Some social movements that influence my family greatly is the child labor laws, the UAW strike in the 70's, the family and medical leave act, the Boston Tea Party, and the religious prosecution in the UK. My family were farm hands when they were strong enough to carry a sack up till my grandparents were 18. I would image our family would have continued the tradition if the laws were not enforced.
The strike had the biggest impact on my life. My grandfather was get paid 3.25 an hour in 1973 and was trying to support 3 kids. When the strike happened there was no work in St. Louis so my grandfather moved to California the land of opportunity. Luckily he found work out here. After a year or so the strike ended and the workers got there 37 cent increase in pay and a dental program.
The family and medical leave act signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993 was a bill that kept my mom's job when she had to stay home and take care of me. It is hard to image a time when people were fired for attaining to their family needs.
The Boston Tea Party was important social movement because it was a few Americans that stood up to the English Empire. They were mad when England cut the tea tax on the large corporation the East Indies and continued to tax the little guy. The little guy gets dumped on enough and wouldn't take it anymore.
On my mom's side the family came over on the Mayflower. In Holland and England they had enough of religious prosecution. They made a big step in deciding to cross the Atlantic Ocean. As we know they landed in Massachusetts and the rest is history. All of the above has had a big impact on me. Without these events I wouldn't be here writing this. As the chapter said it starts small and then grows bigger. We have to make the choice to shut up and sit down or to fight the power.
wow! Your moms side came over on the May flower?!
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty cool!
Its true, all these acts (Leaving england on mayflower, Boston tea party,strike) are an attempt by people to make their world better and better for their children.
Our ancestors actions were, for the most party, in our best intrest
I love the revolution fist!
ReplyDeleteSo often we couple the idea of a revolution with people or events in other countries, but I think it's important that you've pointed out the fact that revolutions that have been taking place in the United States since the beginning.