Phyllis Schlafly Derails the ERA in Illinois Illinois was one of the most hotly contested states in the battle over ratification of the ERA. Here Schlafly rallies ERA opponents in the state capitol in 1975. Schlafly’s STOP ERA movement succeeded in Illinois, her home state and the only northern state that failed to ratify. Despite political activities that required extensive traveling and speaking, Schlafly insisted on calling herself a housewife. © Bettmann/Corbis.