1. Quick overview of modern U.S. history
1970s-1990s

2. Nixon: Relaxing of the Cold War
Détente – relaxing tensions between U.S. and U.S.S.R.
1st U.S. president to visit China
Strategic Arms Limitation (SALT I)
Reduce arms in U.S. and U.S.S.R

3. Yom Kippur War 1973 Israel vs. Arab States Military aid sent to Israel
OPEC – oil export embargo to U.S.
Massive gas shortabe

4. Watergate Break in at Dem. Headquarters
Exposed by Washington Post (Woodward and Bernstein)
Agnew (V.P.) – resigns tax fraud; Ford becomes V.P.
Nixon v. U.S. – voice recordings released to public
Nixon resigns Aug 9th, 1974 after threat of conviction

5. Gerald Ford (Rep)
Only president not to be elected to either presidency or vice presidency
Pardoned Nixon
Sees the fall of Vietnam

6. Jimmy Carter (Dem) African American vote led to win
Dem also had control of House/Senate
Camp David Accords
Peace agreement between Egypt and Israel
Gave Panama Canal back to Panama

7. Iran Hostage Crisis - 1979 Iran Shah (supported by US) overthrown
Anti US Ayatollah Khomeini stops oil exports
52 held captive at U.S. Embassy for 444 days
Released day of Reagan’s inauguration

8. Other Carter dealings SALT II – to renew U.S. Soviet pact
USSR invaded Afghanistan (control of oil?)
Made SALTII unsuccessful and boycott of 1980 Olympic Games
Gave amnesty to Vietnam draft dodgers
Created Department of Education and Energy

9. Reagan (Rep.) Conservatism
Reagan Revolution
Low taxes, small government and small military
Reaganomics (“trickle down”)
Cut social programs
Immigration reform
1st woman on Supreme Court – Sandra Day O’Conner

10. Iran Contra Scandal
Sold weapons to Iran (embargo present) in exchange for hostages
Used $ to support Nicaraguan Contras (prohibited by Congress)
Everyone blamed others

11. Other Reagan dealings Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)
Space defense
Meant to scare Soviets
Gorbachev assumes power (1985)
“glasnost” – openness – more freedom to citizens
“perestroika” – restructuring – free market economy

12. George H.W. Bush (Rep.) “Read my lips no new taxes” (lies…)
Berlin wall falls (1989)
Cold War Ends
START I and II – reduced nukes and provided aid to Russia (with Yeltsin)

13. Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm)
Iraq (Saddam Hussein) invaded Kuwait
UN sanctioned but led by US
Heavily covered
Massive aerial assault, followed by ground movement

14. William J. Clinton (Dem)
Reinstituted the welfare system
Economy grew – massive budget surplus
NAFTA – North American Free Trade Alliance
Permanent trade agreement with China
Violence
Oklahoma City bombings (‘95)
Timothy McVeigh
Al Qaeda attack on WTC (‘93)
6 killed

15. Race Riots Rodney King Videotape showed beating of King (1991)
Officers acquitted
Led to LA Race Riots (1992)

16. George W. Bush 9/11 – 3,000 lives lost
Patriot Act – monitor American activities
“War on Terror”
Afghanistan in 2001
Dem. Government established in 2004
Iraq in 2003 (WMD)
“Shock and awe”