Week 13 - Modern U.S. History

“Law and Order”

who: richard nixon

what: nixon’s campaign promise to restore order amid 1960s protests and crime

when: 1968 election and presidency

where: u.s. (especially cities)

significance: appealed to conservative voters disturbed by social unrest; paved the way for tough-on-crime policies

The “Silent Majority”

who: nixon coined the term

what: americans who did not publicly protest but supported traditional values and the vietnam war

when: 1969

where: u.s. heartland and suburbs

significance: helped nixon win support and reframe opposition to protests and liberal movements

The election of 1968

who: nixon (R), humphrey (D), and wallance (independent)

what: a divisive presidential election

when: 1968

where: u.s.

significance: marked a conservative shift, with nixon appealing to those tired of unrest; wallace’s campaign highlighted racial tensions

Boston busing crisis

who: black and white communities, federal courts

what: protests over forced busing to integrate schools

when: mid-1970s

where: boston, ma

significance: exposed racial tensions in the north; resistance to desegregation outside the south

nixon doctrine

who: nixon

what: u.s. would support allies but not send troops for every conflict

when: 1969

where: global (especially vietnam)

significance: signaled u.s. retreat from interventionist foreign policy post-vietnam

Detente

who: nixon, kissinger, ussr, china

what: policy of easing cold war tensions

when: 1970s

where: u.s., soviet union, china

significance: led to major agreements like SALT and improved diplomatic relations

SALT I (1972)

who: nixon and brezhnev

what: strategic arms limitation treaty

when: 1972

where: u.s. ussr

significance: first major arms control agreement of the cold war; part of detente

the pentagon papers

who: daniel ellsberg, ny times

what: leaked documents showing u.s. deception in vietnam

when: released 1971

where: u.s.

significance: shattered public trust in government, boosted antiwar movement

watergate scandal

who: nixon, white house staff

what: break-in and cover-up at DNC-HQ

when: 1972-1974

where: washington, D.C.

significance: led to nixon’s resignation; major political scandal that eroded public trust

the rust belt and the sun belt

who: american workers, industries

what: economic decline in rust belt; growth in sun belt

when: 1970s-80s

where: northeast/midwest vs. south/west

significance: shifted political power and population; rise of suburban conservatism

stagflation

who: u.s. economy

what: high inflation + high unemployment

when: 1970s

where: u.s.

significance: challenged keynesian economics; led to conservative economic reforms

“crisis of confidence”

who: president jimmy carter

what: speech addressing national malaise

when: 1979

where: u.s.

significance: meant to inspire, but seen as defeatist; hurt carter’s popularity

iran hostage crisis

who: iranian students, u.s. embassy staff

when: 52 americans held hostage

when: 1979-1981

where: tehran, iran

significance: symbolized u.s. weakness; key factor in carter’s election loss

“white backlash”

who: white working/middle class

what: resistance to civil rights and liberalism

when: 1960s-1980s

where: nationwide

significance: helped conservative politicians win elections, esp. nixon and reagan

jerry falwell and the moral majority

who: televangelist falwell

what: conservative christian group

when: founded 1979

where: u.s.

significance: major force in new right; helped elect reagan

reaganomics

who: ronald reagan

what: supply-side economic policies (tax cuts, deregulation)

when: 1980s

where: u.s.

significance: sparked economic growth and debt; reshaped economic thought

war on drugs

who: nixon (started), reagan (expanded)

what: government crackdown on drug use

when: 1970s-1980s

where: u.s.

significance: increased incarceration disproportionately impacted minorities

HIV/AIDS crisis

who: lgbtq+ community, health officials

what: deadly epidemic with slow government response

when: 1980s

where: u.s. especially urban centers

significance: exposed societal biases; led to activism and changes in healthcare

primary source: nixon announcement of china visit (1971)

speaker: president nixon

date: july 15, 1971

event: announces upcoming visit to china after secret talks via henry kissinger

goal: normalize u.s.-china relations, promote global peace

message: this step is not anti-ally, but pro-peace

major moment in detente (easing cold war tensions)

reflects nixon doctrine - less military force, more diplomacy

unexpected move by a known anti-communist

helped shift global power dynamics and pressured the ussr

primary source: phyllis schlafly on women’s responsibility for sexual harassment (1981)

speaker: phhyllis schlafly, conservative activist and president of eagle forum

date: 1981, during congressional testimony

main point: argues that non-criminal sexual harassment is exaggerated and largely the result of women’s behavior or cultural changes

viewpoint: believes “virtuous” women rarely face harassment, criticizes feminism, and opposes women in the military or male-dominated workplaces

cultural context: testified amid debates over women’s rights and the equal rights amendment (ERA)

reflects: the rise of the new right and religious right, promoting traditional gender roles

opposition to era: schlafly’s stance helped defeat the equal rights amendment

backlash to feminism: represents the “white backlash” and conservative reaction against 1970s social changes

cultural divide: illustrates growing tensions over gender equality, workplace rights, and moral values in 1980s america