’t be denied by the Government. This court case was another major contributor to the American Identity of equality for all.
1942: NAACP founded- The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People allowed African Americans to participate in war for victory abroad against fascism, and at home against racism. Although the armies were still segregated, this association led to the eventual desegregation of armed services by the Executive Order 9981 in 1948. This was a significant change for blacks in that they were participating in World War II in unprecedented numbers and that it aided the Civil Rights Movement.
1942: WAVES- These were “Women in arms” of the navy that were employed in noncombat duties during WWII. The war foreshadowed an eventual revolution in the roles of women in the U.S. since they were now working for wages, and they were working outside the home. This was a change from the view of women as just “homemakers,” and growing job opportunities for women.
1920s: flappers- Flappers were young women that openly defied Victorian moral codes on “proper” lady-like behavior. They were characterized by short hair and short dresses. This change in women engaged them in political issues and signified the newfound confidence of women, especially after the passing of the 19th Amendment.
1950s: popularity of television- Television programs tended to use safe, predictable genres including comedy and stay-at-home mothers. It was used for entertainment as well as advertisements and political propaganda. The television signified a great change in American pop culture when 90% of Americans owned a television set by the end of the decade.
1942: Japanese internment camps- Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 authorizing the relocation of Japanese-Americans to internment camps due to the communist red-scare. This was a decision that took away civil liberties during war, causing questioning of constitutionality. America did apologize to these Japanese and pay reparations, but this showed how America acted during times of crisis to certain ethnicities.