Unit V -- Tides of Change (1970s, 80s, and 90s)

The Women's Movement: Advocacy for women's rights and equality.
Equal Rights Amendment: Proposed amendment to guarantee equal legal rights regardless of sex.
Roe v. Wade (1973): Landmark Supreme Court decision on abortion rights.
Nixon and Russia/China: Diplomatic relations improved with both countries, easing Cold War tensions.
Nixon and Watergate: Political scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Iran-Hostage Crisis: Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy, taking 52 hostages.
Oil Crisis of the 1970s: Economic turmoil due to oil embargoes.
Urban Decay: The sociological process where previously functioning cities fell into disrepair, characterized by depopulation, economic decline, and industrial abandonment during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Rise of Hip Hop and Social Controversy: Emerging in the late 1970s and expanding in the 1980s and 1990s, Hip Hop became a vital form of social expression. However, it faced criticism for perceived "risks," including the glorification of crime and explicit language in gangsta rap, leading to major cultural debates and the introduction of parental advisory stickers.
Ruby Ridge: Controversial standoff between federal agents and a family in Idaho.
Waco Siege (1993): A 51-day standoff between federal agents (ATF and FBI) and the Branch Davidian religious sect led by David Koresh.
- Ended in a fire at the Mount Carmel Center that resulted in the deaths of 76 people.
- Fueled anti-government sentiment among extremist groups.
Oklahoma City Bombing (1995): A domestic terrorist attack carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.
- Targeted the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people.
- The perpetrators cited the Waco siege and Ruby Ridge as primary motivations for their retaliation against the federal government.
1993 World Trade Center Bombing: A truck bomb was detonated in the underground garage of the North Tower by international terrorists, including Ramzi Yousef.
- The goal was to cause the North Tower to collapse into the South Tower.
- The attack killed 6 people and injured over 1,000, signaling a new era of global terrorism.
U.S. in Somalia and Rwanda: Humanitarian crises requiring U.S. intervention.
- Somalia (Operation Restore Hope, 1992-1993): A mission launched to provide humanitarian aid amidst civil war and famine. The mission turned violent during the Battle of Mogadishu (1993), resulting in the deaths of 18 U.S. soldiers (the "Black Hawk Down" incident). This prompted the U.S. to withdraw and adopt a more hesitant approach to future foreign interventions.
- Rwandan Genocide (1994): A mass genocide where Hutu extremists killed approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in about 100 days. The international community, including the United States, was widely criticized for failing to intervene, a reluctance partly attributed to the recent failure in Somalia.
Clinton Impeachment: Impeachment of President Clinton over personal conduct.
1992 L.A. Riots: Civil unrest following an acquittal of police officers in a brutality case.
O.J. Simpson Trial: High-profile murder trial with significant media coverage.
Carter and the Malaise Speech: Address aimed at national morale and energy crisis.
Camp David Accords: Peace agreement between Israel and Egypt facilitated by President Carter.
Three Mile Island: Partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor, raising safety concerns.
Moral Majority: Political organization promoting conservative Christian values.
Reaganomics: Economic policies enacted during Reagan's presidency, promoting tax cuts and deregulation.
"Just Say No" Campaign: An advertising campaign and part of the U.S. War on Drugs during the 1980s and early 1990s, championed by First Lady Nancy Reagan to discourage children from illegal drug use.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): A proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attack by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons, famously nicknamed "Star Wars."
Media: Viral video of Rodney King built high expectations for a conviction. Live footage of violence later fueled fear and racial tension.
Parallels: Similar to 2020, viral police brutality triggered mass unrest and calls for structural reform.
Police Reform: LAPD moved toward community policing and civilian oversight to increase accountability.
Labels: "Riot" suggests crime, while "Uprising" suggests resistance. The label chosen frames how the event is remembered.