Both women and American blacks have been oppressed in the US. The 1960's marked a period of change for both groups. Some of the things that demonstrated the increasing rights of women were birth control, and the Women's rights movement. By the late 1960's almost all women had access to birth control. This was seen as a major progression because it gave women control over their reproductive role. They choose if and when they wanted to be mothers. they could control their careers. African Americans also made many advancements in rights at this time as well. Martin Luther King became a the leader of the black protest movement. He Advocated for peaceful demonstrations. Consequentially blacks saw their cause gaining sympathy when they were shown getting beaten by police on television. Unfortunately MLK was assassinated in 1968. But not before he won a Nobel Peace Prize. eventually due to this movement Lyndon B. Johnson allowed the government to cut off funding to any program that practiced discrimination. he also created VISTA to battle poverty and outlawed the literacy tests needed in order to register to vote. All and all many social rights of African Americans and women were gained in the 1960s.
During the Soweto massacre in 1976, 575 deaths occurred. Prominent youth Steve Biko was beaten to death by police for protesting for the the right to be educated in Afrikaans. Though, this was not a step that brought about the end of the system of Apartheid it symbolized the start of the generation who would bring the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Two years after this tragedy Prime Minister P.W. Botha made reforms and blacks could marry anyone and could mix in certain places and join unions. This new freedom was because of Brain Mulroney influence on the Americans to impose limited sanctions. Botha than responded by restricting freedom of foreign press. When the resistance movement began their was call for revolution. Trade unions had won the right to bargain and began protesting apartheid. The economy clasped from inside out and The Dutch Reformed Church began to also oppose apartheid. and finally in 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison. The first democratic election with all creeds and races took place in 1994.
Gandhi was the leader of the Indian Congress Party. He led a style of protest called pacifism to gain independence. He used pacifism to protest and eventually bring independence to India. He did this by promoting pacifist civil disobedience. One example of a step Gandhi took for independence from Great Britain was his protest to the british tax on salt. Gandhi walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gujarat to get salt. Thousands followed him in his march. This march drew support for the independence movement across India and the rest of the world. Gandhi was arrested and put in prison as a result. Gandhi went on a hunger strike in prison so if he died he would become a marter furthering his cause; but, the british did not want this to happen so they released him. Gandhi's protests influenced others even after his assassination to create a united and independent India.
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