Flashcards for:
America Under Stress: 1967-1980

The Camp David Accords were significant as they led to a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, marking the first time an Arab country officially recognized Israel and agreed to peace terms. This was a milestone in Middle Eastern politics.

Nixon's Vietnamization policy aimed to withdraw U.S. troops and replace them with South Vietnamese forces. Despite renewed bombings in Cambodia and Laos and public opposition, a peace agreement was signed in 1973. However, North Vietnam resumed war, leading to the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Dolores Huerta was instrumental in passing the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975, which provided farm workers with legal protections and the right to unionize.

The Tet Offensive, despite being a military success for the U.S., delivered a psychological and political blow that increased anti-war sentiment. It led to President Johnson beginning negotiations and not seeking re-election in 1968.

During Nixon's presidency, significant social and environmental policies included the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the celebration of the first Earth Day in 1970, and the banning of DDT in 1972.

Dolores Huerta was a school teacher turned activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Cesar Chavez in 1962. She played a critical role in organizing strikes, leading picket lines, negotiating contracts, and overseeing the grape boycott to improve wages, working conditions, health coverage, and restrict the use of pesticides for farm workers.

Nixon’s 'Southern Strategy' aimed to gain political support from white Southerners and blue-collar workers through conservative policies, which resulted in a significant shift in political alliances and helped to consolidate the Republican Party’s base in the South.

Gerald Ford's presidency faced significant economic challenges, including a recession, high inflation, and unemployment. His tenure was marked by political opposition and limited legislative successes.

Stagflation, characterized by slow economic growth and high inflation, emerged during Nixon’s presidency due to factors like the OPEC oil embargo. Nixon initially responded with increased government spending and price controls to stabilize the economy.

Jimmy Carter’s major foreign policy achievements included brokering the Camp David Accords, which led to a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. His struggles included the handling of the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

The Watergate Scandal involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and subsequent cover-up attempts by President Nixon’s administration. It led to Nixon’s resignation in 1974 after the House Judiciary Committee moved towards impeachment.

Nixon’s main foreign policy achievements included withdrawing troops from Vietnam, improving relations with the Soviet Union and China (détente), and signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I).

The Iranian Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the Shah, whom the U.S. had supported, and led to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days. This crisis severely affected U.S. foreign relations and undermined Carter’s presidency.

The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) was an agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union aimed at curbing the arms race by limiting the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers. It marked a significant step towards détente during Nixon’s presidency.

Key events during Jimmy Carter’s presidency included the energy crisis, the Camp David Accords, the Iranian Hostage Crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. These events shaped his domestic and foreign policies and ultimately contributed to his challenges in office.