HUSH2 The 70's - President Jimmy Carter

Personal Background

• Navy veteran, peanut farmer, Governor of Georgia

• Born-again Christian, outsider to Washington

The 1976 election

• VP: Walter Mondale

• Wins 49.9% to 47.9% over Ford, 297-240

• Less than 54% of eligible bothered to vote (post-Watergate apathy?)

Why were the mid 70s such a depressing period in American history?

• we just lost a war, Nixon was impeached, for was appointed not elected

• people did not have faith in the government

Why were the 1970’s called the me decade?

• people started going to therapy for self improvement

• a lot of looking inward

How was the American family affected by these changes in american society?

• women were abandoning their families for jobs

• traditional family roles were adjusting

• the american dream was different

• women were gaining more rights and roles in society

Hows was Carters inauguration unique?

• was unique for its focus on simplicity, informality, and public access, breaking from imperial traditions

Describe the winter of 1977 in the u.s

• it was the coldest winter in 40 years

• so much snow

The economic misery continues

• In the hopes of reducing inflation, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volcker, increased interest rates to 20%, which led to a slowdown in the automobile and housing industries.  

• Carter deregulated the airline, trucking, rail, and communications industries to stimulate economic growth.

• Inflation reached 13% in 1980; driven by a 2^nd OPEC second oil embargo against the U.S. in 1979.

• “Taxpayers’ revolts” spread across the country. 

• Carter eventually reduced unemployment from 7% to 5% in part by raising public works spending.

How did the american auto industry change in the late 1970s? What new challenges did they face?

• 8-10 miles per gallon

• foreign cars were developing and they became a huge threat to american auto companies

What was Love Canal?

• Love Canal was a Niagara Falls, New York, neighborhood that became a notorious environmental disaster in the late 1970s. Roughly 22,000 tons of toxic chemical waste, buried by the Hooker Chemical Company between 1942 and 1953, leaked into residential homes, schools, and playgrounds. The resulting health crises, including high rates of cancer and birth defects, ignited a massive community protest and catalyzed the establishment of the federal Superfund program

Explain how school integration was brought about in Boston MA. How did people in Boston react to this?

• mandated busing to desegregate public schools after a decade of legal struggles by Black families against a segregated, unequal system.

• The plan sparked intense backlash, including massive violent protests, school boycotts, and attacks on buses, particularly in white neighborhoods

Who was Dan White, and what did he do on November 27, 1978?

• he assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk at San Francisco City Hall after his request to be reappointed to the board was denied

• The "Twinkie Defense, defense lawyers claimed White suffered from diminished capacity due to depression, citing a change in diet to high-sugar junk food - conviction of voluntary manslaughter than murder

• White Night Riots - thousands rioted in the Castro District, marching on City Hall in what became known as the White Night riots

What impact did the problems of the 1970’s have on many religious people?

including the sexual revolution, legalization of abortion, and social upheaval—led many religious people, particularly evangelicals, to become more politically active and socially conservative

• era fueled a "back to basics" movement, strengthening conservative, born-again, and evangelical groups, while mainstream denominations faced declining attendance and liberal struggles

Domestic Affairs

• Department of Energy was created in 1977 to develop new alternative energy plans (solar, wind, nuclear).

• Expanded national parks and protected over 100 million acres of land in Alaska (Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 1980).

• Pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders (1977)

• Increased minority and female representation in government; appointed Andrew Young as U.S. Ambassador to the UN, the first African American in that role.

• the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (also known as the Superfund law) was passed, creating a system to federally fund the clean-up of toxic waste sites

Foreign Affairs

• Carter emphasized “human rights;” spoke out against human rights violations in Soviet Union, withdrew military aid to countries that violated human rights

• negotiated a treaty in 1977 to give the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999

• Full diplomatic relations opened with China January 1, 1979

• The Camp David Accords: a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, ending 30 years of hostilities: March 26, 1979: Anwar Sadat (Egypt) and Menachem Begin (Israel)

The Iran Hostage Crisis

• Iran was ruled by repressive Shah Muhammed Reza Pahlavi, a US ally, since a 1953 CIA operation overthrew

their government.

• Most Iranian people were fundamentalist Shiite Muslims; resented the Shah’s repression and desire to

westernize.

• Shiite cleric Ayatollah Khomeini rallied his followers from exile in France.

• In January, 1979, the Shah flees the nation and Ayatollah Khomeini returns; imposed strict Islamic rule and

preaches against “The Great Satan.”

• October, 1979: The Shah arrives in New York for cancer treatment.

• November 4, 1979: an armed mob invades US embassy on November 4 and take 53 Americans hostage for 444 days.

• Carter’s diplomatic efforts failed; a military rescue attempt (Operation Eagle Claw, 1980) failed, killing 8

servicemen.

Soviet Union invades Afghanistan

December 27, 1979: USSR invaded Afghanistan

• President Carter canceled SALT II

• The US boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and cut off grain exports

• The US backed Muslim fundamentalists in Afghanistan fighting the Soviets (one of thembeing a young Saudi named Osama Bin Laden

The “crisis of confidence” speech

• President Jimmy Carter's July 15, 1979, "Crisis of Confidence" speech, often called the "malaise speech," argued that America faced a profound moral and spiritual crisis, not just an energy crisis. After consulting citizens, he diagnosed a broken national spirit, declining faith in government, and a loss of unity

What did OPEC do to the United States in 1979 and what impact did it have?

• following the Iranian Revolution, OPEC nations reduced oil production, causing crude prices to double by 1980.

• created severe gas shortages, long lines at U.S. gas stations, and contributed to massive inflation (over 13%) and a severe recession

What did Carter ask all of his guests at Camp David?

• President Jimmy Carter asked Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to agree to ask people worldwide to pray for the success of their negotiations. This request initiated 13 days of intense, closed-door peace talks.

What happened to Barry Rosen and the other American citizens in the Iranian embassy? Why?

• held hostage in Iran for 444 days (Nov 4, 1979–Jan 20, 1981) by Iranian militants following the Islamic Revolution

• was a protest against U.S. support for the deposed Shah, aiming to assert revolutionary power against the "Great Satan"

What did the Iranians demand in exchange for the hostages?

• demanded the return of the exiled Shah for trial and other reparations related to U.S. involvement in Iranian affairs.

What was the result of the top-secret rescue mission in Iran?

• known as Operation Eagle Claw, took place on April 24, 1980, and ended in complete failure

• The mission was meant to save 52 American hostages in Tehran but was aborted due to technical malfunctions, intense sandstorms, and a tragic collision at a staging area known as "Desert One" in the Iranian desert

What happened at the 1980 Winter Olympics that was so important for Americans?

• the u.s hockey team defeated the dominating soviet union hockey team

• it lifted national pride, and boosted morale in the united states

Instead of campaigning, what did Carter spend most of his last year in office doing?

• he spent most of his time managing the 444-day Iran hostage crisis and addressing severe domestic economic issues

What was Carter doing on the last night and morning of his Presidency?

• was working in the Oval Office, managing the final negotiations for the release of 52 American hostages held in Iran. He stayed up nearly all night, receiving updates, and was actively working on the matter until moments before Ronald Reagan’s inauguration

The 1980 election

By 1980, Carter’s approval rating had sunk to 23%.

After presidency

• Founded the Carter Center in 1982 to promote human rights, democracy, and

  global health.

• Helped negotiate peace deals

• Founded Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for low-income

  families around the world.

• Nobel Peace Prize (2002):

• Wrote more than 30 books on topics including human rights, faith, democracy, and aging