1. Jimmy Carter Enters the White House

2. Election of 1976 In the 1976 Presidential Election, the Republicans nominated the sitting president Gerald Ford as their candidate The Democrats nominated a relative unknown, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, who had once been a peanut farmer In a close election, Carter defeated Ford to become the nation’s 39 th president. Texas was a key state in the victory for Carter. Gerald Ford, RepublicanJimmy Carter, Democrat

3. Election of 1976 Carter won 40.8 million votes and 297 electoral votes Ford won 39.1 million votes and 240 electoral votes

4. The Carter Years Jimmy Carter was liked by many because he was a Southern Democrat who was not a Washington insider But Carter’s Presidency was troubled by the Iran hostage crisis and an economic downturn

5. Economic Problems Continues Carter increased government spending to put more money into the economy. Result: Rising inflation. Carter increased government spending to put more money into the economy. Result: Rising inflation. Then Carter cut government spending. Funding was cut for social programs. Then Carter cut government spending. Funding was cut for social programs. Businesses failed & more people lost their jobs. Businesses failed & more people lost their jobs. Then asked for an increase in government spending. Then asked for an increase in government spending. Voters had enough of his economic policy swings. Voters had enough of his economic policy swings.

6. Conserving Energy As President Carter goal was to cut the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Called for increase in coal production. Funding for research on renewable energy sources such as solar, sun, power & wind power. Carter asked Citizens to make fewer car trips use more transportation Homes, offices & schools should be kept cooler in winter and warmer in summer. Automakers began to produce smaller cars with more fuel-efficient engines. US greatly reduced the use of foreign oil during the late 70s

7. Unfortunately, these energy-saving measures could do little to combat a sudden new economic crisis. A renewed violence in the Middle East produced a second major fuel shortage in the U.S. OPEC announced another major price hike.

8. Carter’s Foreign Affairs 1978, Pres. Carter negotiated that the canal would be returned to the nation of Panama on 12/31/1999. Central goal: Promote human rights. Carter cut aid to countries that violated the rights of their people. US pressured Premier Brezhnev to stop mistreating dissidents (pp who disagreed with communist) US-Soviet Tensions Dec of 1979 Soviets invaded Afghanistan Brezhnev refused to withdraw forces. Carter ordered embargo on the shipment of grain & ordered US Olympic team to boycott the 1980 summer games in Moscow. Détente had fallen apart.

9. Camp David Accords  One of the greatest achievements of Carter was in his foreign policy.  Carter negotiated a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt that was known as the Camp David Accords, signed in September 1978.  Egypt recognized Israel and Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula, which it had occupied since the 1967 War to Egypt.

10. Iran Hostage Crisis *Carter allowed Shah to enter US for cancer treatment. *This angered the revolutionaries. *They took over the American Embassy in response to the U.S. allowing the former Shah of Iran to come to the U.S. Iran was a country that ignored human rights. US backed Shah or leader of Iran for 2 reasons. 1.Major oil producer 2.Iran bordered the Soviets. US believed it would keep Soviets out of the Middle East

11. Iran Hostage Crisis The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the U.S. when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981

12. Iran Hostage Crisis They demanded that U.S. send Shah back to Iran in return for the hostages. Carter refused. Carter’s attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages went nowhere. A military attempt to rescue the hostages failed. They were not released until after Carter was defeated in the 1980 election and left office.

13. The hostage crisis and continuing problems with the economy at home led Carter to lose the Presidential election of 1980. The Watergate Crisis, the fall of Vietnam, and the Iran hostage Crisis all seemed to confirm the collapse of American power and the weakness of American leaders

14. Cuban Mariel Boatlift In 1980, Castro announced that anyone who wished to leave Cuba could do so from the port of Mariel between April to October 31 st. As many as 125, 000 Cubans had made the journey to Florida. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-arSfu3DDu4 It started to have negative political implications for U.S. President Carter when it was discovered that a number of the exiles had been prisoners and mental health patients. It started to have negative political implications for U.S. President Carter when it was discovered that a number of the exiles had been prisoners and mental health patients..

15. Bumper sticker at the time stated, “Will the last American to leave Miami please bring the flag.”

16. Miami Riots Despite the evidence against the police officers, the trial, which has been moved to a more sympathetic venue in Tampa, clears the officers of all charges. All the jurors are white. In December 1979, police kill an African American Marine Corps veteran and successful salesman, Arthur McDuffie, after a high-speed chase. Though the officers claim McDuffie died from injuries he sustained crashing his motorcycle, a cover-up is soon revealed: in reality, McDuffie was beaten to death.

17. Election of 1980