history

Plurality

getting the most votes, even if it is not more than half

New Federalism

Nixon’s plan to give more power back to the states

revenue sharing

when the federal government gave money to states to spend

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a government agency that protects workers and workplace safety

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

a government agency that protects the environment and people from pollution

Family Assistance Plan

Nixon’s plan to give poor families government financial support

Stagflation

when prices go up and unemployment is also high

energy crisis

a time when the U.S. had a serious shortage of oil and energy

realpolitik

making political decisions based on what works best, not ideals

détente

a time when the U.S. and Soviet Union had less tension

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)

an agreement to limit nuclear weapons

Watergate Scandal

a scandal where Nixon’s team broke into Democratic offices and tried to cover it up

special prosecutor

a lawyer chosen to investigate government wrongdoing

subpoena

a legal order to appear in court or give evidence

execute privilege

the president’s right to keep some information secret

Bicentennial

a 200th anniversary

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

a group of oil

National Energy Act

a law that encouraged people to save energy and use other energy sources

tax credits

money taken off the taxes you owe

Camp David Accords

a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel helped by President Carter

Earth Day

a day to support and protect the environment

Clean Water Act

a law that helps reduce water pollution

Safe Drinking Water Act

a law that makes public drinking water safer

acid rain

polluted rain caused by chemicals in the air

Three Mile Island accident

a nuclear power plant accident in Pennsylvania

male chauvinist

a man who thinks men are better than women

comparable worth

the idea that women’s jobs should get equal pay for equal skill and training

National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC)

a group that worked to get more women involved in politics

birth dearth

a drop in the number of babies being born

Rustbelt

an area where many factories closed and the economy got weaker

WASPs

white Anglo

Ethnicity

a person’s cultural background or heritage