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Explore the complexities of the Stagflation era, the Supreme Court dynamics, Nixon's domestic policies, Watergate scandal, feminist victories and defeats, 1976 election, Carter's presidency, foreign policy, and economic challenges.
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Stalemated 70s Chapter 39
Stagflation • Causes : • More female and teen workers with less skills and less chance for wage advancement • Baby Boomers entering the work force, making jobs harder to find. • Aging of US factors and equipment • Competition from revitalized Europe and Japan start to dominate in Steel, electronics and automobiles, arenas that US had dominated.
Supreme Court • Supreme Court under fire from conservatives, and Nixon ran on the idea of appointing more conservative justices. • Warren Court handed down a number of cases regarding bill or rights that angered many conservative. • Griswold v. Connecticut. • Gideon v. Wainright • Miranda v. Arizona • New York Times v. Sullivan • Series of cases striking down school prayer and other religious activity in public schools.
Supreme Court • Nixon appoints four supreme court judges • Court grows more conservative, but still liberal overall. • Is Burger Court that decides Roe v. Wade in 1973 by a 7-2 margin.
Nixon the Progressive • Nixon had a liberal domestic agenda by today’s standards. • Expanded the benefits under Social Security • Indexed Social Security to inflation • Established the Environmental Protection • Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act. • Rachel Carson—Silent Spring. Country had become sensitive to effects of pollution. • Crying Indian Ad
Nixon on Civil Rights • Philadelphia Plan: established affirmative action in federal contracting. • This was controversial, as it appeared to be reverse discrimination to some • Election strategy in 1972—Southern Strategy. • Led him to oppose mandatory school busing, call for more conservative judges and soft pedal on affirmative action
Nixon Landslide Of 1972 • Foreign Policy and Vietnam dominated the election. • Democrats nominated South Dakota Senator George McGovern. • Vietnam was front and center. Reason • McGovern ran an unabashedly liberal campaign. • He tried to appeal to minorities, feminists, leftists and youth. Reason didn’t work? • Eagleton Problem • Kissinger announcement • Nixon wins 49 states.
Watergate • Watergate break-in • CREEP and dirty tricks • Woodward and Bernstein • VP Agnew resigns for separate reasons • Gerald Ford appointed VP
Watergate • John Dean • Nixon Tapes • Saturday Night Massacre • Archibald Cox • US v. Nixon • Nixon Resigns, 8/8/1974
Gerald Ford • Inherited problems • Inherent problems • Nixon Pardon • Reasons • Political Cost • Helsinki Accords
Feminist Victories • Feminists had many victories in 60s and 70s. • 1972 Congress passes Title IX. • Congress passes the Equal Right Amendment, and many states ratify. • Supreme Court strikes down sex discrimination the Equal Protection clause and in employment under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. • Roe v. Wade in 1973 is seen as a victory for feminism. • Woman start entering professional schools and the workforce in more than subservient roles.
Feminist Defeats • Is a backlash against feminism. • Many conservatives and Christian conservatives argue that Men are supposed to be head of household and that children are harmed by mothers who work. • Phyllis Schally • Feminists are accused of wanting to be “manish”. • Increasing divorce rate is blamed on feminism. • ERA fails when enough states don’t ratify • ERA necessary? • Feminists ultimately victorious in next generation.
1976 Election • Gerald Ford wins the Republican nomination after a tough battle from Ronald Reagan. • Reagan philosophy. • Jimmy Carter wins Democratic nomination • Former governor of Georgia • Dark Horse. • Carter’s campaign themes • Outsider • Honest • Born-Again. • Carter wins a narrow victory with 51% of the vote.
Carter as President • Carter has the benefit of strong majorities in House and Senate, but governs ineffectively • Reasons. • Carter also inherits a number of problems. • Stagflation • High energy prices • Post Vietnam, post Watergate, post 1960s loss of faith and direction. • Carter establishes the Department of Energy • Gives amnesty to draft dodgers who had gone to Canada.
Carter’s Foreign Policy • Carter shifts focus of American Foreign policy to Human Rights and democracy. • Camp David Accords: Carter’s biggest foreign policy success is the Camp David Accords. • Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli President Menachem Begin. • Relations with China. • Panama Canal • Rational • Criticism
Economics and Malaise • Stagflation, continued to beset the country during the Carter presidency. • Inflation was well above 13% in 1979 • Causes • Impacts on economy • Carter seems impotent to deal with these problems • Malaise Speech
Foreign Frustrations • Cubans in Africa • Salt II • Criticism of Détente • Iranian Revolution • Shah of Iran • Attitude of revolutionaries toward U.S.
Hostage Crisis • Shah admitted to US for medical reasons • U.S. embassy seized and hostages taken • U.S. few good options • Failed rescue attempt • Impact on American psyche
Afghanistan • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, December of 1979. • Soviets had long desired warm-water ports and greater influence over the Middle East and its oil. • Carter response • Carter threat • Olympic Boycott • Carter requires those over 18 to register for a draft, although no actual draft. • Afghanistan becomes the Soviet Viet Nam. • Long-term impact.