Equal Rights Amendment

By: TJ, Quinlan, Lucas

Things to Cover in Presentation

• What is the ERA?
• What did it say?
• Who wrote it?
• Who supported it? Opponents?
• Major speakers of the movement?
• Why wasn’t it ratified?
• Significance of event
• Role in today’s society

Thesis Statement

The Equal Rights Amendment was an idea to rid America of its sexually discriminatory laws and ways. Although it was passed by the House and the Senate, it did not make its way into the Constitution. This amendment has raised awareness of women and their lack of rights.

Key Vocabulary

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) - proposed amendment that demanded rights enforced by the law should not discriminate against sex (specifically women)

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) - authority in charge of passing federal laws to prevent employers from discriminating against age, sex, race, etc.

National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) - composed of two major women’s movement groups, this group sought to amend women’s right to vote

Rescind - to revoke a law/agreement

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Objectives

• Students will be able to understand the significance of the Equal Rights Amendment and what it means
• Students will be able to understand why there needed to be an Equal Rights Amendment
• Students will be able to understand the importance of the Equal Rights Amendment in today’s society

What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

• Was made to demand equality to women in 1923
• “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” - Section 1 of the ERA
• Only a proposed amendment, it was never added to the Constitution.

Origins of the ERA

• The ERA was drafted by Alice Paul
• Presented at the 75th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention
• Argued women’s rights in society

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• Was made because the Constitution does not guarantee equal rights for women
• Limits equality and justice of women
• Affects women today

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Supporters

• Supporters included
• National Woman's party
• Alice Paul
• Drafted ERA
• Crystal Eastman
• Lawyer, feminist

National Women's Party/Alice Paul

• Alice paul
• Early influences
• NAWSA
• National Woman's Party
• picketing prison
• 19th amendment
• Equal Rights Amendment

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Opposition

Who was against the ERA?

• Phyllis Schlafly
• Stop-ERA Campaign
• Montana Citizens to Rescind ERA

Why Were Women Opposing the ERA?

• Women’s rights in society would’ve been taken away
• Marriage/Divorce/Alimony
• Social Security privileges
• Single-sex bathrooms?
• Women would face a similar problem as men
• Drafted for the military
• Women were already living a nice life
• Labor was gender-neutral (EEOC)
• Women could vote
• Women didn’t want to see a change
• Klu Klux Klan

Why wasn’t it ratified

• It was ignored by the House and Senate when first brought up in 1923 until Martha Griffiths demanded that they give it some attention through a discharge petition in 1970.
• Was approved by the House in 1971 and by the Senate in 1972 after provisions were made.
• The 7 year deadline was extended to 1982, but even by that time, it had only been ratified by 35 states…three states short of being ratified.

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Significance of Movement

• Causes
• 19th amendment
• NAWSA
• National woman's party
• Constitution does not protect against discrimination
• Effects
• National woman's party
• Women gained no ground
• Social, Civil, Labor, etc.

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Primary Source

• What is this?
• Sharon Luckenbill’s letter to Congress
• Why should I care?
• Shows opposition of bill
• Goes against the thought-to-have-been popular belief
• Importance of this?
• Although women were expected to agree with the woman-based ERA, this shows that not all women were in favor of it

Exam Question

How has the Equal Rights Amendment shaped the rights of the citizens of America? How has it protected against further discrimination?

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