Introduction
By the early 1970s, it appeared that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was destined for ratification and addition to the U.S. Constitution as the 27th Amendment. Both the Republican and Democratic parties had incorporated the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into their party platforms, signalling their support for the Amendment, both Houses of Congress had approved the Amendment, and 35 states—representing 72% of the U.S. population—had ratified the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Ratification appeared inevitable.
By June 30, 1982, the date set by Congress for final approval of the amendment, 35 states had ratified the amendment, falling 3 states short of the 38 needed, and the amendment failed to pass. What happened?
This July 1, 1982, New York Times article opens: “The drive to ratify the proposed Federal equal rights amendment, a goal of feminists since it was first introduced in Congress 59 years ago, failed tonight in the states, still three legislatures short of the 38 that would have made it the 27th Amendment to the Constitution.”
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In this lesson, you will examine the roles played by two leading national women’s organizations involved in the ERA ratification battle: the National Organization for Women (NOW) fought for ratification while STOP ERA fought to defeat the amendment.
To better understand the surprising defeat of the ERA by 1982, you will learn about each side’s arguments, leadership, messaging, and tactics. You will then be asked to respond to the essential question:
Essential Question
Why did the Equal Rights Amendment, which seemed assured of passage in the early 1970s, fail to win ratification by 1982?
