1. 1970’s and 80’s
Team US History

2. Notes #1
US10A: Describe Richard M. Nixon’s leadership in the normalization of relations with China and the policy of détente
US14B: Identify the roles of governmental entities and private citizens in managing the environment such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Endangered Species Act
US19C: Describe the effects of political scandals, Watergate, on the views of U.S. citizens concerning trust in the federal government and its leaders

3. The Rise and Fall of Nixon
Richard Nixon won the presidency in 1968
While in office, he made strides toward easing Cold War tensions
He also saw many of his domestic policies enacted
However, scandal would eventual force him to resign in disgrace in 1974
The Rise and Fall of Nixon

4. Nixon’s Domestic Policies
Nixon reached out to conservatives with a plan, called “New Federalism” to reduce the size and power of the federal government
The centerpiece to New Federalism called revenue sharing where the government distributes tax revenues to states to spend as they saw fit
Nixon also increased the size and power of the government with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “protect human health and safeguard the national environment”
The Family Assistance Plan also supported poor families with a minimum annual income
Nixon’s Domestic Policies

5. Energy and the Environment
Endangered Species Act (1973) requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species of plants and animals that are threatened with extinction, take further steps to protect them

6. Nixon’s Stagnant Economy
Nixon struggled with a recession. Normally, during a recession, unemployment rises, wages, drop, and consumers spend less money.
However, Nixon experienced “staglation”. Unemployment rose, joblessness fell. Nixon replaced strict wage and price controls with voluntary guidelines. Unfortunately, the nation suffered a rapid rise in the cost of living
To make matters worse, there was also an energy crisis. In 1973, oil-exporting nations in the Middle East (OPEC) stopped shipping oil to protest US support for Israel
The ban would be lifted the following year.
Nixon’s Stagnant Economy

7. Nixon and the Policy of Détente
Unit 11 Notes #1
Nixon based his foreign policy on realpolitik (“The politics of reality”)
Beginning as early as 1969, President Nixon had begun a “cooling off” policy toward China and the Soviet Union nicknamed détente (French for relaxation).
Nixon looked to find a balance of power between the US, Japan, China, and Russia and to improve relations with China and Russia, Nixon visited both countries in 1972.
The US and the Soviet Union also began talks to attempt armament control; specifically anti-ballistic missiles which served to defend against nuclear war, but whose use was enticing both nations to produce more warheads (SALT- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks)

8. U.S. President Richard Nixon shakes hands with Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong in February 1972 on Nixon's historic visit to China.
“This was the week that changed the world,….to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge”
Richard Nixon

9. The Watergate Scandal
On June 17, 1972, five men broke into offices of the Democratic National Committee
Their actions were part of a larger pattern of abuse of presidential power
The break-in at Watergate may have been forgotten if not for Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
In July 1972, the Senate Watergate Committee issued a subpoena to turn over tapes
Nixon’s refused, invoking executive privilege
In July 1974, United States v Nixon ruled that Nixon must release the tapes and proved beyond a doubt that Nixon ordered a Watergate cover-up
Nixon resigned on August 8, 1974

10. Nixon Resigns
After Nixon resigns, Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as President and as one of his first actions gave a full pardon to Nixon—Ford asserted that a trial would hurt the credibility of the government
Despite Ford’s efforts to close this unhappy chapter of presidential history, the nation remained deeply disillusioned with political leadership.

11. Notes #2
Identify the major characteristics of the 1970’s and 1980’s (US2A)
Describe US involvement in the Middle East (US10D)

12. The Election of 1976
Unit 11 Notes #1
In 1976 President Gerald Ford narrowly won the Republican nomination for President over California governor Ronald Reagan.
The Democratic Party chose Jimmy Carter a former Georgia governor as their candidate.
Carter ran under the platform of bringing honesty and integrity back to the white house
Carter narrowly defeated Ford, 297 electoral votes to 240 electoral votes.

14. Carter’s Domestic Policy
One of Carter’s first actions as President was to pardon all men who had evaded the draft
Economically Carter cut taxes but had difficulty controlling inflation and by the summer of 1980 the US was in a recession
Carter also had battles with energy and in 1977 Congress created the Department of Energy, increased the use of nuclear energy and asked people to set their thermostat to 65 degrees and only drive 55 m.p.h
Under Carter the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 encouraged banks to reduce discriminatory practices toward loans in low income neighborhoods.

15. Carter’s Foreign Policy
In his foreign policy Carter focused on securing human rights around the world. – “promoting justice, equality, and human rights”
In December of 1979 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, President Carter cut sales to the USSR and led an American boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow
The Panama Canal Treaty (1977): returned control of all the Canal Zone, except for the canal itself, to Panama
Camp David Accords (1977): Carter invited Anwar Sadat (President of Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Prime Minister of Israel) to Camp David in Maryland, Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, while Egypt offered a peace treaty and the establishment of normal diplomatic relations with Israel

16. Camp David Accords
President Carter, Menachem Begin of Israel, and Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt celebrate the signing of the Camp David Accords. The agreement marked a high point in Carter’s efforts to bring peace to the Middle East
The Camp David Accords ended hostilities between Egypt and Israel. Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt over the course of four years. In exchange, Egypt agreed to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

17. The Death of Détente
Both presidents Nixon and Ford has pursued a policy of détente toward the U.S.S.R.
In contrast, Carter openly criticized the Soviet Union’s human rights record
SALT II, “Peace will not be assured until the weapons of war are finally put away”
Any remnants of détente vanished in 1979 when Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan
The U.S.S.R. invaded this neighbor to help its failing communist government handle a rebellion
Carter responded by promoting a boycott of the Olympic Games that would be held in Moscow the following summer

18. The Iranian Revolution and Hostage Crisis: “Death to Carter!”
Shah Pahlavi of Iran was an ally with the U.S. but also a dictator who used brutal measures
After protests in 1978, he would flee the country in early 1979
Ayatollah Khomeini and other Shiite Muslim religious leaders took control declared it a republic-strict principles
October 1979, the Shah entered the U.S. for medical treatment and students seized the staff of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran (Nov,79) took 66-mission killed 8 Am-4 helicopters attempt
Captors of the hostages wanted him returned
Hostages wouldn’t be released until Carter left office 444 days
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19. Protecting the Environment
Unit 11 Notes #1
Protecting the Environment
April 22, 1970, Americans celebrated the first Earth Day
The Clean Water Act of 1972 limited the amount of sewage and other pollutants flowing into waterways and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 allowed the EPA to regulate the quality of public drinking water
On March 28th, 1979, a nuclear power plant at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island left radioactive gases into the atmosphere and convinced many Americans that nuclear power plants posted a risk
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Springs was a latter day muckracking that exposed poisonous effects of pesticides (62), influencing Earth Day

20. Notes #3
Describe Ronald Reagan’s leadership in domestic and international policies, including Reaganomics and Peace through Strength (US10B)
Describe significant societal issues of this time period (US10F)
Evaluate the contributions of significant political and social leaders in the United States (US24B)

21. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
In 1923, Alice Paul, a suffragist leader and founder of the National Women’s Party, proposed the Equal Rights Amendment:
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex”
In 1972, the amendment finally approved by Congress, it would fail ratification by three states and introduced every year, ever since

22. Phyllis Schlafly
Phyllis Schlafly is an outspoken critic of the Women’s Liberation Movement
“This would further deprive women of the right to be supported and protected by men”
In other words, it may lead to unisex restrooms and require women to serve in combat roles

23. American Life in the 1970’s & 80’s
Disco dance music was popular in the 70’s and fashion and movies embraced the disco culture; just 15% of families fit the traditional roles of working father, stay-at-home mother.
In 1976 Steven Jobs and Stephen Wozniak founded Apple and built the first personal computer in their garage
In 1982 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was officially recognized by the Center for Disease Control and its prevention and treatment became an essential health issue around the world.
Billy Graham became known as “America’s Pastor” and advised several US Presidents as well an estimated 2.2 billion people through television and radio broadcasts.

24. Unit 11 Notes #1
Problems for Carter
President Carter’s inability to find solutions to the nation’s economic problems caused his approval rating to drop to 31% by 1980.
The American public also lost faith in Carter after 66 American Embassy workers in Iran were taken hostage in November of 1979.
The Ayatollah Khomeini used the hostages to demand the US release the former Iranian ruler—who Carter had allowed into the US
After a failed rescue mission, 444 days went by before the release of the hostages

25. Election of 1980
Former Actor and Radio broadcaster Ronald Reagan had become Governor of California in 1970 and was a fast rising star within the Republican Party.
Reagan promised voters that he would “make America strong again” and he and his running mate George Bush (SR) used the Iranian hostage crisis to their advantage.
In a political landslide, Reagan defeated Carter 489 electoral votes to just 49 for Carter, even some Democrats crossed party lines to vote for Reagan.
Republicans also took control of the Senate for the first time since 1952 which gave Reagan a powerful position with which to press forward new legislation.

26. Reagan Democrats & the New Right
In the 1960’s Republicans had rallied around Barry Goldwater's idea of a New Conservatism and in the 80’s the resurgence of this movement was known as the New Right.
The New Right supported political goals of school prayer, strong defense, free-market economics, anti-abortion and anti-gun control.
President Reagan—himself a former Democrat—was popular with the New Right but also had cross party appeal with many older democrats.
The Republican and Conservative “New Right” would dominate American politics throughout the 1980’s.

27. Reaganomics
President Reagan entered the white house with a plan in place to reduce the size and influence of the federal government.
Another part of Reaganomics was the belief that if taxes were reduced for the rich, then the benefits would trickle down to everyone
Supporters of supply-side economics felt that when the government cuts taxes that consumers will spend the extra money to help the economy
Others felt Reaganomics was simply a program to keep American wealth in the hands of those already wealthy.

28. Notes #4
Describe US involvement in the Middle East such as the Iran Contra Affair (US10D)
Describe significant societal issues of this time period (US10F)
Understand the impact of technological and management innovations (US27C)
Analyze how scientific discoveries improve the standard of living (US28A)

29. Reagan and the Cold War
The Reagan administration took a hard line against Communism, extending military spending by $100 billion and calling Russia the “evil empire”
Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, dubbed “Star Wars”; SDI was a space based missile defense system.
Although SDI never became reality, increased money to NASA benefitted society with advances in GPS and cellular technology, scratch resistant glass and cordless tools.
Hostility continued in 1983 as a Soviet missile shot down a Korean airliner and in 1984 when the Russians boycotted the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Click for Sound

30. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was nicknamed “Star Wars” by critics, saying that it was fictional and popular science
Congressional members knew that to create it would mean enormous costs
To further undermine the Soviet Union, Reagan created the “Reagan Doctrine”
The Reagan Doctrine called for the United States to openly support anticommunist insurgents and movements around the world. The U.S. provided aid to rebels fighting Soviet-backed governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin American. Reagan called these groups, “freedom fighters”

31. Technology
Innovation in manufacturing and machinery (robotics) led to more output and high numbers of unskilled laborers
Time and motion study analysis (Scientific management) influenced an increase in productivity and a decrease in skilled labor
Computer management aided business in managing increased flow and availability of information, as well as making connections between events to become better
Just-in-time inventory management allowed businesses to reduce cost, become more flexible, and better meet consumer demands

32. The Election of 1984 and the Supreme Court
Unit 11 Notes #1
The Election of 1984 and the Supreme Court
President Reagan’s approval rating shot up in 1983 after a successful military operation in the small Caribbean island of Grenada.
Running against Reagan would be former vice president Walter Mondale and the first woman to run for a major party, Geraldine Ferraro
Although Ferraro gained some support for the Democrats, Republican women countered with strong support of Reagan and he won easily with 525 electoral votes.
As President Ronald Reagan would appoint 3 supreme court justices including the first female Sandra Day O’Conner

33. The Iran Contra Affair
The most serious crisis to hit the Reagan White House was the Iran Contra Affair (1986)
The US had been funding the Contras--a rebel group that had been battling for power of Nicaragua, but Congress cut the money (Reagan Doctrine)
To gain the funds needed to continue the fight the white house sold 500 antitank missiles to Iran without the approval of Congress.
Between 1984 and 1985, Several Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon
, in exchange for help in securing the release of the hostages, the Reagan administration sells missiles to Iran
1986, Reagan administration officials send millions of dollars from the Iran arms deal to Contras in Nicaragua
Although Reagan himself was cleared of any wrongdoing, Colonel Oliver North was convicted of lying to Congress and the public lost some trust in the Reagan administration.

34. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North testified before Congress in the Iran-Contra Affair. A decorated Vietnam veteran, North ran the covert operation that funneled millions of dollars to the Contras. North defended his actions and claimed that he was following orders. Some Americans hailed him as a patriot, while others called him a criminal.

35. 1988 Election
In the 1988 Presidential election African American leader Jesse Jackson was narrowly defeated by Michael Dukakis for the Democratic party nomination.
Since Reagan could not run again, his Vice-President George Bush gained the Republican nomination.
Republicans portrayed Dukakis as weak on crime and environmental issues, and Bush easily defeated Dukakis.
One of Bush’s most successful phrases used in many of his 1988 campaign speeches was the emphatic quote “read my lips, no new taxes”; which was a promise that he was unable to keep and would later become a strong element to Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign against Bush.

36. Societal Issues
Health Issues: Aids epidemic spread rapidly around the world and concern over prevention and cure intensified
Education: A national push to improve skills in basic subjects and increased pay of teachers
War on Drugs: The use and trade of illegal drugs increased dramatically. National campaigns started and a push for harsher punishment