1970- 1990 Unit 12. President Nixon’s policy of detente “relaxation of tensions’ Nixon bridged the gap in relations with the People’s Republic of China.

1970- 1990Unit 12

President Nixon’s policy of detente

• “relaxation of tensions’• Nixon bridged the gap in relations

with the People’s Republic of China with his 1972 visit.

• This visit was the first by a U.S. President.

• Created an example to follow later with the U.S.S.R during the Cold War

Watergate Scandal

• The Watergate Scandal (1972-1974) was an American political scandal and constitutional crisis that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

• The term 'Watergate' refers to the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. The hotel was the location of the Democratic Party National Headquarters in 1972.

• A security guard caught a handful of burglars breaking into the Democratic Party Headquarters. Some of the burglars had ties to people in the Nixon administration, and president Nixon tried to minimize the damage to his administration. The resulting cover-up became known as 'Watergate'.

• Brought the actions of the president under suspicion, and people began to question his authority and power.

• As a result people’s trust in the American government declined

http://www.history.com/videos/watergate-ends-nixon-presidencyhttp://www.history.com/videos/watergate-scandal-brings-down-richar-nixon

Ronald Reagan’s Domestic Policies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zytjH0thnfg

• 4 pillars of Reaganomics:• Reduce government spending• Reduce income and capital gains marginal tax rates• Reduce government regulation• Control the money supply to reduce inflation

Reagan’s International Policies

• “Peace Through Strength” policy:

• Encouraged the presence of a strong military to deter aggression against the U.S. and its allies.

• Led to the end of the Cold War and the strengthening of relationships between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.

U.S. Involvement in the Middle East http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYASjRMEWeA

• U.S. supported the founding of Israel and President Truman officially recognized the State of Israel. This led to the long relationship between the 2 nations.

• The Camp David Accords were the two framework agreements signed at the White House in 1978 (President Carter) that led to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.

U.S. in the Middle East…

• The U.S. Marine barracks were bombed in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.

• Cause of this was attributed to the ill will built up in the local Muslim community toward the U.S. and Marines who were part of the multinational peace force.

Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)

• An angry mob of students entered the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran and captured U.S. citizens taking them hostage for 444 days.

• Prior to the hostage crisis, Iran’s leader (Mohammed Reza Pahlavi) had angered religious leaders which led to a revolt and the replacement of him with a new ruler.

• President Carter immediately imposed economic sanctions on Iran to pressure negotiations for the release of the hostages.

• They were released after 444 days of captivity, on the day Reagan was sworn into office.

The Iran-Contra Affair (President Reagan)

• Political scandal surrounding a plan designed to obtain the release of Americans held hostage by Iran.

• The plan involved the secret sale of U.S. weapons to Iran, despite an embargo on such sales.

• Funds generated from the sale of weapons to Iran would be diverted to help support the Contras in Nicaragua.

• The U.S. was to send weapons from Israel to Iran for the safe exchange of the American hostages after 444 days.

• In 1986 the legality of the these transactions was fully investigated and Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North was found guilty.

Conservative Resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s

• Phyllis Schlafly- a political conservative known for her anti-feminism and campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment. She believed you could be a mother and have a career too.

• The Contract of America- a document the U.S. Republican Party developed during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. It outlined actions the Republicans promised to take if they became the majority party in the House of Representatives.

Conservative Resurgence…

• The Heritage Foundation- a conservative think tank based in Washington D.C., who has influenced national policy since President Reagan.

• Their stated mission is the “formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

Conservative Resurgence…..

• The Moral Majority- a political organization founded by Southern Baptist pastor, Jerry Falwell, in 1979 that supported conservative candidates and lobbied for prayer in public schools.

• National Rifle Association- a non-partisan, non-profit organization which seeks to protect Americans 2nd Amendment right. The organization promotes firearm ownership rights, marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense.

Societal Issues of this era

• AIDS was a growing epidemic which caused large concern. (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

• Just Say No- national campaign started to battle drugs as the use of drugs increased dramatically.

Societal Problems

• A Nation at Risk- a national report found that most American children lagged behind students of other industrial nations. Led to push to improve students’ skills and increase pay for teachers (including merit raises).

New Agencies and Acts

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- established in 1970 due to elevated concern about environmental pollution to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment- air, water, and land.

• Endangered Species Act of 1973- conservation and protection of plant and animal species that face the threat of extinction, as well as the ecosystems upon which they depend.

New Agencies and Acts

• Community Reinvestments Act of 1977• Encouraged banks and savings associations to meet the

needs of borrowers in their local communities.• Was an effort to reduce discriminatory practices against

low and moderate-income neighborhoods.

American Entrepreneurs

• Bill Gates- started with software business out of his garage (Microsoft)

• Sam Walton- small town general store manager, believed he could bring important goods to rural America (Wal-Mart)

• Estee Lauder- grew up in NY and developed a world renowned beauty company.

• Robert Johnson- founder of BET

• Lionel Sosa- founder of one of the largest Hispanic advertising agencies in the U.S.

Cold War Defense Spending

• Expanded businesses and employment• Growth of high tech industries• New research and development

Free Enterprise System

• Ability for an individual to produce an idea, develop the idea, and bring the idea to market for profit.

• Continues to spur innovation and improve our standard of living.

• Consumers demand new products that perform better and more efficiently than previous products creating a cycle.

Space Exploration and Military resulted in new products

• Space Exploration: GPS, Velcro, plastic satellites, & transportation innovations.• Military:

telecommunications lead to cell phones and the internet.

Political and Social Leaders

• Billy Graham- a powerful evangelical preacher, conducted many evangelistic crusades and counseled majority of U.S. Presidents from Truman through Obama.

• Barry Goldwater- United States Senator from Arizona (1953-1987) and the Republican Party’s nominee for President in the 1964 election, retired from the Senate in the mid 1980s.

• Sandra Day O’Connor- 1st woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court (1981).

• Delores Huerta- advocate & lobbyist for farmworkers’ rights & a co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association

Diffusion of American Culture

• Television- movies, sports, and advertising

• Pop culture and consumption

• Some Middle Eastern countries embraced western culture, others did not.

http://www.history.com/topics/iran-hostage-crisis/media