Contemporary Issues

1. Test #10 VUS. 15 Contemporary Issues

2. Women’s Movements • Around the same time that African Americans were trying to gain civil rights in America, so were American women • At first, the women’s liberation movement and civil rights movement for African Americans were together • Women had gained some rights over the years, but were still treated very differently than men • Women were getting jobs, but being paid less than men for completing the same work • “Pink collar” jobs • a job that is stereotypically considered to be women's work • Nurse, babysitter, waitress, etc.

3. 1963: Betty Friedan wrote the Feminine Mystique • The book ridiculed the notions that women were only suited for low paying jobs • Also challenged the idea the idea that women could only be judged as wives and mothers • The book changed many women’s outlooks about marriage, childbearing, and work • Not all women agreed with Friedan’s book

4. Betty Friedan

5. “Glass Ceiling” • The term "glass ceiling" has been thought to have first been used to refer to invisible barriers that impede the career advancement of women in the American workforce • 1963: the Equal Pay Act was passed • The Act said that women should receive equal pay of men for doing the same work • The civil rights legislation of 1964 also addresses some women’s issues • Outlawed the discrimination in employment based on gender and race

6. Women became an increasingly large percentage of America’s labor force • Many working women were also mothers • This created a need for affordable day care

7. Many women’s liberation movement members helped to found NOW (National Organization for Women) • NOW fought for equal pay and equal rights for women • NOW also began to campaign for an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution (ERA) • ERA would ban discrimination based on gender • ERA failed to gain enough support to be added to the Constitution • ERA passed both houses of Congress, but it was not ratified by the states • Many felt ERA would lead to a direct breakdown of the family

8. Notable women: • Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court • Sally Ride was the first female astronaut in the United States

9. Sandra Day O’Connor

11. Roe v. Wade • Decided in 1973 • Gave women more freedom • Made it legal for women to get abortions • Roe v. Wade video

12. Technology • The US felt it was behind the Soviet Union in missile technology • After the Soviets launch Sputnik in 1957, the US will create NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) • NASA was an attempt by the US to catch up to the Soviets in missile and space technology • In the early 1960s, President Kennedy pledged increased support for the American space program • Kennedy challenged the US to try and get to the moon by the end of the 1960s (Kennedy's Race to the Moon reference Video) • The race to the moon continued through the 1960s

13. U.S. astronaut John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth • In 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first person to step onto the moon’s surface • He proclaimed, “That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind.” • One Small step video

14. John Glenn

15. Neil Armstrong

16. America’s space program under NASA flew several missions to the moon • NASA has also benefited from better technology to help with space exploration • The Space Shuttle (now retired) allowed for a single craft to leave earth, return, and be used for future missions • Voyager missions—2 satellites used to study Jupiter and Saturn, and then the rest of the solar system • Hubble Space Telescope allows scientists to peer deeper into the universe • Mars rover traveled on the surface of Mars collecting data

18. Voyager spacecraft

19. Hubble Telescope

20. Mars Rover

21. Changes have also occurred in Communications, some thanks to NASA • Over the past three decades, improved technology and media have brought about better access to communication and information for businesses and individuals in both urban and rural areas • Many more Americans have access to global information, global viewpoints, and global products • Satellites—provide better communication, access to more television programming, etc. • Cable and Sat TV: More access to information • GPS (Global Position System) • Personal communication devices—PDA, Cell Phone, Smart Phone, etc. • Personal computers—widespread access • Internet (world wide web)

22. Changes in work, school, and health care in recent decades • Telecommuting—work at home using a computer to link with your office via the internet • Online coursework—earn a degree by taking college courses online • Growth of Service Industries—those who work with the growing technologies

23. Breakthroughs in medical research to help Americans live healthier and longer • 1955: Dr. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine • Before the vaccine, polio was considered the most frightening public health problem of the post-war United States (after 1945) • Salk was the American born child of Russian immigrants

24. Dr. Jonas Salk

25. There are some negatives to advances in technology and changes in work • Outsourcing • American companies hiring overseas to fill jobs and services • Possible through new communications • Many help lines for American companies are located in India • Offshoring • An American company builds a factory overseas • Cheaper labor

26. Advancements in technology have caused our planet to shrink • Immediate information at anytime • World competition has kept prices low

27. Détente and World Problems • 1963: Pres. Kennedy, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty • Banned nuclear testing above ground, under water, and in outer space • Détente: an attempt to make better relations with the Soviet Union • Created by Pres. Richard Nixon • Nixon believed creating better relations with the Soviets and China would benefit the U. S. • Opened up new markets for US goods • Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 was part of Détente

28. Kennedy signing the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

29. SALT: 1972, Pres. Nixon and the Soviet Premier (Brezhnev) signed the SALT agreement • SALT: Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty • SALT limited the number of certain types of nuclear weapons • Allowed each nation to monitor the other’s stockpile of nuclear weapons • SALT helped to ease the tensions between the US and Soviet Union

30. OPEC: • Problems in the Middle East in the 1970s will affect the United States • The US was (and still is) heavily dependent on oil from the Middle East • 1960—5 oil producing nations formed OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) • OPEC was designed to coordinate oil production • OPEC set prices and regulated the production of oil • Had a monopoly over the price and availability of oil in the world

31. 1973: the US supported Israel in the October War (Yom Kippur War) • Since the US was helping Israel, OPEC placed an embargo on oil to the US • Caused a shortage of gasoline and oil products in the US • Pres. Jimmy Carter and Congress began passing laws to help with the conservation of oil and gas • Regulations on fuel consumption for automobiles, etc. • The embargo was lifted in 1974

33. PLO: • Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) • After WWII, the Allies created the Jewish state of Israel • Many Palestinian Muslims lived in Israel and were opposed to the creation of the Jewish nation • The PLO wanted to create an independent state (nation) of Palestine, separate from Jewish Israel

34. Camp David Accords (Pres. Jimmy Carter): • Egypt and Israel were bitter enemies • They had fought 4 major wars with each other up until 1973 • 1978: the president of Egypt—Anwar al-Sadat– announced he wanted to make peace • Pres. Carter of the US saw an opportunity to make peace between Egypt and Israel • 1979: at Camp David the Egyptian President and Israeli Prime Minister signed the Camp David Accords • Established a peace between Israel and Egypt

36. Persian Gulf War : • 1990: Iraq invaded Kuwait • Iraq took over vital oil fields in Kuwait • The US will send the US military to free Kuwait and the oil fields from Iraqi control • 28 nations joined in to help the US • Kuwait was quickly freed, but the Iraqi leader will escape capture

37. Politics and Economics • Conservatives (Republicans): • Believe in cuts in government spending • Reduced government regulation of business • Tax cuts for the wealthy • Reduction in the number and scope of government programs and regulations

38. Liberals (Democrats): • believe in increased government spending • Increased government regulation of business • Favor a greater role for the government in addressing social problems • Using government money to help address social problems • Tax increases on the wealthy

39. Government and Money: • Government promotes a healthy economy characterized by full employment and low inflation through the actions of: • Monetary policy decisions control the supply of money and credit to expand or contract economic growth—controlled by the Federal Reserve • Fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection (taxation) to influence the economy—controlled by the President and Congress

40. Reaganomics (“Regan Revolution”): • Refers to the economic policies promoted by Pres Ronald Reagan during the 1980s • Shrink down the size of the Federal Government • Reduce Growth of Government spending • Tax Cuts • Reduce Government regulation • Control the money supply to reduce inflation • Strengthening the military to put pressure on the Soviets to end the Cold War • Appointment of judges who exercised “judicial restraint”—let the constitution speak for itself • Transfer the responsibility of government back to the state governments

41. Reagan advocated supply-side economics • Also called trickle-down economics • Tax cuts at the top will allow money to trickle down to the people • The Regan Revolution will extend past his office

42. Important Supreme Court Decisions • Three Supreme Court decisions from the 1960s dealt with a person’s right to legal Counsel • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): • Established that people accused of a crime have the right to a lawyer, even if they cannot afford one • Escobedo v. Illinois (1964): • A person has the right to a lawyer from the time of arrest or when one becomes the subject of a criminal investigation • Miranda v. Arizona (1966): • Required that accused people be informed of their right to a lawyer and their right not to testify against themselves

43. Miranda Rights Video

44. Engle v. Vitale (1962): • This court case dealt with religion in schools • Said that school initiated prayer was unconstitutional • Student initiated prayer are still allowed, however

45. Watergate Scandal • 1969: Pres. Nixon took office • The White House had lots of power • Presidents will use their power to get things done • Nixon will just go too far • Nixon had an inner circle of men that held lots of power, but made Nixon isolated

46. 1971: a list of enemies was put together for Nixon • Over 200 names were on the list • Nixon asked the FBI to spy on the people on his list • Nixon was afraid that the anti-Vietnam movement might undo his presidency • Nixon ordered his “secret police” to open people’s mail and tap their phones • They would also break into homes and offices to search for information

47. CREEP: • In 1972, Nixon was up for re-election • To ensure a victory, Nixon put John Mitchell in charge of his campaign • Mitchell created the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) • Mitchell launched a massive illegal fund raising campaign • Raised $60 million • Much of the money was used to pay for “dirty tricks” against the Democratic party

48. Plumbers: • Nixon was afraid that the media would expose his illegal campaign activities • CREEP created a special investigations group called the Plumbers • Plumbers were to keep security leaks from happening • Jan `971: G. Gordon Liddy (a CREEP Plumber) devised a plan to break into the Democratic National Committee headquarters • They were to copy documents and wiretap phones • Would allow Nixon to keep tabs on the Democrats election strategies

49. G. Gordon Liddy

50. June 17, 1972: CREEP members broke into the Democratic headquarters at the Watergate complex • The plan did not go well • 2 reporters were told of the break in at the Watergate complex • Bob Woodward • Carl Bernstein • The 2 reporters began to investigate the break in