The Modern Era I (1969-2000)

1. The Modern Era I (1969-2000) Crisis and Resurgence

2. The Nixon Presidency (1969-1974) • The Authors of the Constitution attempted to strike a balance between the separate branch of government (Separation of Powers) • Great Depression & The New Deal • Both World Wars and the Cold War • Imperial Presidency: The belief that viewed the president as having too much power over time • Richard Nixon: The bombing of Cambodia and Laos, and the mining of North Vietnam

3. Domestic Policy • 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

4. First Amendment Rights • During Nixon’s presidency, the Supreme Court continued to protect First Amendment Rights • Tinker 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

5. Inflation • 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

6. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Foreign Policy • Re-opening relations with China (1972): Nixon restored diplomatic relations with Communist China • Nixon became the first American President to visit mainland China • Détente (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

10. Vice President Ford Takes Office • 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

11. The Watergate Crisis • 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 security • It came out that Nixon had recorded all of his own White House conversations • Nixon claimed Executive Privilege to the tapes • United States v Nixon (1974), ruled that Nixon must turn over the tapes, reaffirming the principle that no one is above the law

13. Nixon Resigns • 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 “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.”

14. THE IMPACT OF WATERGATE

15. 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 inflation • In 1973, the Arab nations of OPEC used oil as a political weapon – the price of oil shot up • This influenced the cost of heating a home, the prices of food, electricity, and gasoline

16. The Helsinki Accords • 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

17. 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

18. CARTER’S DOMESTIC POLICY

19. Foreign Policy • 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 1948 • Egypt and Israel fought one another in a series of wars • 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 • Egypt offered a peace treaty and the establishment of normal diplomatic relations with Israel

20. Foreign Policy Cont. • Carter initially continued Carter’s policy of détente with the Soviet Union • In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan • Carter halted grain sales to the Soviets, boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and postponed ratification of anew arms control agreement, known as SALT II

21. The Iranian Revolution and Hostage Crisis • 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 • October 1979, the Shah entered the U.S. for medical treatment and students seized the staff of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran • Hostages wouldn’t be released until Carter left office

23. Presidents (1969-1978)

24. The New Conservatism: The Reagan and Bush Presidencies • 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

25. The Reagan Presidency (1981-1989) • Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood Actor and Governor of California • George H.W. Bush was his running mate

26. Roots of the New Conservatism • 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

27. Domestic Policy Reaganomics

28. 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 inflation • The 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

29. Sandra Day O’Connor • 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”

30. Foreign Policy • The Reagan Doctrine: the US would not simply confine to the containment of Communism but also “roll-back” Communism through aid and “freedom fighters” • “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

31. Terrorism • 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

32. The Triumph of Democracy • Mikhail Gorbachev became head of the Communist Party in 1985 • 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

33. The George H.W. Bush Presidency (1989-1993) Domestic Policy Foreign Policy • Defense Spending • Supreme Court Appointments • The Recession – Rust Belt decrease • Civil Rights – Rodney King • American 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

34. The Clinton Presidency (1993-2001) Domestic Policy Foreign Policy • Health Care • Economic Recovery • The 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

35. Impeachment and Scandal • Impeachment requires a trial and conviction by Senate, a majority vote in the House of Representatives, and a two-thirds vote in the Sneate • He was impeached for committing perjury (lying under oath) • This again caused Americans to question their government leaders

36. Achieving the American Dream • 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