USA 1970s-USSR fall

Nixon “Real Politicks” Strategy

focused on American economic advantages, focused on reducing the dangers of the Cold War among the Soviet Union and China

• sought to deescalate US relationship with both USSR and China

• Real politicks: the approach of conducting diplomatic or political policies based primarily on factors and circumstances

• practical objectives rather than ideals

Nixon’s Southern Strategy

he appealed to the Southern mindset and discrimination

• ends attempts to appeal to African American voters and instead appealing to white conservative voters in the South

Nixon’s foreign policies

• Ping Pong Diplomacy

• SALT I and Detente

• Realpolitiks

Nixon’s domestic policies

• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

• Title IV

• Tribal Self-Determination

• Southern Strategy

• 26th Amendment

Executive Privilege role in Watergate Scandal

Nixon claimed executive privilege and refused to surrender the White House tapes

• “i’m president and dont have to give classified info“

• he eventually released some of the tapes

• the authority of the President to withhold documents or information in his possession or in the possession of the Executive Branch from the Legislative or Judicial Branch of the government

What factors played into the economic crisis of 1970’s

• economy stagnant

• decrease in GDP

• unemployment rises

• corporate earnings decreased

• inflation increased

• interest rates increased

• oil crisis

What took place at Camp David Accords

Carter brings Egyptian leader Anwar el Sadat and Israeli leader and Menachem Begin to the US for Camp David Accords

• successful (but it deteriorated after time)

• Egypt was ready to recognize Israel in exchange for Sinai Peninsula

Area of world greatly involved in US foreign policy (not USSR)

Middle East: Israel, Egypt

Series of events led to Reagan being elected

• by 1980, USA seemed to be losing its place as top nation

• 1970’s presented failures in the Cold War and new problems in Middle East

• social protests and counterculture divided liberals and conservatives

• Stagflation and economic recession worsened, not improved

• failures of Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter left citizens in search of optimism, strong leadership, and conservative policies

What was main criticism of supply side economics

• tax cuts and savings go in at the top

• historically, upper classes DO NOT spend or invest (like they were supposed to)

What happened as result of war on drugs

• increased jailed (for nonviolence)

• targeted minorities (jailed for crack cocaine)

• didn’t decrease drug use

• Carceral State

How did Reagan administration challenge the USSR

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

• US spent trillions on the military and defense

• forces USSR to spend $ they don’t have

Reykjavik Summit

• arms limitation between US and USSR (leave with no agreement)

• leads to INF treaty (limits creation of weapons)

Mujahedeen

• US supports/if we have to go to war, we will

• last 10y and end in USSR lost