Women's struggle for equal rights in American history

¶ … Equal Rights

The one group of people in American society that has been systematically denied equal rights has been women. Women comprise half the population, but only received the right to vote in 1920. Two specific actions that have been taken to help women overcome inequity has been the suffragist movement, which helped lead to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, and also the National Organization for Women (NOW). Second and third wave feminism has helped, from Gloria Steinem to Beyonce, but Americans have a long way to go. Although American society has become more egalitarian, there are still problems with gender inequality. Women can vote and hold public office, and yet there has yet to be a female president, most lawmakers remain men, and most people in positions of power in all sectors are also men. Men head corporations and thus control the genuine power in the country. There is unequal pay for men and women, and no law to prevent that from taking place. Stereotypes and prejudices against women continue to stymie any changes in social norms.

Theme 2: Individuals, Groups, Institutions

Slavery is the most important domestic issue in American history. The nation was built on the backs of slaves. Social, economic, and political oppression characterized the United States for hundreds of years. Even after European countries had long since stopped the practice of slavery, Americans continued to buy, sell, and beat slaves. In the 19th century, there was finally an attempt to abolish slavery and the abolitionist movement began in earnest. Those for slavery based their ideals on a combination of severe greed and racism. The economy of the South depended on free labor, and the hierarchical social system likewise depended on racism. Those against slavery understood the truth that slavery is a cruelty that should never be tolerated in any form in a society that claims to promote freedom, liberty, and justice for all. The one government action taken to address the issue of slavery was the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, but that was issued only after the Civil War.

Theme 14: Presidential Decisions

All presidents make at least one major decision during their tenure in office. One of the most important presidential decisions over the past 100 was Roosevelt's New Deal. The New Deal was a collection of programs and initiatives designed to respond to the crisis of the Great Depression. Programs included the Works Progress Administration and most importantly, Social Security. These measures helped individual Americans and the long-term economic growth of the company. The New Deal also inspired a new era in infrastructure development throughout the country. Another important decision was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, passed by President Johnson. This Act was long overdue, and had been drafted long before. However, Johnson made the ultimate executive decision to pass the Civil Rights Act, which made it more difficult for racists to get away with practices that were keeping the country down.