presidents; richard nixon, gerald ford, and jimmy carter major issues: desegregation of schools...
TRANSCRIPT
The 1970s
Presidents; Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter
Major issues:Desegregation of schoolsLegality of Abortion (Roe v Wade 1973)Women’s MovementDétente – willingness to negotiate and an
easing of tensions as a strategy in dealing with Communist nations
Inflation/StagflationEnvironmental ConcernsWatergateHelsinki AccordsSALT IIIran Hostage Crisis
Rapprochement with China
Visited China to reestablish an Open Door Policy with them
Agreed that neither country would try to dominate the Pacific and would cooperate in settling disputes peacefully
Also agreed to scientific and cultural exchanges
Was a hit with the American public but the real reason behind it was to drive a wedge between the Chinese and Soviets
Domestically – Program referred to as “New Federalism”
-wanted to cut government programs and spending and give more powers to the states-wanted to turn back civil rights legislation-took a middle of the road stand on it-Schwann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Ed – court ordered bussing to integrate schools in the South
“SOUTHERN STRATEGY”
-To gain support from the conservative south for the Republicans
-Included efforts to prolong desegregation of schools
Had to deal with activists who hated
the war in Vietnam – Students for a Democratic Society
(SDS)-evolved from the Civil Rights
movement of the 1960s
-wanted him to end the war and deal with poverty and
inequality in the US
Recession became an issue
Stagflation - inflation happens while employmentgoes up at the same time creating an economic nightmare
(Most of this inflation occurred because of spending on the war in Vietnam.)-tried using wage and price controls-proposed a tax increase that Congress blocked-Asked Federal Reserve to raise interest rates and -It resulted in a stock market collapse
1973 the Arab nations that were members of OPEC placed an embargo on oil to the US (shuttle diplomacy used )
Lasted several months but made us realizewe did not have limitless resources
Significance- led to the environmental movement – conservation of resources and government policies to preserve and protectthe environment – established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and enforce pollution control standards
LANDMARK LEGISLATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Clean Air Act
Clean Water Act
Endangered Species Act
WATERGATENixon accused of
Obstruction of JusticeAbuse of PowerContempt of Congress
Led to his resignation – first presidentto do so
Abortion
Roe v Wade- Supreme Court Decision in 1973
Made abortion legal in the United States
Gerald Ford
Foreign accomplishmentsHelsinki Accords- agreement between the US, USSR, Canada, and about 30other nations to cooperate economically,respect existing national boundaries, and promote human rightsSALT talks continued – Strategic ArmsLimitation Treaty – US and USSR
Ford’s Domestic Program
WIN – Whip Inflation Now- to motivate Americans to voluntarily change their behaviors to conserve – save rather than spend, conserve fuel, plant gardens – DIDN”T WORK
Still had high inflation and unemployment
Ford’s Reelection
Had been chosen as VP to replace Spiro Agnew, Nixon’s VP who resigned In disgrace for illegally taking money as kickbacks while the Gov. of Mass
Pardon of Richard Nixon and the economycost him reelection
Jimmy CarterDefeated Ford on his campaign as a “Washington outsider” who hadNot been corrupted by national politics
Former governor of Georgia
Committed to human rights and was afacilitator between Egypt and Israel in theCamp David Accords, a peace agreementbetween the two enemies
Foreign Issues
Continued the policy of détente with the USSR
Signed the SALT II treaty to limit production of nuclear arms
USSR invaded Afghanistan (1979) Causing relations with them to go coldagain
Continued
Invasion killed the SALT II treaty in the Senate
He implemented a grain embargo against the USSR
Boycotted the olympics in Moscow in 1980
Détente evidently was gone by the time of the 1980 election and he lost to Ronald Reagan.
IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS1970 there was a revolution in Iran and the Shah was overthrown
The US previously had a good relationship with the Shah because of the oil there
Iranian government was taken over by the Muslims under the leadership of their Ayatollah Khomeini and was under strict Muslim law
Carter allowed the Shah of Iran to enter the US
The enraged Iranians stormed the US embassy in Tehran and demanded the Shah be returned to stand trial. We refused and they held the people there hostage from November of 1979 until Reagan was inaugurated In January of 1981