To What Extent Did Individual And Civil Rights Improve 1973-80 Flashcards
(63 cards)
What was the significance of the Roe v Wade decision?
It declared that state laws forbidding abortion were unconstitutional and recognized women’s rights to privacy and control over their bodies.
The ruling allowed abortions in the first three months of pregnancy.
What was the impact on the number of legal abortions following Roe v Wade?
The number of legal abortions increased dramatically, rising to 1.7 million in 1977.
This was a significant rise following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Which organizations opposed Roe v Wade?
- Right to Life organization
- Catholic Church
- Fundamentalist Protestant Christian churches
These groups exerted pressure on the government and lobbied against the ruling.
What legislative action did Congress take shortly after Roe v Wade?
They passed a Human Life Amendment attempting to negate the Supreme Court decision.
This was part of a broader opposition to the ruling.
What was the Hyde Amendment?
It outlawed the use of federal funds for abortion unless the mother’s life was threatened.
This amendment was passed in 1974.
What was the effect of the Hyde Amendment upheld by the Supreme Court?
The number of abortions began to fall after its enactment.
This ruling reinforced restrictions on abortion funding.
What political trend began during Nixon’s presidency related to Roe v Wade?
The concept of the silent majority.
This trend culminated in Ronald Reagan’s election in 1980.
How did pro-life groups influence the 1976 elections?
They actively opposed pro-abortion candidates, contributing to the defeat of some politicians.
For example, Senator Frank Church of Utah was defeated partly due to this opposition.
What was the role of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in relation to Roe v Wade?
NOW pushed for the Equal Rights Amendment and supported the Supreme Court decision.
Their efforts were part of a broader feminist movement during the 1970s.
Fill in the blank: The Roe v Wade decision was made by the US _______.
Supreme Court
True or False: The Roe v Wade decision allowed abortions at any point during pregnancy.
False
It allowed abortions only in the first three months of pregnancy.
What film did Francis Schaeffer and Dr Everett Koop create in 1979?
They created a four-hour film entitled ‘Whatever Happened to the Human Race?’ which urged voters to oppose abortion.
What organization did Reverend Jerry Falwell found in 1979?
He founded the Moral Majority, a new right pressure group to support Reagan’s candidacy for the presidency.
What is the US Supreme Court?
The US Supreme Court is the highest court in the USA, created under the Judiciary Act of 1789, presided over by nine justices.
How are justices appointed to the US Supreme Court?
Justices are nominated by the US president and must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the US Senate.
What is the major role of the US Supreme Court?
Its major role is interpreting the US Constitution, a right established in the early 19th century under Chief Justice Marshall.
What was the impact of Chief Justice Earl Warren and Chief Justice Warren Burger on the Supreme Court?
They took an active role in interpreting the Constitution in controversial areas including abortion and civil rights.
What was the Equal Rights Amendment and its outcome?
The Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress in 1972 but ultimately failed to gain support from three-quarters of the states.
What was a significant change in women’s rights from 1973 to 1980?
The women’s movement began to fragment, with moderate groups facing more radical feminist groups demanding full equality.
Who was Ella Grasso?
In 1974, Ella Grasso was elected governor of Connecticut, marking an important advance for women in politics.
What percentage of women were in the workforce in 1980?
By 1980, 52 percent of women over 16 years were in the workforce.
What did the Supreme Court’s majority judgement in Roe v Wade (1973) state?
It recognized a woman’s right to privacy, which encompasses her decision to terminate her pregnancy.
What economic challenges did US workers face from 1973 to 1980?
Workers faced rising prices and unemployment, leading to a fall in living standards and the relocation of businesses.
What happened to New York City in 1975?
New York City faced bankruptcy, with President Ford refusing federal aid, leading to job losses for thousands of workers.
