Latinos and Native Americans Seek Equality

Mr. White’s US History 2

Main Idea and Objectives

Main Idea - Latinos and Native Americans confronted injustices in the 1960s.

Big questions: – How can equality and social justice be achieved?– Should Americans assimilate to one common culture, or

should people keep some of the culture of their home country? After this section, we should be able to:

– Describe the growth and diversity of the Latino population in the United States during the 1960s

– Summarize the efforts of Latinos to secure civil rights and respect for their cultural heritage

– Explain the efforts of Native Americans to secure reforms in government policies

PART I: THE LATINO PRESENCE GROWS

Many Latino Americans in the United States are descended from Latin Americans who immigrated to the United States from other countries such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, etc.

The Latino Presence Grows

During the 1960s, the Latino population in the U.S. grew from 3 million to over 9 million

Includes people from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, and South America

Each group has its own set of economic, social, cultural, and political concerns

Latinos of Varied Origins - Mexicans

Mexican Americans – largest Latino group– Mostly in the southwest and California– Some are descendents of Mexicans who lived in territory

taken by the U.S.– Some came in the 1910s, after the Mexican revolution– 1940s and 1950s – many came as temporary laborers– 1960s – close to half a million Mexicans immigrated to the

U.S.

Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Others

Puerto Ricans– Many Puerto Ricans immigrated to the U.S. after the U.S.

occupied Puerto Rico in 1898– By 1960, almost 900,000 Puerto Ricans were living in the

U.S., most in New York City Cubans

– Communities formed in New York City and New Jersey– Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled Cuba to escape Castro

in 1959 Other groups as well – Salvadorans, Guatemalans,

Nicaraguans, and Colombians

Discrimination and Prejudice

Latinos encountered prejudice and discrimination in jobs and housing

Most lived in segregated Spanish-speaking neighborhoods – barrios

Jobless and poverty rates were nearly 50 percent higher than the average

PART II: LATINOS FIGHT FOR CHANGE

As the Latino population grew in the United States, many Latinos began to call for equality and respect for Latino culture

Farm Worker Movement

Many workers in California’s fruit and vegetable farms did hard work with little pay and few benefits

Cesar Chavez – believed farm workers should unionize

Chavez and others organized a boycott of California grape growers – grape growers eventually recognized the union – United Farm Workers Organizing Committee

Cultural Pride

In New York City, Puerto Rican groups began to demand that schools offer classes in Spanish for Spanish-speaking children

1968 – Congress enacted the Bilingual Education Act, which provided funds to develop programs for bilingual students

Chicano groups in Los Angeles walked out of schools, demanding smaller classes, more Chicano teachers, and programs designed to reduce the Latino drop-out rate

Political Power

Latinos began to organize politically, as well Some worked within the Democrat-Republican

system – elected Hispanic Americans to the House of Representatives, Senate

Others organized independent Latino political movements– 1970 – La Raza Unida – political party separate

from Democrats and Republicans, ran Latino candidates for mayors, school boards, city councils

PART III: NATIVE AMERICANS STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY

Native Americans began to push for greater respect for their culture and rights in the United States.

Native Americans Struggle for Equality

Sometimes Native Americans are viewed as one, homogenous group, but they come from many different groups

Shared a mostly bleak existence in the United States, with little power to govern themselves

Many Native Americans refused to assimilate to American culture, and clung to their own

Native Americans Hardships

Native Americans have historical faced many difficulties– Highest unemployment rate (for a group)– More likely to suffer from tuberculosis or alcoholism– Death rate among infants nearly twice the national

average– Life expectancy much lower

“Termination” Policy

1954 – Eisenhower administration enacted a “termination” policy – Native Americans were relocated from reservations into urban American life– Some didn’t like it– Most stayed desperately poor

Declaration of Indian Purpose

1961 – representatives from 61 Native American groups met in Chicago and drafted the Declaration of Indian Purpose– Stressed the determination of Native Americans to

“choose (their) own way of life.”– Called for an end to the termination program– Wanted to create economic opportunities for Native

Americans on reservations

Voices of Protest

Many young Native Americans weren’t satisfied with the slow pace of reform

American Indian Movement formed– Formed initially for self-defense against police brutality– Later branched out to include protecting the rights of Native

Americans

Demanded that Native American lands, burial grounds, and fishing and timber rights be restored

Confronting the Government

Sometimes Native Americans violently confronted the government

Trail of Broken Treaties – march in Washington, D.C., to protest U.S. treaty violations– Temporarily occupied Bureau of Indian Affairs

Building– Destroyed records, caused $2 million in property

damage

Wounded Knee

1973 – American Indian Movement (AIM) led nearly 200 Sioux to the village of Wounded Knee, South Dakota

– In 1890, U.S. cavalry had massacred the entire village

Sioux seized the town, took hostages Negotiations with the FBI led to a shoot-out that left two

Native Americans dead Government promised to re-examine Native American

treaty rights

Native American Victories

Congress and the federal courts did make some reforms

– 1972 – Congress passed Indian Education Act– 1975 – Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance

Act– These laws gave tribes greater control over their own affairs

and children’s education

Native Americans also regained some lost land, using copies of old land treaties with the U.S. government

Main Idea and Objectives

Main Idea - Latinos and Native Americans confronted injustices in the 1960s.

Big questions: – How can equality and social justice be achieved?– Should Americans assimilate to one common culture, or

should people keep some of the culture of their home country? After this section, we should be able to:

– Describe the growth and diversity of the Latino population in the United States during the 1960s

– Summarize the efforts of Latinos to secure civil rights and respect for their cultural heritage

– Explain the efforts of Native Americans to secure reforms in government policies

Wrap-up

So…– One of the groups of Latino people that had come to

the United States during its history was… And one of the problems that they faced was…

– One of the ways that Latinos worked to win greater civil rights and respect was…

And one of the results of this was…

– One way that Native Americans worked for great equality was…

And one of the results of this was…