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