note for quiz on thursday march 20

Silent Majority: This term refers to the average American who was tired of social unrest and the actions of protestors which included protests against drugs, crime, and declining moral values.
- Nixon capitalized on this sentiment by adopting a social conservative platform that included:
- Anti-abortion stance
- Pro-censorship beliefs
- Government aid to parochial schools
Nixon's campaign slogan: “Peace with Honor”
Key observations regarding Nixon’s election: The American populace desired to restore stability, law, and order.
Major Candidates in the 1968 election:
- Republican: Richard Nixon / Spiro Agnew
- Democrat: Hubert Humphrey
- American Independent: George C. Wallace

Nixon aimed to win support from traditionally Democratic demographics by appealing to their racial biases.
His approach included:
- Attempts to weaken the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
- Urging a slowdown in forced integration efforts.

Commander-in-Chief: The president's role as the leader of the armed forces.
Chief Executive: The president's role in executing laws and managing the government.
Chief Diplomat: The president's role in managing foreign relations and treaties.

Phyllis Schlafly: A conservative political activist well-known for her opposition to feminism and her significant role in fighting against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): Proposed to end discrimination against women, particularly in the workplace. However, it did not pass due to the expiration of the ratification timeframe by the states.

The crisis was precipitated by several Arab nations imposing an oil embargo in response to the Yom Kippur War, designed to deny oil shipments to the U.S. and other nations supporting Israel.
Key facts:
- The involved Arab nations were part of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
- The U.S. was dependent on foreign sources for one-third of its oil needs.
Consequences of the crisis:
- Dramatic increase in oil prices.
- Surge in inflation within the United States.
- Reactionary measures included:
- Construction of a pipeline from Alaska.
- Raising thermostats in summer.
- Exploration of alternate fuels, including nuclear energy.

OPEC Membership included countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, and Libya.
Geographical Importance:
- Major oil fields distributed across various Middle Eastern and African nations.
- Notable regional influence of OPEC in global oil supply and politics.
Map Interpretation Skills:
1. Identify countries with major oil fields.
2. Assess OPEC's influence in the Middle East and rationale.

Nixon expressed alarm regarding Stagflation, an economic condition characterized by high inflation paired with high unemployment.
- This condition was persistent throughout Nixon's administration and into Ford's administration.
Nixon implemented a 90-day freeze of wages and prices to curb rising inflation; this had only temporary success.
Established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) aimed at preventing workplace deaths and injuries.

Increased awareness of environmental issues during Nixon's presidency.
Established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by consolidating 15 federal pollution programs into one agency.
Nixon endorsed the Endangered Species Act to safeguard species and their habitats.

Apollo 11 Mission:
- Key figures included Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins.
- Notable Event: On July 20, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.

1970: Nixon officially declared a War on Drugs.
1971: Labelled drugs as “Public Enemy #1.”
1973: Established the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), shifting focus toward governmental policies over treatment.
1984 Initiatives:
- $100 million funding allocated to the “Just Say No” campaign.
- Introduction of Civil Forfeiture, allowing police to retain cash from drug-related arrests.
1986 Anti-Drug Act: Enacted mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-related offenses.

High incarceration rates in the U.S.:
- The U.S. holds 5% of the world’s population and 25% of its incarcerated individuals.
- Approximately 45.4% of prisoners are incarcerated due to drug-related offenses.
- 13.4% of the U.S. population identifies as African-American; however, 37% of the incarcerated population is African-American.
Ongoing discussions regarding racial disparities in sentencing, particularly concerning crack cocaine versus powder cocaine, highlighting socio-economic divides between inner-cities and middle-class suburbs.

Nixon initiated steps to mitigate the arms race with Russia through a policy termed détente.
- Détente: Refers to the permanent easing of strained relations, particularly in political contexts, as opposed to a mere temporary relaxation.

Beginning in 1969, Nixon pursued dialogue with the Soviet Union to control the arms race, reversing previous escalatory policies that led to military confrontation.
- Initiated the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) to reduce the proliferation of weapons.
Highlighted advancements in weapons technology, such as anti-ballistic missiles.

Achieved through SALT I talks in 1972, which resulted in the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreeing to limit their number of ballistic missiles.
Establishment of the Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.

Nixon recognized the need to strengthen ties with China to counterbalance the Soviet Union's influence, noting that China was rival to the Soviets.
Nixon made headlines by visiting China in 1972, marking the first formal recognition of China as a communist nation by the U.S.

The SALT agreement, ABM treaty, and Nixon’s engagements with both powerful communist nations illustrated the gradual cooling of Cold War tensions.

The Watergate Scandal represents an essential chapter in Nixon's presidency, leading to significant political ramifications and an eventual resignation.

August 9, 1974: Gerald Ford became the first President in U.S. history to ascend without being elected to either the presidency or vice presidency.
Ford appointed Nelson Rockefeller as his Vice President, marking the first time both offices were filled by appointed officials.

September 1974: Ford granted a full pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during his presidency, a move that sparked significant controversy and debate during Ford's administration.

The economy was a major concern during Ford’s presidency, marked by the slogan "Whip Inflation Now" (WIN), which advocated for voluntary wage and price controls among businesses.
WIN was positioned as Ford's principal strategy for addressing inflation.