The American Yawp Chapter 28: The Unraveling

The Altamont Disaster

• Date: Late December 1969

• Overview: Massive free concert at Altamont Motor Speedway, Northern California, headlined by the Rolling Stones. Intended to replicate the Woodstock festival's peace and love vibe, but ended in chaos.

• Security Issues:

  • Hired Hells Angels as security for $500 worth of beer, leading to significant violence.

  • Concertgoers faced rising anger and aggression; the Hells Angels became violent, using pool cues against them.

• Key Incident:

  • Meredith Hunter, an 18-year-old, brandished a pistol after being pushed away from the stage and was killed by a Hells Angel, highlighting the dark side of the 60s youth culture.

• Conclusion: Altamont became emblematic of a shift from the idealistic 60s to a more violent and disillusioned 70s.

Social and Political Unrest in the 1970s

• Cultural Shift: While many Americans celebrated the previous decade's achievements, a conservative backlash grew, emphasizing fears of social decay.

• Wars and Scandals: The 1970s were marked by the remnants of the Vietnam War, significant political scandals, and economic crises.

The Warren Court

• Chief Justice Earl Warren's Court (1953-1969) faced backlash for progressive rulings, perceived to favor marginalized groups:

  • Engel v. Vitale (1962): Ruled that school prayers were unconstitutional.

  • Roth v. United States: Limited government power over pornography.

  • Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Established right to counsel for felony defendants.

• By the late 1960s, perceived as too radical, helping to fuel the rise of conservatism.

Feminism and Reproductive Rights

• Roe v. Wade (1973): Landmark decision that legalized abortion, asserting a constitutional right to privacy.

• Emergence of two-career families as a social norm, with more women pursuing careers independently from men.

Environmental Movement

• Revitalization in the 1970s due to visible ecological concerns:

  • Aldo Leopold's principles on ecology: food chains and biodiversity.

  • Increased awareness of pollution incidents (Cuyahoga River fires, heavy smog).

• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson criticized pesticide use, promoting a holistic view of environmental health.

• 1970 marked the first Earth Day; Nixon signed the Clean Air and Water Acts and established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Nixon's Presidency and the Vietnam War

• Cambodia and the Anti-War Movement: U.S. invasion escalated protests; tragic killings at Kent State.

• Pentagon Papers leak revealed government deceit in Vietnam, leading to growing anti-war sentiment.

• Paris Peace Accords (1973): A temporary ceasefire that ultimately failed to stabilize Vietnam, leading to further tragedy and disillusionment.

Economic Challenges

• Emergence of the OPEC Oil Crisis amid geopolitical conflicts, leading to the first oil shortages since WWII.

• Global economic changes and competition from Western Europe and Japan strained the American economy.

• Nixon Shock (1971): Abandonment of the gold standard led to "stagflation" – high inflation coupled with unemployment.

Watergate Scandal

• Nixon's illegal activities, including the break-in at the Democratic National Committee, led to eroded trust in government authority.

• Resigned in 1974 as an impeachment threat loomed due to a scandal. Former House Speaker Gerald Ford assumed presidency, issuing a controversial pardon to Nixon.

Jimmy Carter’s Presidency

• The election of Carter in 1976 marked a Democratic return, but he faced persistent challenges:

  • Economic issues: inflation peaked, unemployment rose, perceived energy crises.

  • Attempts at liberal reforms were undermined by post-Watergate disillusionment.

  • Religious right gained political power, opposing liberal agendas, highlighting cultural divide.

• Carter's focus on human rights abroad contrasted with national struggles, particularly impacted by the hostage crisis in Iran.

Rise of Evangelical Conservatism

• Surge in born-again Christians, alarmed by cultural changes,

  • Mobilized against abortion, feminism, and secular policies.

  • Leaders like Billy Graham and Pat Robertson advocated for a political movement rooted in traditional Christian values, cementing a significant rightward shift in American politics by the late 1970s.