Lessons of the 60's Essay

There was a lot going on at this time in American history. The 1960's were full of problems and progress at the same time. Women were trying to get equal rights for job opportunities. Blacks were trying to get equal rights for education, jobs, and desegregation. Mexican Americans wanted bilingual opportunities in education, Native Americans wanted self-government on their own lands, gays and lesbians wanted equal rights, and an end to discrimination. Environmentalists grew in numbers and concern for the welfare of the earth. Many lessons were learned from this time of turmoil.

Women were treated as if they weren't equal to men. If a man and a woman went for the same job, the man would get the job because the women was considered to be less important. This was happening with blacks on a much larger scale. Not only did they not have the same job opportunities as whites, they were separated from whites in schools and many other public places. They also were not given the same opportunities for education. Mexican Americans were upset that their children were suffering in school because only English was being taught. They felt that Spanish should be taught as well as English so that their children could understand better. Native Americans were denied rights to live on their own land and govern themselves. They wanted independence. Gays and lesbians wanted to be treated like everyone regardless of their sexual orientation. Environmentalists were very concerned with pollution. These groups of people worked peacefully to get what they needed.

To get equal rights, women challenged corporations and demanded equal job opportunities by demonstrating their needs in protests. Mexican Americans also protested discrimination peacefully by challenging education officials to listen to their cause. They also formed unions to give their farmers more power and security to hold onto their farms. Native Americans led protests to get people's attention to realize how unfairly they were treated by the government. Gays and lesbians led marches in cities to make people aware of their discrimination problems. Environmentalists worked with law officials to get laws passed to reduce pollution. Eventually everyone made strides to get what they needed without a war.

The lessons that were learned from all the issues going on in the 1960's and the ways people handled them are lessons that still hold true today. Peaceful attempts to get what you need can be effective. These groups of people with great problems led marches and protests, and organized themselves in peaceful ways to meet with officials and institutions to let them know what they needed. Sit ins and freedom rides were effective practices that helped African Americans get government to pass the Civil Rights Act in 1964. In 1965, they were guaranteed equal voting rights with the passing of the 24th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Women, gays, and lesbians changed people's traditional views and managed to be heard.

Americans and their leaders learned to be more open to understanding people. People will put more focus on protecting nature and our earth because of the environmental demonstrations and calls to action by the people of the 1960's. Lyndon Johnson proved to be very instrumental in making America a better place with his Great Society program. Americans were called to be more involved in the voting process for officials who would listen and follow through with laws to make things fair for all people.