Primary Document 08: Phyllis Schlafly - The Fraud of the Equal Rights Amendment (1972)
1) Why does Phyllis Schlafly oppose the Equal Rights Amendment? Is she justified (please make sure you understand what “justified” means)? Why or why not?
Women have dealt with and lost to inequality prior to the 1970s. However, the 1970s marked the first major conservative victories with the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA urged to update the Constitution to amend, “equality of rights under the law” could not be abridged because of sex.” The measure was first passed by Congress in 1972, but soon after received negativity from people who claimed it ruined the reputation of housewives. Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative activist, opposed
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Petroleum is a natural resource abundant in Middle Eastern countries which became imperative to the U.S. and England. England and the British Petroleum (BP) had control over the oil fields in Iran and did not distribute the benefits among the people. In 1940s, popular politician, Mosaddegh led a strike in favor of the poor Iranians. In 1951, Mosaddegh was appointed as Prime Minister of Iran and attempted to nationalize the oil fields. In 1953, the British and U.S. spy agencies released Operation Ajax on the Iranian government. In result, General Mohammad-Reza seized power as a Shah and acted as an absolute monarch. The Shah was a fascist puppet of the U.S. government and used a secret police organization called SAVAK to force allegiance. The SAVAK censored media, forced intrusive surveillance, tortured and murdered opponents. In 1979, religious fundamentalists dethroned the Shah and took 66 American hostages from the U.S. embassy. The group would return the hostages in exchange for the Shah’s return to Iran in order to stand trial for his crimes. President Jimmy Carter attempted diplomacy and a military rescue of the hostages but did not succeed. Carter became aware of the consequences of the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and delivered a State of the Union Address. Carter stated, “Our excessive dependence on foreign oil is a clear and present danger to our Nation 's security.” The dependence on foreign oil escalated to endangerment of American lives. The United States needed to find an alternative energy in order to secure the safety of the nation. Carter stated the nation should, “develop solar power, realistic pricing based on the true value of oil, strong incentives for the production of coal and other fossil fuels… investment in the development of synthetic fuels.” With the addition of alternative energies, the US involvement in foreign soil would decrease and in
At the end of his speech, he pointed out six solutions about how to resolve the energy crisis, and stated his position again that he firmly believed they would win this war. The purpose of this speech is obvious, President Carter put forward one of the important issues in America now—energy crisis in the public, and made people regain their confidence to solve the problem. Also, he made his own decisions to pull through the troubles and proposed some
In other words, what Schafly is trying to say is do not go off of what the libbers think is right, all their doing is stating their opinion. The only injustice would be that Phyllis Schafly is a woman that is
As Foster (2006) analyzed, on account that the transitional government were not entitled to sign any long term oil contracts, the US government had to strengthen its geopolitical influence in the region. Expectedly, the US’ privatization of the Iraqi oil enterprises after a year denotes the promulgation of neoliberal economic model in Iraq, which guarantees the US’ economic benefit acquired from the oil trade (Foster, 2006). Seeing that the war in Iraq and the privatization of Iraqi oil corporates occurred chronologically, one cannot help but wonder if the US plotted to disguise its bona fide, yet unscrupulous, conspiracy by waging its war on terrorism in the Middle East. As priorly mentioned, detailing the military to maneuver the other country for economic benefits is one of the perquisites to imperialist regime.
Derek I Snedden POLS-Y 353 Professor Fowler 20 July 2015 Eagle Forum: The Pro-family movement The Eagle forum was founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and began as a trust fund to defend conservative agendas in 1967. During the proposal of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, Schlafly founded a group with more proactive approach called “Stop ERA” with one goal in mind, to defeat the ratification of ERA. After the success of the “Stop ERA” campaign, Phyllis Schlafly founded the eagle forum, a pro family group dedicated to “opposing all encroachments against American sovereignty through…feminist goals” (Schlafly). Althoug the primary interaction that eagle forum has had with the womens movement was the ERA, they also are incessantly combating
The energy crisis began after OPEC seized oil production because of the, “anger at the United States for aiding Israel.” (Farber, 22) This caused a mass panic amongst Americans and resulted in long waits to get gas and constant fuel outages. Carter was extremely adamant that Americans reduce their consumption of fuel in order to reduce the extent of the energy crisis, at one point suggesting putting heavy penalizing taxes on non-fuel efficient vehicles. Political journalist Nicholas Lemann recalled, “[The energy crisis was] the automotive equivalent to the Depression’s bank runs.”
Jimmy Carter and Environmental Conservation In former President Jimmy Carter's account of his visit to the far north Arctic Refuge in "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land," he recalls the unbelievable beauty of the wildlife and nature in the area, calling on conservationists, as well as those whose intentions for the land may permanently damage the wilderness of the region, to consider the effects of construction, industrialization, and oil-drilling in such a rare and environmentally precious area. Carter uses his personal experience in the Arctic Refuge as well as his knowledge of conservationist and environmental affairs as President to establish credibility, along with vivid diction and tone elements to further strengthen his argument against industrial development in an area of the world that should be kept sacred. Carter establishes his knowledge of the Arctic Refuge area almost immediately, recalling his visits to the area with his wife.
Susan B. Anthony was born into a Quaker family, with the hope that everyone would one day be treated equal. She denied a chance to speak at a temperance convention because she was a woman(Susan B. Anthony). From this point on, she knew that she needed to make a change. Susan B. Anthony, because of her intense work involving women 's’ rights, highly influenced all of the societies and beliefs that were yet to come. She employed a huge role in our history because of the fact that she advocated for women’s rights, for the integration of women in the workforce, and for the abolition of slavery.
Those speaking for the working class were strongly opposed, arguing that employed women needed special protections regarding working conditions and hours. In 1972, it passed both houses of Congress and was submitted to the state legislatures for ratification. It seemed headed for quick approval until Phyllis Schlafly mobilized conservative women
Phyllis Schlafly started the campaign of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and I am beyond certain that the ERA activists today will not stop until it is ratified and accepted into the constitution. At the end of ERA battle, Sonia Johnson made an incredible and uplifting statement for all women. She said, “I am sure I am not the only feminist who is occasionally clear-sighted enough to be grateful to Phyllis Schlafly for making us have to fight so hard for the Equal Rights Amendment. Whether in the end this amendment is the way women will achieve legal equality or not, it is still true that the struggle over its ratification has provided the greatest political training ground for women in the history of the world”
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution stating that civil rights may not be denied on the basis of one’s sex. All throughout history people have argued whether it is best to have human distinctions or gender equality. Ultimately, “The ERA would make women’s equality with men law of the land” (lecture notes). This federal amendment would make it impossible for legislators to pass laws that discriminate against women’s rights. In 1977, 35 out of 38 states ratified the ERA however, despite the widespread public support for the amendment, the extension ran out in 1982.
Carter moves to analyzing the destruction that roads, pipelines, and drilling rigs can cause. He gives his perspective to how he would feel in the 4th paragraph when he says, "Standing on the coastal plain, I was saddened to think of the tragedy that might occur if this great wilderness was consumed by a web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs and industrial facilities". He suggests the idea of
In 1923, the ERA written by Alice, was introduced into Congress. The Amendment declared “equal rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any State on account of sex” (“Woman Suffrage”, 2014, para 1). The Amendment was introduced into every Congress through 1972, where it finally passed but failed ratification in 1982. Only 35 states ratified the Amendment by the 1982 deadline. After the failure, the Amendment was again presented to Congress every year, but still fails to get passed.
Most will say that a woman cannot put in the same work that a man can. In 1982, the Equal Rights Amendment was proposed. Just like NOW, ERA became very close to being ratified but fell short in the end. ERA is still fighting to be ratified today.
Based on Document A, the Equal Rights Amendment is necessary for our country because sexism is so widespread that it has become normalised and a part of the social norm. The writer of Document A, Shirley Anita St. Hillsholm, was a woman herself, and she presented her speech about how she is for the Equal Rights Amendment and how it would affect our country if it were to pass. The significance of this information is that Shirley Anita was being political and social throughout this document by addressing the necessity for women to have the same human rights as a man and enforcing this philosophy into Congress in order to ratify the
The women’s rights movement being an extensive movement helped women to occupy better jobs and higher positions “Increased access to leadership positions is an important achievement because – in terms of gender – the field is more level now: some women will be allies, some are not, but no one is excluded only for being a woman”. Today, women can choose to occupy the jobs that were once titled only for men and they have an equal employment opportunity “Because of workplace rights, women enjoy freedom to work in almost any position they choose. They join the armed forces, work as cab drivers, own businesses and become executives in large corporations” Women can now become ministers, juries, senates, and even the president “1975 — In Taylor v. Louisiana, the court denies states the right to exclude women from juries….1981 — Sandra Day O’Connor is appointed as the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice… 1997 — Madeleine Albright is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State. She is the first woman in this position.”