IB History Late Cold War Study Guide (35-40)

Nixon’s Second Term (1973-1977)

• Key Figures:

  • Nixon appointed Henry Kissinger as Secretary of State.

  • Golda Meir was the Prime Minister of Israel and the first woman head of government in Israel.

  • Nixon supported Meir's efforts to retain occupied territories during the October War.

• Stagflation:

  • Economic condition combining stagnation (no growth, no new jobs) and inflation (decreasing dollar value).

  • Uncontrolled inflation can lead to recession or depression.

• 1973 Oil Embargo:

  • OPEC Formation:

    • Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) formed primarily by Arab nations in the mid-60s but gained prominence post-1973.

    • OPEC imposed an oil embargo on the US for supporting Israel during the October War.

  • Impact:

    • US gas prices soared from 15 cents to 50 cents per gallon.

    • Increased transportation and grocery prices leading to significant economic stress.

    • The embargo eventually affected OPEC countries as their economies also suffered.

Watergate Scandal

• Initial Event:

  • In 1972, a burglary at the Democratic National Committee headquarters known as Watergate occurred.

  • Arrest of 4 burglars led to a cover-up effort involving the Nixon administration.

• Investigations by Journalists:

  • Washington Post reporters Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncovered links between the burglars and Nixon's campaign (CREEP - Committee to Re-elect the President).

  • Plumbers group formed within Nixon's administration to discredit Democrats.

• Key Developments:

  • Nixon had secret recordings of Oval Office conversations; refused to hand them over citing executive privilege.

  • Supreme Court ruled tapes were public property.

  • Tapes revealed attempts to cover up involvement; significant portions were erased.

  • Nixon’s Attorney General resigned, leading to the Saturday Night Massacre where Nixon attempted to end the investigation.

• Consequences:

  • House committee voted for impeachment, leading to Nixon's resignation on August 8, 1974.

  • Gerald Ford became president and pardoned Nixon, preventing further legal action against him.

Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

• Pardon of Nixon:

  • First act as president was to pardon Nixon for all crimes.

  • Internal issues led to members of Ford’s administration being imprisoned but not Nixon.

• Challenges:

  • Oversaw a nation struggling with economic issues and recovery post-Watergate.

  • July 4, 1976, celebrated the US bicentennial with large parades and festivities.

The Jimmy Carter Presidency (1977-1981)

• Election:

  • Carter assumed presidency after defeating Ford, focusing on domestic issues and economic recovery.

• Significant Events:

  • Camp David Accords (September 1978): Agreement between Egypt and Israel to normalize relations, including Egypt's recognition of Israel.

  • Shift towards energy-efficient cars like the Honda Civic post-oil crisis.

• Challenges:

  • 1979 Oil Crisis following the Iranian Revolution caused more economic turmoil.

  • Iran Hostage Crisis led to strained US-Iran relations.

  • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan raised concerns about superpower tensions.

Changes in Soviet Leadership (1981-1989)

• Leonid Brezhnev’s Death and Succession:

  • Brezhnev died in 1982, succeeded by Yuri Andropov, who had a brief tenure due to his health issues.

  • Followed by Constantin Chernenko, who also died shortly after.

• Mikhail Gorbachev’s Leadership (1985-1991):

  • Introduced Glasnost (openness): Allowed more freedom of movement and information, leading to greater access for Western tourists.

  • Perestroika (restructuring): Aimed at reducing bureaucratic control within the Soviet political system, allowing more decision-making power at local levels.

• Afghan Crisis:

  • Soviet occupation of Afghanistan sparked fierce resistance from local mujahideen; conflict mirrored US Vietnam experience.

  • Resulted in a refugee crisis and growing unpopularity of the Soviet war, leading to eventual withdrawal.

The Late Cold War in the US (1981-1989)

• Reagan Presidency (1981-1989):

  • Promoted increased military spending dubbed "Reaganomics" while implementing significant cuts to social programs.

  • Advocated for supply-side economics aimed at stimulating the economy through tax cuts for the wealthy, criticized for not trickling down benefits.

• War on Drugs:

  • Launched the “Just Say No” campaign led by Nancy Reagan, targeting drug use through harsh measures and educational campaigns.

• Foreign Policy:

  • Shift from containment to rollback of communism focusing on aggressive support for anti-communist movements globally (e.g., Solidarity in Poland, Contras in Nicaragua).

  • Strategic Defense Initiative proposed to defend against a potential nuclear attack.

Changes in Eastern Europe and the End of the Cold War

• Revolutions in Eastern Europe (1989):

  • Solidarity Movement in Poland, Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and protests in Germany all marked a shift toward democracy.

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 symbolized the collapse of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

  • Reunification of Germany in October 1990 marked significant progress toward ending the division of Europe.

The End of the Soviet Union

• Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991):

  • Wave of independence movements led to the breakaway of Soviet republics post-Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika and glasnost.

  • By December 1991, the USSR officially dissolved, with Boris Yeltsin emerging as the new leader of Russia.

• Historical Significance:

  • End of the Cold War marked the transition away from Soviet-style communism, influencing global political dynamics into the 21st century.