US History Study Guide: 1970's decade Vocabulary

Modern US History - Mr. McGuire

Richard Nixon

failure as president, had to resign in disgrace, Watergate Scandal, some decent foreign policies

Gerald Ford

wasn't elected president as a vice president, chosen by Nixon, pardoned Nixon, decent president

Jimmy Carter

"I will never lie to you", Christian, had bad luck and had to deal with difficult problems, bad economy and Iranian Hostage Crisis

Henry Kissinger

famous diplomat, Triangular diplomacy, ended the Vietnam War, admired by some and hated by some

Spiro Agnew

Nixon's vice president who resigned before Nixon resigned, pleaded for no charges

Fall of Saigon

marked the end of the Vietnam War, South Vietnam was crushed and many fled to the United States

All-Volunteer Force

ended the draft, people in the military wanted to serve, no forced draft

1973 Oil Crisis

gas tripled, stopped selling US gas because we supported Israel

Stagflation

unemployment and inflation rates go up at the same time

Summit

meeting between top leaders each year, Soviet and US presidents

SALT treaties

strategic arms limitation talks treaty, suspended the building of nuclear weapons and put all sorts of limits on nuclear warfare, but both nations had a ridiculous amount of weapons

Triangular Diplomacy

Nixon's policy to ease the tensions between the two major Communist powers, China and the USSR, turn an enemy to an ally

Executive Privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security (Watergate Scandal)

Watergate Scandal

A break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate complex in Washington was carried out under the direction of White House employees. Disclosure of the White House involvement in the break-in and subsequent cover-up forced President Nixon to resign in 1974 to avoid impeachment.

OPEC

An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the production and sale of petroleum.

Panama Canal Treaty

Signed in 1977, it stated that Panama would gain control of the canal after 1999

Camp David Accords

A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt where Egypt agreed to recognize the nation state of Israel

Equal Rights Amendment

a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawing discrimination based on gender

Roe v. Wade

(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

Environmental Protection Agency

an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment

Three Mile Island

Nuclear Power Plant in Harrisburg, Penn. which failed, causing radiation to be admitted in the air, ended the building of nuclear power plants

Smog

fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants.

Affirmative Action

A policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities

Iranian Hostage Crisis

In 1979, Iranian fundamentalists seized the American embassy in Tehran and held fifty-three American diplomats hostage for over a year. The Iranian hostage crisis weaked the Carter presidency; the hostages were finally released on January 20, 1981, the day Ronald Reagan became president.

Disco

A late 1970s style incorporating elements of pop, salsa, funk and soaring vocals into a club-focused dance experience.