Challenges to the Postwar Order, 1973-1980

Challenges to the Postwar Order, 1973-1980

Essential Questions

  • American Cold War Policy Fluctuations:
      - How did military confrontations shift to mutual coexistence?

  • U.S. Policy in the Middle East:
      - How were ideological, military, and economic concerns reflected in U.S. policies?   - What were the outcomes of these policies?

  • Deteriorating Public Confidence:
      - What were the effects of the public's declining trust in government during the 1970s?

  • Liberal and Conservative Clashes:
      - How did disagreements over social and cultural issues, federal government roles, and individual rights manifest during the 1970s?

The Ford Transition

  • Public Expectations:
      - Americans hoped Gerald Ford would provide stability following the Nixon administration.

  • Credibility Loss:
      - Ford lost credibility due to his pardon of Richard Nixon.

  • Political Stance:
      - He was a committed small-government conservative.   - Ford vetoed more legislation than any previous president, demonstrating his conservative fiscal policy.

  • Economic Conditions:
      - Ford's presidency was greatly impacted by the poor economy of the 1970s.

  • Political Challenges:
      - He narrowly defeated Ronald Reagan for the Republican nomination in 1976 but lost the general election to Jimmy Carter.

Jimmy Carter and the Presidency

  • Rise to Power:
      - Jimmy Carter capitalized on post-Nixon discontent with government.   - He emphasized his roots from rural Georgia, honesty, and status as a political outsider.

  • Influence of Ford's Actions:
      - Ford's pardon of Nixon and his failure to “W.I.N.” (Whip Inflation Now) undermined his position in the election against Carter.

Carter’s Foreign Policy

  • Foreign Policy Challenges:
      - Carter faced significant challenges during his administration.

  • Camp David Accords:
      - Israel returned territory to Egypt in exchange for recognition of its borders by Egypt.

  • Iranian Revolution:
      - American support for the Shah created friction with the revolutionary movement.   - Iranian students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran when Carter granted temporary asylum to the Shah.

  • Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan:
      - This conflict added pressure on Carter's administration.   - In response, Carter boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics and funded the mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan.

Carter’s Domestic Woes

  • Economic Conditions:
      - The 1970s were characterized as the worst economic decade since the Great Depression.   - Persistent high inflation and rising consumer prices.   - Increased reliance on foreign oil and instability in the Middle East exacerbated economic issues.

  • Industrial Challenges:
      - American industries faced significant competition from foreign markets, especially from West Germany and Japan.

  • Carter's Malaise Speech:
      - His speech failed to inspire public confidence and was criticized for lacking solutions to the country's challenges.

The Conservative Revolution Continues

  • Culture Wars:
      - The 1970s saw intensified cultural conflicts known as the Culture Wars.

  • Liberal Feminism:
      - The Equal Rights Amendment, which stated that "equality of rights under the law shall not be abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex," failed to win ratification.

  • Supreme Court Cases:
      - Roe v. Wade (1973): Confirmed a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy as protected by the right to privacy.   - Milliken v. Bradley (1974): Established that desegregation plans could not require students to cross district boundaries.   - Bakke v. California (1978): Declared that UC-Davis could not grant admission preference strictly based on racial or ethnic identity, but race/ethnicity could be considered in admissions without explicit quotas.

  • Conservative Activism:
      - Figures like Jerry Falwell and Phyllis Schlafly gained prominence and influence within the Republican Party.   - Controversial issues surrounded school integration and affirmative action policies.

Wrapping Up Essential Points

  • Counterculture Impact:
      - Young people and feminists from the 1960s counterculture movement rejected many traditional values, introduced informality in culture, and advocated for social changes.

  • Conservative Response:
      - Conservative movements challenged liberal laws and court decisions while viewing cultural decline as a threat, advocating for limited federal government roles and more assertive foreign policies.

  • Clash of Ideologies:
      - The 1970s experienced increasing conflicts between conservatives and liberals over social, cultural, governmental, racial, and individual rights issues.