Module 11: Change in the 70s

What are levels of scrutiny in the Supreme Court?

• Rational Review: “Rationally related to a legitimate state interest”

• Intermediate Scrutiny": requires an “important state purpose”… Gender

• Strict Scrutiny: requires a “compelling state interest”… Race, National Origin, Religion, Fundamental Rights

What did the Korematsu v US: Majority Opinion do?

“It should be noted, to begin with, that all legal restrictions which curtail the civil rights of a single racial group are immediately suspect. That is not to say that such restrictions are unconstitutional. It is to say that courts must subject them to most rigid scrutiny. Pressing public necessity may sometimes justify the existence of such restrictions; racial antagonism never can.”

Conclusion: “Korematsu was not excluded from the Military area because of his race, he was excluded because we are at war with the Japanese Empire.”

He was questioning the Japanese Internment camps but because of strict scrutiny it was constitutional.

What was the key ideas of Loving v. Virginia?

Mainly questioning if banning interracial marriages was constitutional. Questioning if it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The State of Virginia said that it was equal because it was the same law for both whites and blacks, but the conclusion was "the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State."

What is the Right to Privacy and what court cases does it connect to?

This is connected to Roe v. Wade, which established a legal framework that guarenteed the right to abortion during certain parts of pregnancy. Also the court case Griswold v. Connecticut, arguing that a women should be able to choose to terminate her pregnancy. The right to privacy in this matter is determined by whether the privacy can be outweighed by the state interest, saying that in the beginning of the pregnancy, the fetus is not developed enough to outweigh the compelling state interest of a potential human.

What is the importance of Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Although Brown v. Board of Education outlawed segregation in schools, many school districts were still segregates due to neighborhoods. Because of this, Swann v. Charlotte said that school could use busing to bring in children outside of the neighborhood to actively remove segregation from schools.

How is free speech limited in schools?

Tinker v. Des Moines, students were protesting the Vietnam War at their school by wearing black arm bands, school banned this. The students got suspended because of this, parents brought this to the supreme court, they had to decide the level of free speech in schools. The case ruled in favor of the students, they said that it was a permissible form of protesting and brought no harm. The said that schools could only limit speech that harmed other students of faculty.

What was the political and cultural pushback against the 60s?

• Equal Rights Amendment: making the constitution apply to both men and women

  • Phyllis Schlafly and STOP ERA: she said that men and women are inherently different and that the constitution shouldn’t equally apply to them and that it would actually hurt women. One example saying that girls shouldn’t be drafted to war, also women being protected against harsh working conditions

  • This is why the Equal Rights Amendment was never passed

• Cultural change: Disco

  • night life, clubs, developing from the gay community

  • men didn’t like this because they believed that it was gay, so more masculine men pushed back against disco and the gay community

What key terms and ideas are present in All the Family?

The sitcom All in the Family includes several key terms and ideas that reflect major social issues in the early 1970s. One of the most important is the generational divide, shown through the conflict between Archie’s traditional views and the more progressive beliefs of Mike and Gloria. The show also highlights racism and prejudice, as Archie frequently expresses biased opinions, forcing viewers to confront how common these attitudes were in everyday life. Another key idea is social satire, since the show uses humor to criticize society and expose these issues rather than ignore them. Political division is also central, with Archie representing conservative, working-class perspectives and Mike representing more liberal viewpoints, reflecting real tensions during the Vietnam War era. Additionally, the show emphasizes changing social norms by addressing topics like gender roles and cultural diversity, showing how American society was evolving. Overall, the show introduced a new level of realism to television by portraying flawed characters and serious issues, making it both entertaining and socially impactful.

What were the changes in TV in the 60s?

The article shows that television in the early 1970s shifted from safe, idealized entertainment to more realistic and controversial programming. Before this period, TV shows typically avoided serious topics and portrayed perfect families with few conflicts. However, All in the Family broke this pattern by addressing real social issues such as racism, politics, and generational divides. The character Archie Bunker, who was openly prejudiced and opinionated, reflected attitudes that many Americans actually held, making him very different from earlier, idealized TV fathers. The show also mirrored the larger divisions in American society during the Vietnam War era, bringing the conflicts seen in real life onto television. Audience reactions further showed this shift, as some viewers were shocked while others related to Archie, sparking national conversations. Overall, the article demonstrates that television in the early 1970s became a platform for discussing important social issues rather than simply providing light entertainment.

How did the older and younger generations differ during the 1970s?

The older generation was Americans that dealt with problems but came out on top. The younger generation are Americans have good ideals but have problems that need fixing. Both generations lived through problems but they assess different issues, meaning that they have different concerns. Racial divisions, The Vietnam War, The environment, and Gender Equality.

How did Carter portray himself to the American People?

Carter portrayed himself as honest, humble, and different from previous presidents. He tried to appear like an “ordinary” American by:

• Walking to the White House instead of riding in a limousine

• Wearing simple clothing (like a cardigan sweater)

• Promising he would never lie to the American people

He also emphasized morality and integrity, wanting to lead by example rather than through power or political deals.

What was the energy crisis and how did Carter deal with it?

The energy crisis was caused by:

• Heavy U.S. dependence on foreign oil (especially from OPEC)

• Rising oil prices and shortages (like gas lines in 1979)

Carter responded by:

• Creating the Department of Energy

• Promoting energy conservation (using less fuel)

• Investing in renewable energy like solar and wind

• Regulating and later deregulating oil and gas prices

• Increasing domestic oil production and reserves

→ His policies actually reduced dependence on foreign oil, even though people didn’t give him much credit at the time.

What was the Malaise Speech and what was its impact?

The “malaise speech” was when Carter:

• Talked about a crisis of confidence in America

• Said Americans had lost faith in their country and future

• Blamed both leadership and the American people

→ Impact:

• It made Carter seem negative and out of touch

• His popularity dropped sharply

• Many people felt he was blaming them instead of fixing problems

This speech seriously hurt his presidency and public image.

What was the impact of the Iranian Hostage Crissi on Carter and the country as a whole?

Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days, it made Carter look like he could solve it, made him look ineffective. Americans just wondering why isn’t anything going right?

What happened with the energy crisis?

The gas prices went up and it also needed to be rationed. People waited for hours in line for gas.

What was the main reason why the Supreme Court created bussing changes in Swann v Charlotte-Mecklenburg?

• To create better educational opportunities for kids.

• To give students better access to educational resources.

• To actively integrate schools.

• To shorten students' transportation time.

• To actively integrate schools.

What standard of scrutiny does the Supreme Court apply to laws that classify individuals based on their race or national origin?

• Rational Review Scrutiny

• Intermediate Scrutiny

• Fundamental Rights Scrutiny

• Strict Scrutiny

• Strict Scrutiny

In 1979, disco records were blown up at a Major League Baseball game. What cultural change did this event connect to?

• A symbol of the growing popularity of rock music.

• A push back against the growth of football over Major League Baseball.

• A push back against the growing visibility of the gay community.

• A push back against the changes brought by the Civil Rights movement.

• A push back against the growing visibility of the gay community.

Which of the following best describes why Phyllis Schlafly opposed the Equal Rights Amendment?

• Schlafly believed that men and women were different and that the Amendment would hurt women.

• Schlafly thought that the Amendment would hurt men by taking away jobs.

• Schlafly believed that the Amendment was unclear.

• Schlafly did not think the Amendment was strict enough to fix gender inequality.

• Schlafly believed that men and women were different and that the Amendment would hurt women.

Which of the following describes Carter's politics?

• He had a big personality and expensive tastes.

• He was rooted in New England politics.

• He was rooted in Southern political circles.

• He was a reformer and a progressive.

• He was a reformer and a progressive.

Which of the was a policy success for Carter?

• Creating agreements with the Soviet Union

• Passing laws related to energy usage

• Combating stagflation

• Freeing the hostages in Iran

• Passing laws related to energy usage