Chapter 39 Notes

Sources of Stagnation

• Causes of Economic Slowdown in the 1970s
  • Increased workforce participation by women and teens, who typically earned less.
  • Aging machinery and new regulations hindered growth.
  • Inflation due to Vietnam War and Great Society program.
  • Competition from Japan and Germany in traditional American industries (steel, automobiles, electronics).

Nixon "Vietnamizes" the War

• Vietnamization Policy
  • Withdrawal of 540,000 U.S. troops from South Vietnam.
  • Transition of war efforts to South Vietnamese with U.S. support.
  • Nixon Doctrine: Future conflicts to be fought without large U.S. troop presence.
  • Televised address to "silent majority" to gain support.

Cambodianizing the Vietnam War

• Impact of Cambodia Invasion
  • Use of Cambodia by North Vietnamese for military purposes.
  • Nixon's order to attack led to protests and increased "hawks vs. doves" tension.
  • Passage of 26th Amendment (voting age to 18).
  • Release of Pentagon Papers revealed government deception.

Nixon's Détente with Beijing and Moscow

• Exploiting Sino-Soviet Tensions
  • Improved U.S.-China relations with Nixon's 1972 visit.
  • Détente with Soviet Union: arms race agreements (AMB Treaty, SALT).
  • Economic agreements, including $750 million grain sale to Soviets.

A New Team on the Supreme Bench

• Warren Court Rulings
  • Landmark cases: Griswold v. Connecticut, Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda rights, Engel v. Vitale.
  • Nixon's appointment of Warren E. Burger to replace Earl Warren and shift Court direction.

Nixon on the Home Front

• Domestic Policies
  • Expansion of Great Society programs (Medicare, Medicaid, AFDC, SSI).
  • Philadelphia Plan: affirmative action policies upheld in Griggs v. Duke Power Co.
  • Creation of EPA, OHSA, CPSC.
  • Environmental legislation: Clean Air Act (1970), Endangered Species Act (1973).
  • Economic measures: 90-day wage freeze, end of gold standard.
  • Nixon's southern strategy to gain political support.

The Nixon Landslide of 1972

• 1972 Presidential Election
  • Nixon's election victory despite Vietnam War controversy.
  • Cease-fire agreement with North Vietnam (1973) as a strategic retreat.

The Secret Bombing of Cambodia and the War Powers Act

• Limiting Presidential Authority
  • Exposure of secret Cambodian bombings led to public mistrust.
  • War Powers Act (1973) required congressional notification of troop deployment.

The Arab Oil Embargo and the Energy Crisis

• 1973 Oil Embargo
  • Triggered by U.S. support for Israel in Yom Kippur War.
  • Economic recession and increased oil prices.
  • Energy conservation measures and exploration of alternative energy sources.

Watergate and the Unmaking of a President

• Unfolding of Watergate Scandal
  • Break-in at Democratic headquarters, leading to broader corruption revelations.
  • Resignations and investigation by Senate committee.
  • Supreme Court ruling and release of incriminating tapes.
  • Nixon's resignation (August 8, 1974).

The First Unelected President

• Gerald Ford's Presidency
  • Criticism for pardoning Nixon.
  • Signing of Helsinki accords.

Defeat in Vietnam

• Consequences of U.S. Withdrawal
  • Fall of South Vietnam in 1975.
  • Losses: $188 billion, 56,000 dead, 300,000 wounded.
  • Decline in U.S. global influence and economic strength.

Feminist Victories and Defeats

• Advancing Women's Rights
  • Title IX (1972) and Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
  • Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion.

The Seventies in Black and White

• Civil Rights and Racial Equality
  • Court rulings on desegregation and affirmative action.
  • Milliken v. Bradley and University of California v. Bakke cases.

The Bicentennial Campaign and the Carter Victory

• Jimmy Carter's Election (1976)
  • Promised honesty and won against Gerald Ford.
  • Inexperience with Washington politics.

Carter's Humanitarian Diplomacy

• Middle East and Latin America
  • Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt.
  • Restored Panama Canal to Panama, established China relations.

Economic and Energy Woes

• Carter's Economic Challenges
  • Rising inflation and oil crisis due to Iran's political changes.
  • "Malaise speech" and cabinet changes.

Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Imbroglio

• Iranian Hostage Crisis
  • Failed attempts to resolve crisis, impacting Carter's presidency.
  • Hostages released on Reagan's inauguration day (1981).

Summary

• 1970s Challenges
  • Economic stagnation, political scandals, and foreign policy difficulties.
  • Nixon's policies on Vietnam and détente, domestic program expansions.
  • Watergate Scandal leading to Nixon's resignation and Ford's presidency.
  • Carter's efforts to address economic issues, energy crises, and the Iranian Hostage Crisis.
  • Social movements and court rulings shaped civil rights and gender equality.