Chapter 39: The Stalemated Seventies
Identifications
Spiro Agnew
The VP of Nixon during the Nixon presidency. He was known to be involved in a variety of scandals, and eventually resigning.
Henry Kissinger
Adviser of National Security. Secretly met with North Vietnamese officials in Paris to try to end the war.
Earl Warren
Chief Justice that was known for the liberal shift. Griswold v Connecticut and Gideon v Wainwright were some of his famous cases.
Warren Burger
quickly nominated, accepted, and became the Chief Justice through Nixon.
George McGovern
Democratic nominee for the 1972 presidential election. He amassed much support from young adults and women.
John Dean
White House Lawyer who accused Nixon of a cover up over the entire Watergate scandal.
Shah of Iran
Caused President Carter many problems when he was ousted in 1979 by Islamic fundamentalists.
Ayatollah Khomeini
The Iranian religious leader and politician of the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which the Shah of Iran was overthrown.
Détente
Political tactic that was implemented in order to ease political tensions between the USSR and the US under President Nixon.
Vietnamization
Nixon's idea that the US would pull out of the Vietnam war, but the Vietnamese would have to deal with smaller numbers and less equipment.
Nixon Doctrine
Very closely related to Vietnamization in which the US would pull out of the war.
My Lai massacre
When US troops killed, pillaged, and raped the My Lai village.
Kent State Killings
several people died when protests at Kent State University got out of hand.
Pentagon Papers
Secret papers that was evidence that proved several slip ups by JFK and LBJ.
S.A.L.T
Agreement made between the USSR and the US in order to limit the number of nuclear weapons.
Watergate Scandal
Involved Nixon and a few of his spies that were trying to steal Democratic information from the Watergate Hotel where the Democrats were stationed.
C.R.E.E.P
The Committee to Reelect the President. Heavily involved int he wAtergate Scandal.
War Powers Act
Passed in 1973, it revoked the blank check capabilities of the Tonkin Gulf Initiative.
OPEC
Constantly raised oil prices due to the US's involvement with Israel.
Iran Hostage Crisis
When 52 American diplomats were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Teheran during Carter's presidency.
Guided Reading Questions
Sources of Stagnation
Know: Productivity, Inflation
1. Describe the economic problems faced by the United States in the 1970s.
Though there was an economic prosperity in the 50s and 60s, the 70s did not follow suit. As women and young people entered the job market, temporary jobs increased and there was inflation caused by increased oil prices.
Nixon "Vietnamizes" the War
Know: Liberal Establishment, Vietnamization, Silent Majority, Nattering Nabobs of Negativism, My Lai
2. What was President Nixon’s plan for getting the US out of Vietnam?
The Nixon Doctrine said that the US would turn the war over to the Viets, but the Vietnamese would have to do without large US numbers and support. The Silent majority were those who supported the war but not the sound of fury of protests.
Nixon's Detente with Beijing (Peking) and Moscow
Know: Henry Kissinger, Détente, ABM Treaty, SALT Treaty, MIRVs
4. What was the “China Card,” and how did Nixon use it?
While China and the USSR were arguing over communism, Henry Kissinger secretly met with North Vietnamese officials in Paris. Multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles, or MIRVs were where several nuclear weapons were mounted on a single missile.
A New Team on the Supreme Bench
Know: Judicial Activism, Miranda, Engel v. Vitale, Warren Berger, Roe v. Wade
5. Why was Nixon unhappy with the Supreme Court?
Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the time, directed the Supreme Court that made a shift toward liberalism. This frustrated Nixon. Gideon v Wainwright in 1963 established that all defendants had the right to a lawyer. The Escobedo v Miranda cases in 1966 established the famous Miranda rights.
Nixon on the Home Front
Know: Aid the Families with Dependent Children, Reverse Discrimination, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Silent Spring, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Southern Strategy
6 How conservative was President Nixon? Explain.
Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring (which discussed the harmful effects of the DDT pesticide), was the godfather of the modern environmental movement. The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA was formed in 1970 to established safety standards and to protect the environment.
The Nixon Landslide of 1972
Know: George McGovern
7. How did the situation in Vietnam help Nixon win a landslide in the 1972 election?
Geroge McGovern was the presidential Democratic nominee in the election of 1972. He promised to end the war within 90 days. He gained much support from young adults and women, but when his VP candidate Thomas Eagleton received treatment, his campaign was hurt. While Nixon promised peace with honor, he didnt follow through.
The Secret Bombing of Cambodia and the War Powers Act
Know: Pol Pot, War Powers Act
8. What did Cambodia have to do with the War Powers Act?
When people of the US learned about all of the secret bombings that the government was conducting, many people started to discredit the government. Pol Pot, a tyrant, killed many of his own people. The War Powers Act of 1973 revoked the blank check privileges that the Tonkin Gulf Resolution established and established rules of their own.
The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
Know: OPEC
10. Explain the cause and effects of the Arab Oil Embargo.
The Arab nations were upset due to their loss in the Six Day War with Israel. Because the US helped out Israel, the Arabs were not pleased, so they set up an embargo on oil. This embargo caused gas prices in the US to increase dramatically. This set a few things in motion like the 55MPH, the Alaskan pipeline, and an increase in demand of coal and nuclear energy.
Watergate and the Unmaking of a President
Know: Watergate, CREEP, Enemies List, Plumbers, John Dean, Executive Privilege, Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford, Saturday Night Massacre
11. Of what wrongdoing was the Nixon administration guilty?
The Watergate hotel was where the Democrats had their headquarters based. Nixon, being the paranoid polly that he was, decided to do some spy work on their headquarters. John Dean accused Nixon of such sly dealings and accused Nixon of sabotaging the Democrats. Eventually, Nixon was convicted of meddling with the Democratic affairs and rather than being impeached, he decided to resign.
The First Unelected President
12. Did President do the right thing when he pardoned Nixon? Explain.
In my opinion, President Gerald Ford did do the right thing when he pardoned Nixon. Although Nixon deserved to go to jail and be punished, the whole Watergate Scandal was just too much of a burden on President Ford. He wanted to actually do something during his presidency, but the Watergate was just holding him back.
Defeat in Vietnam
13. What was the cost (not in just money) of the Vietnam War?
The cost of the Vietnam War was not only a monetary cost, but emotional as well. Many of the people of the US lost faith in the government during those tough times, but despite the government's best efforts, it was not enough. In addition, the troops of the Vietnam War could never return to their old lives again. They were branded as baby killers and monsters, with many of them suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Feminist Victories and Defeats
Know: Title IX, ERA, Roe v. Wade
15. Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail?
The Title IX of 1972 prohibited discrimination amongst the sexes in any educational program that was funded federally. It led to an increase in girls' sports in equality to boys' sports. Roe v Wade in 1973 was the famous Supreme Court case that allowed abortion to be legal/ the Equal Rights Movement in 1972 stated that gender couldn't deny equal rights.
The Seventies in Black and White
Know: Desegregation, white flight, affirmative action, United States v. Wheeler
17. Explain the significance of the Bakke case.
Desegregation was the practice of integrating both colored and whites in communities. In the famous Milliken v Bradley case, the Supreme Court ruled that officials couldn't force students to cross district lines. The famous Bakke Case of 1978 stated that the admission process in colleges couldn't be race specific.
The Bicentennial Campaign and the Carter Victory
Know: Jimmy Carter
18. Why did Jimmy Carter win the presidency in 1976?
The 60's and early 70's were full of scandal and controversy. The year of 1976 marked the bicentennial celebration and it was the year that Jimmy Carter was elected into office. He campaigned that he was a Washington outsider and was therefore not influenced by the corruption prior to his running.
Carter's Humanitarian Diplomacy
Know: Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, Camp David Accords
20. Describe Carter's foreign policy achievements.
Jimmy Carter was a very pious man who upheld his staunch Christian beliefs. One of his most famous accomplishments was bringing the Egyptian presiden Anwar Sadat and the Israeli president Menachem Begin to meet at Camp David and reach an agreement that would end the Six Day War conflicts.
Economic and Energy Woes
Know: Shah of Iran
21. How did Carter react to the renewed energy crisis?
Though there was great economic prosperity in the 50s and 60s, the 70s saw a decline in economic growth. The economy was seeing inflation and a decrease in wages, which was known to be stagnation. When the Muslim government took over the oil fields, oil prices went up yet again. Carter then scolded America for its dependence on oil and its reliance on materials.
Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Imbroglio
Know: Leonid Brezhnev, SALT II, Ayatollah Khomeini, Afghanistan, Hostage Crisis
22. What foreign policy problems plagued the second half of Carter's presidency?
Carter met with the USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and they agreed to disarm their nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Muslim radicals stormed the US embassy in Teheran and took 52 Americans hostage. The rest of Carter's presidency was plagued with the grave fact that 52 American lives were in the mercy of the Muslims.
Spiro Agnew
The VP of Nixon during the Nixon presidency. He was known to be involved in a variety of scandals, and eventually resigning.
Henry Kissinger
Adviser of National Security. Secretly met with North Vietnamese officials in Paris to try to end the war.
Earl Warren
Chief Justice that was known for the liberal shift. Griswold v Connecticut and Gideon v Wainwright were some of his famous cases.
Warren Burger
quickly nominated, accepted, and became the Chief Justice through Nixon.
George McGovern
Democratic nominee for the 1972 presidential election. He amassed much support from young adults and women.
John Dean
White House Lawyer who accused Nixon of a cover up over the entire Watergate scandal.
Shah of Iran
Caused President Carter many problems when he was ousted in 1979 by Islamic fundamentalists.
Ayatollah Khomeini
The Iranian religious leader and politician of the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which the Shah of Iran was overthrown.
Détente
Political tactic that was implemented in order to ease political tensions between the USSR and the US under President Nixon.
Vietnamization
Nixon's idea that the US would pull out of the Vietnam war, but the Vietnamese would have to deal with smaller numbers and less equipment.
Nixon Doctrine
Very closely related to Vietnamization in which the US would pull out of the war.
My Lai massacre
When US troops killed, pillaged, and raped the My Lai village.
Kent State Killings
several people died when protests at Kent State University got out of hand.
Pentagon Papers
Secret papers that was evidence that proved several slip ups by JFK and LBJ.
S.A.L.T
Agreement made between the USSR and the US in order to limit the number of nuclear weapons.
Watergate Scandal
Involved Nixon and a few of his spies that were trying to steal Democratic information from the Watergate Hotel where the Democrats were stationed.
C.R.E.E.P
The Committee to Reelect the President. Heavily involved int he wAtergate Scandal.
War Powers Act
Passed in 1973, it revoked the blank check capabilities of the Tonkin Gulf Initiative.
OPEC
Constantly raised oil prices due to the US's involvement with Israel.
Iran Hostage Crisis
When 52 American diplomats were taken hostage at the US Embassy in Teheran during Carter's presidency.
Guided Reading Questions
Sources of Stagnation
Know: Productivity, Inflation
1. Describe the economic problems faced by the United States in the 1970s.
Though there was an economic prosperity in the 50s and 60s, the 70s did not follow suit. As women and young people entered the job market, temporary jobs increased and there was inflation caused by increased oil prices.
Nixon "Vietnamizes" the War
Know: Liberal Establishment, Vietnamization, Silent Majority, Nattering Nabobs of Negativism, My Lai
2. What was President Nixon’s plan for getting the US out of Vietnam?
The Nixon Doctrine said that the US would turn the war over to the Viets, but the Vietnamese would have to do without large US numbers and support. The Silent majority were those who supported the war but not the sound of fury of protests.
Nixon's Detente with Beijing (Peking) and Moscow
Know: Henry Kissinger, Détente, ABM Treaty, SALT Treaty, MIRVs
4. What was the “China Card,” and how did Nixon use it?
While China and the USSR were arguing over communism, Henry Kissinger secretly met with North Vietnamese officials in Paris. Multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles, or MIRVs were where several nuclear weapons were mounted on a single missile.
A New Team on the Supreme Bench
Know: Judicial Activism, Miranda, Engel v. Vitale, Warren Berger, Roe v. Wade
5. Why was Nixon unhappy with the Supreme Court?
Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the time, directed the Supreme Court that made a shift toward liberalism. This frustrated Nixon. Gideon v Wainwright in 1963 established that all defendants had the right to a lawyer. The Escobedo v Miranda cases in 1966 established the famous Miranda rights.
Nixon on the Home Front
Know: Aid the Families with Dependent Children, Reverse Discrimination, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Silent Spring, Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, Southern Strategy
6 How conservative was President Nixon? Explain.
Rachel Carson, the author of Silent Spring (which discussed the harmful effects of the DDT pesticide), was the godfather of the modern environmental movement. The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA was formed in 1970 to established safety standards and to protect the environment.
The Nixon Landslide of 1972
Know: George McGovern
7. How did the situation in Vietnam help Nixon win a landslide in the 1972 election?
Geroge McGovern was the presidential Democratic nominee in the election of 1972. He promised to end the war within 90 days. He gained much support from young adults and women, but when his VP candidate Thomas Eagleton received treatment, his campaign was hurt. While Nixon promised peace with honor, he didnt follow through.
The Secret Bombing of Cambodia and the War Powers Act
Know: Pol Pot, War Powers Act
8. What did Cambodia have to do with the War Powers Act?
When people of the US learned about all of the secret bombings that the government was conducting, many people started to discredit the government. Pol Pot, a tyrant, killed many of his own people. The War Powers Act of 1973 revoked the blank check privileges that the Tonkin Gulf Resolution established and established rules of their own.
The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis
Know: OPEC
10. Explain the cause and effects of the Arab Oil Embargo.
The Arab nations were upset due to their loss in the Six Day War with Israel. Because the US helped out Israel, the Arabs were not pleased, so they set up an embargo on oil. This embargo caused gas prices in the US to increase dramatically. This set a few things in motion like the 55MPH, the Alaskan pipeline, and an increase in demand of coal and nuclear energy.
Watergate and the Unmaking of a President
Know: Watergate, CREEP, Enemies List, Plumbers, John Dean, Executive Privilege, Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford, Saturday Night Massacre
11. Of what wrongdoing was the Nixon administration guilty?
The Watergate hotel was where the Democrats had their headquarters based. Nixon, being the paranoid polly that he was, decided to do some spy work on their headquarters. John Dean accused Nixon of such sly dealings and accused Nixon of sabotaging the Democrats. Eventually, Nixon was convicted of meddling with the Democratic affairs and rather than being impeached, he decided to resign.
The First Unelected President
12. Did President do the right thing when he pardoned Nixon? Explain.
In my opinion, President Gerald Ford did do the right thing when he pardoned Nixon. Although Nixon deserved to go to jail and be punished, the whole Watergate Scandal was just too much of a burden on President Ford. He wanted to actually do something during his presidency, but the Watergate was just holding him back.
Defeat in Vietnam
13. What was the cost (not in just money) of the Vietnam War?
The cost of the Vietnam War was not only a monetary cost, but emotional as well. Many of the people of the US lost faith in the government during those tough times, but despite the government's best efforts, it was not enough. In addition, the troops of the Vietnam War could never return to their old lives again. They were branded as baby killers and monsters, with many of them suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Feminist Victories and Defeats
Know: Title IX, ERA, Roe v. Wade
15. Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail?
The Title IX of 1972 prohibited discrimination amongst the sexes in any educational program that was funded federally. It led to an increase in girls' sports in equality to boys' sports. Roe v Wade in 1973 was the famous Supreme Court case that allowed abortion to be legal/ the Equal Rights Movement in 1972 stated that gender couldn't deny equal rights.
The Seventies in Black and White
Know: Desegregation, white flight, affirmative action, United States v. Wheeler
17. Explain the significance of the Bakke case.
Desegregation was the practice of integrating both colored and whites in communities. In the famous Milliken v Bradley case, the Supreme Court ruled that officials couldn't force students to cross district lines. The famous Bakke Case of 1978 stated that the admission process in colleges couldn't be race specific.
The Bicentennial Campaign and the Carter Victory
Know: Jimmy Carter
18. Why did Jimmy Carter win the presidency in 1976?
The 60's and early 70's were full of scandal and controversy. The year of 1976 marked the bicentennial celebration and it was the year that Jimmy Carter was elected into office. He campaigned that he was a Washington outsider and was therefore not influenced by the corruption prior to his running.
Carter's Humanitarian Diplomacy
Know: Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin, Camp David Accords
20. Describe Carter's foreign policy achievements.
Jimmy Carter was a very pious man who upheld his staunch Christian beliefs. One of his most famous accomplishments was bringing the Egyptian presiden Anwar Sadat and the Israeli president Menachem Begin to meet at Camp David and reach an agreement that would end the Six Day War conflicts.
Economic and Energy Woes
Know: Shah of Iran
21. How did Carter react to the renewed energy crisis?
Though there was great economic prosperity in the 50s and 60s, the 70s saw a decline in economic growth. The economy was seeing inflation and a decrease in wages, which was known to be stagnation. When the Muslim government took over the oil fields, oil prices went up yet again. Carter then scolded America for its dependence on oil and its reliance on materials.
Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Imbroglio
Know: Leonid Brezhnev, SALT II, Ayatollah Khomeini, Afghanistan, Hostage Crisis
22. What foreign policy problems plagued the second half of Carter's presidency?
Carter met with the USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and they agreed to disarm their nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Muslim radicals stormed the US embassy in Teheran and took 52 Americans hostage. The rest of Carter's presidency was plagued with the grave fact that 52 American lives were in the mercy of the Muslims.