The Civil Rights Movements of the 1970s
Roe v Wade and Abortion Rights
With women's rights expanding all through out the 1960s and 1970s, women advocated for more rights regarding their choice and privacy with reproductive rights. Norma L. McCorvey (Jane Roe) wanted an abortion but was illegal in most States including her own,Texas. Recently graduated women lawyers, Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee helped represented her as she fought for her right to abortion. This not only involved the State but many women's rights groups were involved, as well as pro life, anti-abortion groups.The case was in 1973 and was filled aganist the Dallas County District Attorney, Henry Wade. The Trial started in Dallas but the conflict spread all across the United States, dividing the country in half. One half for pro life and aganist abortion and the other for the right of choice for the mother. The trial ended with a 7 to 2 vote agreeing with Jane Roe. This case set regualtions for abortions only in the 2nd and 3rd trimester and the protection of the mother or the babies health. This also set up rights of privacy and backed the 1st, 4th, 9th and 14th amendments. This event was a huge conflict throughout the 70s with many protests and debates but these debates and protests still occur today. The United States is still truly split into two with the topic of abortion.
"White Flight" and Busing
With the intergration at full force, more and more measures are taken to help increase equality in the schools. So to achieve this, public schools all over the United States began to bus students all over the district to create an equal ratio of blacks and whites. The busing of students angered many people who believe kids should go to school in their own neighborhoods. To avoid the busing, many whites who could afford it, moved to the suburbs. This moving was known as white flight. White Flight caused the cities to be run down with poverty, and poor school districts. The 1974 case of Milliken v. Bradley addressed the issue of "white flight" by including suburban districts to be mandated to bus students in city schools to help the ratio, poverty and school funds. But this idea was declined by the court which created a never ending cycle of poor city school districts all over the United States. White Flight created a divide between the city and suburban schools that continues today.
26th Amendment
With the anti-war protests, many protests to change the legal voting age from 21 to 18 also increased during the 1970s. This movement was driven by the counter culture young adults all over the United States. Their issue was that many young 18 year old men were drafted into the Vietnam War but could not legally vote for the leaders who are sending them off torisk their lives in war. The catch phrase was "old enough to fight, old enough to vote", this movement gained a lot of support from the public. Oregon v. Mitchell court case was asked to reveiw the idea of voting age for both federal and state elections. But this case decided that congress can regulate federal but not state elections. many people were angered with this choice so finally the 26th amendment which lowered both state and federal to 18 years old was voted on March 10th 1971 in Senate and then March 23rd 1971 that supported the change. President Nixon signed it into law in July of 1971 with a ceremony of 500 new voters at the white house. This conflict brought the nation together behind the young soldiers who were fighting for them and changed the political voting age since.
Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1975
Before this act in 1975 over 4 million children with disabilities were denied education. So to allow education for them, protests occured to achieve this. Also known today by the Individuals with disabilities Act or IDEA. This act required public schools to provide appropriate education for all students including children with disabilities. This act gave the United States the idea od and IEP, which stands for individual education program. This gives a child their own way of learning and being successful. This event has benefited millions of children after it was passed and has helped shape education today, even for normal functioning students.