#5: Nixon & Ford's Presidencies

#5: Nixon & Ford's Presidencies in the 1970s

Only 3 more Zooms with new info & 2 more Zooms to review for STAAR!

Open Ended

Imagine you've inherited a time machine that you can use for the rest of your life. BUT, you have to pick 1 setting. Would you rather be able to travel back in time OR visit the future? Why?

Multiple Choice

Which box lists characteristics of the 1960s?

The 1970s

• the post WWII prosperity of the 1950s & 1960s was coming to an end = economy is starting to stagnate

• America's international prestige was damaged by our involvement & failure in Vietnam

• growing divide between the New Left (anti-war, "hippies," counterculture) and the New Right (moral & religious conservatism, reduce federal spending, pro-business)

Multiple Choice

Despite widespread anti-war protests and a wave of liberalism among America's youth, conservative Republican Richard Nixon was elected President in 1968 by Americans who didn't openly expressed their political opinions known as -

• the Dixiecrats.

• the silent majority.

• the hippies.

Multiple Select

As a conservative Republican, what did President Richard Nixon likely support?

HINT: 3

• a stronger, more involved national government

• a limited, restrained federal government

• increased federal funding for social programs

• giving state governments more control over spending

• a reduction in federal programs & spending

Richard Nixon &

Rising Southern Conservatism

• Nixon won Southerners over to the Republican party by opposing civil rights policies & cutting government spending

Nixon Cuts LBJ's Great Society Programs

• Medicare & Medicaid which provide health coverage

• Headstart pre-school program for low-income schools

• Food stamps & other assistance

• Nixon tried to reduce or eliminate many Great Society programs

Nixon & the Environment

• as a result of lobbying, marches, & teach ins across the country, Nixon HAD to pay attention to the environment

• in 1970, Nixon signed an executive order to create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect human health & the environment

• in 1973, the Endangered Species Act was passed to protect threatened animals & their habitats

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the law passed by Congress in 1972 that protected women and girls against discrimination in schools, colleges, & universities?

• the Equal Rights Amendment

• Title IX

• Great Society

• Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Open Ended

What exactly changed for women and girls thanks to the passage of Title IX?

Multiple Choice

From the beginning of the Cold War in 1948 until Nixon's election in 1968, America's official policy with regard to the Soviet Union was -

• containment to halt the spread of communism, particularly in Southeast Asia.

• détente to reduce the chances of nuclear world war.

• first strike to destroy nuclear missile launch sites before they became operational.

America & Russia still have thousands of nuclear weapons & we still have diplomatic tensions.

So, how did the Cold War start to thaw?

Open Ended

Based on the excerpt, what is President Nixon going to change now that he is President in 1969?

Nixon's Cold War Policy: Détente

• détente is French for relaxation or peace

• Nixon ends containment because the fight against Communism had only increased tensions, American spending on war, & brought us closer to nuclear war

Triangular Diplomacy

• Nixon & aide Henry Kissinger decide to exploit tensions between 2 Communist Superpowers - China & the Soviet Union

• America decides to use a strategy called triangular diplomacy

• if America had better relations with China, the Soviets had reason to fear about their position in the world

• if America had better relations with the Soviet Union, the Chinese had reason to fear about their position in the world

Normalization of

Relations with China

• in 1949, China had become the communist nation: the People's Republic of China

• since 1949, America had cut off all trade & diplomatic ties AND blocked China from joining the United Nations

• in February of 1972, Richard Nixon became the 1st US President to visit the People's Republic of China

• America dropped its opposition of Chinese entry into the UN, laid the groundwork for diplomatic & trade relations

Détente with

the Soviet Union

• by visiting China in February, Nixon was able to pressure Soviet leader Brezhnev to negotiate with the United States

• in May of 1972, Nixon became 1st President to visit Moscow in the Soviet Union

• Nixon's visit led to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) to limit the # of intercontinental ballistic missiles each country had

Multiple Choice

With the election of Richard Nixon in 1968, American foreign policy shifts from containment to -

• isolationism.

• detente.

• first strike capabilities.

Multiple Choice

What was the primary goal of discussions between these 2 leaders?

• to recognize the independence of former satellite states

• to reach a formal agreement on weapons control

• to negotiate the reunification of Germany

• to develop a global environmental-protection policy

Multiple Choice

One action that influenced the US-Soviet signing of the SALT I treaty in 1972 was President Richard Nixon's -

• opening of diplomatic relations with China

• involvement in the Watergate scandal

• support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War

• withdrawal of military forces from Vietnam

On August 8th, 1974 Richard Nixon resigned & VP Gerald Ford became the next US President.

• Ford pardoned Nixon of all Watergate related crimes which lost him the popular support of the people

Multiple Choice

What was the reaction of many Americans to the Watergate scandal?

• Confidence in the presidential selection process

• Support for containment of communism

• Discontent over the antiwar and civil rights protests

• Cynicism about government and elected politicians

Ford & America's Economic Recession

• since the early 1970s, America's economy had grown stagnant with very few new jobs & businesses making very small profits

• America was producing less, unemployment was rising, but so were prices of goods (inflation)

• a stagnant economy + high inflation = stagflation

Multiple Choice

Which region of the world supplies MOST of the oil used to fuel cars, cities, and factories?

• Europe

• North America

• Africa

• Middle East

In retaliation for American support of Israel, OPEC cut off oil to the U.S. in 1973.

Shortages of gas across the US led to soaring gas prices & long lines.

After class today,

• make sure you've completed assignments 1, 2, 3, & 4 (Quizlet screenshot to complete #4)

• #6: Watergate EdPuzzle due on Wednesday night

• CHECK IN ON WEDNESDAY FOR ATTENDANCE