Decade of 1970’s

        The decade of the 1970’s was a time that dealt with blooshed, big decisions, and discrimination. To start off the decade, Richard M. Nixon began his presidency and made ending the fighting of Americans in Vietnam his goal. The Anti-War Movement also supported the ending of the war, but caused problems when over 25,000 protesters gathered in front of Washington, DC. Four years later, Nixon resigned before being impeached. The war wasn’t the only thing that had people talking; Cesar Chavez made people become aware of the discrimination that migrant farmers were faced with day after day. He spent his days picketing, boycotting, and going on hunger strikes for more rights. Another issue that had the country divided was whether abortion should be allowed or not in the Roe vs. Wade case. We were soon to see how the world would be shook upside down.

        The Vietnam War was the longest war in U.S. history. It began in 1959 all the way to 1975, totaling to sixteen long years. People wanted the war to end because of the immense amount of people that had died fighting in this war. There were 58,000 Americans that died and many more left injured for the rest of their lives. Nixon came into power when the country was demanding for peace in Vietnam. He managed to stop the Americans from fighting any longer in Vietnam, but before this was achieved an Anti-War Movement started. Many protestors would gather outside of Washington, DC until they drew enough attention to do something about the war. This movement contributed to the end of the Vietnam War.

        Cesar Chaves was another important person of the 1970’s. He was raised as a migrant worker and attended over thirty elementary schools. When he got older he strived for higher wages for those farmers like him. He also wanted the working conditions to be improved because during the time farmers or workers were forced to live in a squalor. He organized protests nationwide against table grapes, wine, and lettuce. Chavez believed that in order to win a boycott you needed 51% of public support. He promoted justice. Instead of using violence to get his way, he went on hunger strikes and would sympathize with the public because of his state of health. His greatest stride was for the UFW with over 100,000 members.

         The Roe vs. Wade case was another issue that had everyone talking. First of all, the case had to do with abortion and if it should be allowed. To many Americans, this went against their religion and beliefs. But there were many people that argued that many teenagers were giving birth to babies that they couldn’t afford to raise. Others
said that for health reasons, some ladies could not give birth to the babies, which made abortion necessary to the society. The case won because they said that the Constitution gave every human being the right to do what they like with their bodies. There weren’t enough people to prevent this, but resentment and hate lingered in some people hearts due to this case.

        In 1971 the 26th Amendment is passed allowing American citizens to vote at age eighteen instead of twenty-one. The amendment was passed because soldiers at the age of eighteen were being sent to Vietnam to fight without the right to vote. Most people did not acknowledge everything that the amendment did for them, except for those directly affected by the law like the newly eighteen year olds. This amendment increased opinions in the country and helped let the youth decide their own future. It also calmed the youth because they were getting really upset at the fact that they were being sent to die and they weren’t being permitted to have a say in their future or those of there kids. President Dwight D.Eisenhower authorized the amendment on July 1, 1971 and made a lot of people happy.

         The 1970’s decade were filled with loss and fights for justice. The Vietnam War had taken many lives and caused hate within the hearts of those that were directly affected. The Anti-War Movement had masses revolting and uniting for a good cause, but this also left some people hurt due to how things got out of control. Cesar Chavez could have died and was severely famished due to the hunger strikes that he went on. This was an example of a fight for justice, a fight for higher wages and better working conditions. Richard M. Nixon caused some controversy when he was being impeached. The Roe vs. Wade case was a cry for justice too, but was viewed differently according the person. The sixteenth amendment brought some peace among the youth and calmed things down. But overall this decade was about confusion and different views.

Bibliography

“About the Peace Corps” 1970’
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=Learn.whatispc.history.decades.1970 18 April 2009

“Las Culturas.com” Cesar Estrada Chavez.
http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/bio/bioCesarChavezChron.htm 19 April 2009

“Roe vs. Wade” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade 19 April 2009