Modern American History

1973-1992

Nixon Resigns Aug 1974

Watergate scandal led to Nixons resignation Sept 1974: Ford pardoned Nixon

Changing world for women

Roe v. Wade 1973 Supreme Court ruled abortion was legal in the 1st trimester Women moved into professional fields. Then medical students were 16% women. Today they make up over 50%.

OPEC OIL EMBARGO

OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) stop shipping oil to countries which supported Israel. Drastic rise in prices1973 $3/barrel, 1980 $30/barrel Gas shortages all over country

1976 Election
Jimmy Carter ran as an outsider, not tainted by the scandals of Watergate.
Seen as honest, a man of the people. Carter saw success in his foreign policy. He brokered an historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1978. BUT THEN.

Hostage Crisis in Iran

1978: Shah of Iran is pushed out of power.

Iran becomes an Islamic Republic led by the Ayatollah Khomeini.

Pres. Carter allowed the Shah to enter the US for medical reasons In 1979, in Tehran, Iran, militants take 52 embassy staff as hostages for 444 days

8 American soldiers killed in failed rescue attempt Pres. Carter lost support of Americans

1980 Election
Ronald Reagan, former CA. governor and actor, defeated Carter.

Whats the difference? Which one are YOU?

Conservatives Liberals

Distrust big fed. govt Favor free enterprise with little govt regulation Lower taxes encourage investment. Believe govt programs take away the incentive to work and invest.

Govt should regulate the economy. Fed govt should help disadvantaged thru social programs paid for thru taxes. Strong supporters of free speech and privacy.

The Reagan Years 1980-88

Domestic Policy
Reaganomics: cut taxes to stimulate the economy. Encouraged investment. Supply-side Economics or trickle-down theory (Hoover) Program Cuts: lower taxes meant less money for govt programs like welfare. Deregulation: airlines, auto safety standards, EPA standards on pesticides, chemicals, cable tv industry. Supreme Court: appointed conservative justices who would follow original intent of the Constitution rather than expand.

Foreign Policy

Military Buildup: Peace thru strength. Saw USSR as the evil empire to be defeated, not negotiated with. Afghanistan: US support the Afghan mujahadeen against a Soviet invasion. Becomes the USSRs Vietnam. 1988 Soviets withdraw. Nicaragua: US arms the contras fighting the socialist govt. Congress banned aid to contras. Grenada: Marxist (communist) rebels overthrow govt. US troops sent in to put down rebellion .

Conservative Politics
The adaptation of conservatism was not limited to America, it was a world-wide phenomena in the 1980s Conservatives seized on Thomas Jeffersons maxim: Government is best that governs least

 Republican policies slowed the civil rights movement Regan opposed busing and worked to eliminate affirmative-action programs Women fared somewhat better with high-profile nominations within the federal government

Public policy of the 1980s and early 90s were discouraging to environmentalists The federal government consistently leased forest lands, wilderness areas, and coastal waters for economic exploitation with little concern for the future

What was the Iran-Contra Affair?

1985 scandal Senior members of Reagans administration sold weapons to moderates in Iran hoping that Irans influence would free American hostages in Lebanon. Profits from the sales then went to support the Contras in Nicaragua, bypassing Congress. Was Reagan fully aware of the situation? Lt. Col. Oliver North oversaw much of operation. He claims he had authority from the President; Reagan testified he was not aware of the deal.

 US-Soviet Relations Under Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, there was a reduction in Cold War tensions. Gorbachev was known for perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness), very unsoviet ideas. Led to breakup of USSR and satellite nations and the reunification of Germany

George Bush

Read my lips, no new taxes! George Bush

George Bush elected President. Strong background in foreign policy.

Collapse of the Soviet Union, peaceful revolutions in Eastern Europe. 1989-91 Tiananmen Square Protest, Beijing 1989. Iraq invasion of Kuwait Aug.1990 Operation Desert Storm Jan.1991 Recession at homegrowing deficit, slow economy, rising unemployment. Responds with program cuts and tax increases.

1989 Berlin Wall falls

Collapse of the Soviet Union

Tiananmen Square Massacregovt

crackdown on pro-democracy protest. Number dead: estimates range from few hundred to thousands. No one knows for sure.

Operation Desert Storm