Crisis and Resurgence The Modern Era I (1969- 2000)
Dec 17, 2015
Crisis and Resurgence
The Modern Era I (1969-2000)
The Authors of the Constitution attempted to strike a balance between the separate branch of government (Separation of Powers)
Great Depression & The New DealBoth World Wars and the Cold WarImperial Presidency: The belief that viewed the
president as having too much power over timeRichard Nixon: The bombing of Cambodia and
Laos, and the mining of North Vietnam
The Nixon Presidency (1969-1974)
Nixon, a Republican, moved the nation into a more conservative direction
He eliminated many Great Society Programs and gave federal funds to state and local governments
Nixon put an end to the draft and advanced a broad environmental program
Domestic Policy
During Nixon’s presidency, the Supreme Court continued to protect First Amendment RightsTinker v Des Moines (1969): The Supreme
Court ruled that this violated the students’ First Amendment rights
Wisconsin v Yoder (1972): The Supreme Court struck down a Wisconsin state law that required Amish children to attend school beyond Grade 8. It violated the parents’ freedom of religion since the state’s secondary education conflicted with Amish values and beliefs
First Amendment Rights
The 1970s saw rising prices, a new trade deficit, and rising unemployment
To combat inflation, Nixon cut spending on social programs and took America off the gold standard
When these measures didn’t work, he imposed the first peacetime wage and price controls
All of these attempts to control inflation proved unsuccessful
Inflation
The Environmental Protection Agency was signed to protect the environment
It set air and water pollution standards for cities, and engages in monitoring and enforcement activities
Endangered Species Act (1973) requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species of plants and animals that are threatened with extinction, and then to take further steps to protect them
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
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
Phyllis Schlafly
Re-opening relations with China (1972): Nixon restored diplomatic relations with Communist ChinaNixon became the first American President to visit
mainland ChinaDétente (relaxing tensions) with the Soviet Union
(1972): In 1972, Nixon became the first President to visit Moscow, where he signed and agreement (SALT) with Soviet leaders, limiting the development of defensive missile systems
Foreign Policy
Nixon promised “law and order”, but the government was corrupt
In 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned when it was discovered that he was taking bribes while Governor of Maryland
Nixon appointed Gerald Ford, a Michigan Congressman, as his new Vice-President
Vice President Ford Takes Office
In 1972, a group of former CIA agents were caught breaking into Democratic Party Headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington D.C.
Nixon tried to cover it up as national securityIt came out that Nixon had recorded all of his
own White House conversationsNixon claimed Executive Privilege to the
tapesUnited States v Nixon (1974), ruled that
Nixon must turn over the tapes, reaffirming the principle that no one is above the law
The Watergate Crisis
The tapes revealed that Nixon had lied about his involvement in the cover up
The House of Representatives moved to impeach Nixon
Fearing removal, Nixon became the first President to resign
Nixon Resigns
“I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is opposed to every instinct in my body. But as President, I must put the interested of America first. America needs a full-time President, particularly at this time with [the] problems we face at home and abroad. To continue to fight through the months ahead for my personal vindication would totally absorb the time of both the President and the Congress… Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.”
THE IMPACT OF WATERGATE
Lowered public confidence in government
officials
Showed that growth of
Presidential power created
new opportunities for
abuse
Showed that our government is based on laws, not individuals,
and that the system of
checks and balances works
Proved that the two-party
system works; the party out of power serves as a watchdog over
the other
Reaffirmed the role of the press in uncovering government
misconduct and informing the public
The Supreme Court preserved its
independence, ordering Nixon to
hand over the tapes
Congress passed new laws to curb
Presidential power, restoring the balance between the executive
and legislative branches
The Ford Presidency (1974-1977)
Ford’s first act was to pardon Nixon for crimes he had committed
Ford’s main worries were economic (inflation)Stagflation – high unemployment combined with inflationIn 1973, the Arab nations of OPEC used oil as a political
weapon – the price of oil shot upThis influenced the cost of heating a home, the prices of
food, electricity, and gasoline
In 1975, the US, Canada, the Soviet Union, and most European countries signed an international agreement known as the Helsinki Accords
The Helsinki Accords recognized post-World War II borders and promised respect for human rights
The Helsinki Accords
The Carter Presidency (1977-1981) Jimmy Carter was nominated
by the Democratic Party to oppose Ford in the 1976 election
He wanted to “Clean up” Washington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmlcLNA8Zhc
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Springs was a latter day muckracking that exposed poisonous effects of pesticides (62), influencing Earth Day.
CARTER’S DOMESTIC POLICY
The Energy Crisis. To deal with the crisis, Carter created the
Department of Energy. He also increased the oil in the nation’s “Strategic Petroleum Reserve.” Carter sought a special tax on
large automobiles, and the power to ration gas, but Congress denied
him those powers.
Stagflation. Inflation and interest rates soared in 1979, partly due to
the oil crisis. Carter cut federal spending, but inflation did not
come down until two years later during the Reagan Presidency
The Environment. Carter provided funds to clean up toxic
dumpsites. Following an accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear
reactor in 1979, Carter created the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission to develop stricter standards for the peaceful use of
nuclear energy.
Diversity. Carter appointed women and minority members to
government posts. He also sponsored a bill requiring public schools to provide instruction to students in their native language
while trying to learn English.
Foreign Policy “We Bought.. We intend to keep it!” The Panama Canal Treaty (1977): signed a treaty
returned control of all the Canal Zone, except for the canal itself, to Panama
Camp David Accords (1977): Israel has been established as a homeland for the Jewish people by the UN in 1948Egypt and Israel fought one another in a series of
warsCarter 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 EgyptEgypt offered a peace treaty and the establishment of
normal diplomatic relations with Israel
A Step Towards Peace in The Middle East
Israel agreed to return the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, while Egypt agreed to establish normal diplomatic relations with Israel. First time Arab country (Egypt) recognized Israel’s right to exist.
Carter initially continued Nixon’s policy of détente with the Soviet Union when he met with the Soviet Leader Brezhnev to sign SALT II.
During the hostage crisis in 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
Carter halted grain sales & high-tech machinery to the Soviets, boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and postponed ratification of anew arms control agreement, known as SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks II)-deemed “Russian Vietnam”-10 yr guerilla warfare
Foreign Policy Cont.
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 1979Ayatollah Khomeini and other Shiite Muslim religious leaders
took control declared it a republic-strict principlesOctober 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 dayshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7RaUQqP_E8 dochttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Xe0gypvPU speech
The Iranian Revolution and Hostage Crisis: “Death to Carter!”
Opening of Red China Watergate Scandal
Détente with Soviets Stagflation
Panama Canal Treaty Fall of Saigon
Camp David Accords Iran Hostage Crisis
Presidents (1969-1978) (pgs 332-340/BB)
International Organizations& Domestic Organization/Policies
Nixon Doctrine= US would honor its existing defense commitments but in the future, Asians & others would have to fight their own wars w/o the support of large bodies of American ground troops (sent military aid to Persian Gulf to help Iran & Saudi Arabia instead of sending troops). Yom Kippur 73- SA embargo US oil for backing Israel.
Carter Doctrine=During his State of the Union Address (January 23, 1980), Carter stated that the U.S. would use military force if necessary to defend its national interest in the Persian Gulf region. The doctrine was a response to the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, and was intended to scare Soviet Union.
National Energy Act= (78) Carters plan to offer tax credit (pay less taxes to the govt)to those who conserved energy by insulating homes, solar energy, cut back on gas.=Didn’t stop our dependency on oil
The 1980s witnessed a resurgence of conservatism – the philosophy once championed by Barry Goldwater
Reagan and Bush wanted to cut down the size of the federal government
They reduced taxes and federal regulations on business, while increased private competition
They favored strong military establishments, expanding the government in one direction as reducing it in another
The New Conservatism: The Reagan and Bush Presidencies
Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood Actor and Governor of California
George H.W. Bush was his running mate
The Reagan Presidency (1981-1989)
Conservatism works to combat unions, reduce taxes, cut government spending, and reduce the amount of government regulations
National Rifle Association: promotes rifle shooting and marksmanship skills. The NRA became more political after monumental assassinations
The Moral Majority: Begun in 1979 by evangelist Jerry Falwell, it favored a strict interpretation of the Bible, and an agenda that was socially conservation and anti-Communism
Heritage Foundation: seeks to promote conservative policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, values, and a strong national defense
Roots of the New Conservatism
Tax cuts and Domestic Spending. Reagan cut taxes on businesses and the wealthy: he felt these groups would invest their tax savings to raise productivity and increase employment, resulting in benefits that would “trickle down” to other groups. To finance the tax cut, Reagan reduced spending in federal welfare programs.
Deregulation. Regan eliminated many federal regulations on industry, making it easier for new companies to compete. He ordered many regulatory agencies to cut back their rule-making and to allow businesses greater freedom. He relaxed enforcement of anti-trust laws and allowed more business mergers.
Domestic Policy
Increased Military Spending. Reagan increased military spending, which he financed through borrowing. This increased spending stimulated the entire economy, creating a demand for many goods and services.
Other Factors. World oil prices stabilized. New employment patterns created new jobs, such as computer programming and health care. Reagan took steps against unions to allow more flexible work practices. He fired air traffic controllers on strike.
Reaganomics
“Supply-side economics”; by reducing taxes and business regulations, they hoped to make it easier to produce more goods
This would drive down prices and stop inflationThe Federal Deficit (amount of money that the federal
gov. spends beyond what it collects in taxes)increased greatly under Reagan
The trade imbalance occurred when Reagan bought more goods and services abroad than they sold overseas
The Mazzoli-Simpson Act (1986) legalized illegal aliens who had lived continuously in the US Since 1981
Reaganomics
Nominate by Reagan in 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman Justice on the US Supreme Court.
During her early years, she was conservative and believed in “judicial restraint”
Sandra Day O’Connor
The Reagan Doctrine: the US would not simply confine to the containment of Communism but also “roll-back” Communism through aid and “freedom fighters”. Reagan provided aid to these rebels fighting against Soviet-backed governments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
“Peace through Strength”: the best way to prevent war was to make America’s enemies think the US had both the means and will to stop aggression
Star Wars: A Strategic Defense Initiative that would use lasers to shoot down missiles in order to prevent nuclear attack. Feared it would provoke a new arms race and undermine arms control agreements.
Foreign Policy
Terrorism (the use of bombing, assassination, kidnapping, or other acts of terror to ensure that a political group’s voice is heard) increased
The Iran-Contra Affair: The US was secretly selling arms to Iran for the release of hostages from Lebanon
Terrorism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZNukeWdWnM
Mikhail Gorbachev became head of the Communist Party in 1985. He announced 2 policies with revolutionary implications: Glasnost ”openness”, and Perestroika
On June 12,1987 Reagan stood on a platform in front of the Berlin Wall (Brandenburg Gate).
These reforms, the Star Wars campaign, the “roll-back” theory, and the forthright defense of freedom and democracy would all starting winding down the Cold War.
“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall!
The Triumph of Democracy
Domestic PolicyDefense SpendingSupreme Court
AppointmentsThe Recession – Rust
Belt decreaseCivil Rights – Rodney
KingAmerican with
Disabilities Act of 1990 for equal treatment
Invasion of Panama (1989) – Manuel Noriega
End of the Cold War (1989-1991)
The Gulf War (1990)- and attack against Iraq and Saddam Hussein
Somalia – humanitarian airlift
The George H.W. Bush Presidency (1989-1993)
Foreign Policy
Domestic PolicyHealth CareEconomic RecoveryThe Contract with
America – Newt Gingrich – the federal government was too large
Yugoslavia, Bosnia, and Kosovo – negotiations to prevent genocide
International Organizations – NAFTA, GATT (World Trade Organization), UN, NATO, SEATO, APEC, OAS
China – 1999 missiles
The Clinton Presidency (1993-2001)
Foreign Policy
Impeachment requires a trial and conviction by Senate, a majority vote in the House of Representatives, and a two-thirds vote in the Senate
He was impeached for committing perjury (lying under oath)
This again caused Americans to question their government leaders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs
Impeachment and Scandal
Bill Gates: co-founder of Microsoft, created one of the most recognized brands in the computer industry (1980s)
Sam Walton: started his own five-and-dime store in Arkansas and through hard work created Walmart and Sam’s Club (1962)
Estee Lauder: Jewish New Yorker; founded a cosmetics company with her husband and pioneered the “giveaway promotion”
Robert Johnson: first African American billionaire and founder of BET. In 1998 he sold it for 1.5 billion
Lionel Sosa: founded the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the US
Achieving the American Dream
President Ronald Reagan
Reaganomics: Notes #3
Star Wars:Notes#3
Iran-Contra Affair:Notes#3/OR 345/BB
President George H.W. Bush
Persian Gulf War: 348/BB
End of the Cold War: 348/BB
Americans with Disabilities Act:348/BB
President Bill Clinton
Economic Recovery:350/BB
Balkan Crisis:352/BB
Impeachment:351/BB