Chapter 29Chapter 29Disorder and Disorder and Discontent, 1969-Discontent, 1969-19801980

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. The Decline of The Decline of LiberalismLiberalism

The Republican AgendaThe Republican Agenda Nixon was willing to use economic tools Nixon was willing to use economic tools

to maintain fiscal stabilityto maintain fiscal stability Although parts of his monetary plan Although parts of his monetary plan

worked, inflation plagued the economyworked, inflation plagued the economy Nixon worked to control the Nixon worked to control the

communications industry as best he communications industry as best he could, denounced “disruptive elements” could, denounced “disruptive elements” of the population, and was able to of the population, and was able to appoint four Supreme Court justicesappoint four Supreme Court justices

Civil RightsCivil Rights Nixon was less sympathetic to the cause of Nixon was less sympathetic to the cause of

civil rights than his Democratic civil rights than his Democratic predecessorspredecessors

Nixon felt that any effort to woo the black Nixon felt that any effort to woo the black electorate in the South was a waste of his electorate in the South was a waste of his timetime

Nixon denounced busing of Black students Nixon denounced busing of Black students into white school districts, effectively into white school districts, effectively prolonging segregation in the Southprolonging segregation in the South

II.II. The Ongoing Effort in The Ongoing Effort in VietnamVietnam

VietnamizationVietnamization This was Nixon’s plan to bring American This was Nixon’s plan to bring American

soldiers home from the Vietnam war by soldiers home from the Vietnam war by gradually replacing American forces with gradually replacing American forces with Vietnamese troopsVietnamese troops

With this reduction of troop number, With this reduction of troop number, Nixon ramped up the bombing of North Nixon ramped up the bombing of North Vietnam and (illegally) extended the Vietnam and (illegally) extended the destruction to Cambodia and Laosdestruction to Cambodia and Laos

The End of the WarThe End of the War The conflict in Vietnam lingered past The conflict in Vietnam lingered past

Nixon’s reelection in 1972 until the spring Nixon’s reelection in 1972 until the spring of 1975of 1975

The Communist-aided North finally broke The Communist-aided North finally broke through weakened South Vietnamese through weakened South Vietnamese lines and took Saigonlines and took Saigon

58,000 men and women had died in the 58,000 men and women had died in the warwar

III.III. Constitutional Conflict Constitutional Conflict and Its Consequencesand Its Consequences

WatergateWatergate Early in 1972, Nixon’s aides proposed an Early in 1972, Nixon’s aides proposed an

elaborate scheme to wiretap various leaders elaborate scheme to wiretap various leaders of the Democratic Party and use gained of the Democratic Party and use gained information to disrupt their nomination information to disrupt their nomination process in the upcoming electionprocess in the upcoming election

The wiretappers were arrested and every The wiretappers were arrested and every member of the Nixon administration was member of the Nixon administration was suspectedsuspected

The lengthy unraveling of the facts took The lengthy unraveling of the facts took several years and led to the eventual several years and led to the eventual resignation of Nixon resignation of Nixon

Ford and CarterFord and Carter Gerald Ford became president upon the Gerald Ford became president upon the

resignation of Richard Nixon and handily lost to resignation of Richard Nixon and handily lost to former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter in the 1976 former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter in the 1976 electionelection

Carter stood for honesty, home-spun virtue and Carter stood for honesty, home-spun virtue and a reduction of presidential powersa reduction of presidential powers

Severe problems with the economy and Severe problems with the economy and American hostages in revolutionary Iran American hostages in revolutionary Iran spelled his political downfall after one termspelled his political downfall after one term

IV.IV. The Continuing Quest for The Continuing Quest for Social ReformSocial Reform

Attacking the Feminine Attacking the Feminine MystiqueMystique National Organization for Women National Organization for Women

(NOW): a pressure group concerned (NOW): a pressure group concerned with the promotion of equal opportunity with the promotion of equal opportunity for womenfor women

The combined women’s movement The combined women’s movement pushed for adoption of an Equal Rights pushed for adoption of an Equal Rights Amendment, but the required 38 states Amendment, but the required 38 states for ratification could not be achievedfor ratification could not be achieved

ProtestsProtests This era saw fledgling protest movements This era saw fledgling protest movements

in the Latino communities of America and in the Latino communities of America and a resurgence of “nationalism” within the a resurgence of “nationalism” within the various Native American tribes who were various Native American tribes who were eager to use the legal system to try to win eager to use the legal system to try to win back their original lands stolen by the U.S.back their original lands stolen by the U.S.

Gays, Lesbians, Environmentalists and Gays, Lesbians, Environmentalists and Consumer advocates used the era to Consumer advocates used the era to promote their causes and encourage promote their causes and encourage national changenational change