1970s Social/ Political/ Economic/ Environmental Problems

Imagine you live in the 1970s:
Which of the following 4 issues would be your top concern?

-Worsening pollution without federal regulation
-1962: Book- Silent Spring describes how DDT chemicals sprayed on crops were leading to fragile bird eggs... very few baby birds survive.
-Species facing extinction
-Health issues caused by pollution

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Issue 1: Environmental/ Extinction concerns

-The organization that controls a huge share of the world's oil supply has limited exports
- Rationing leads to hours-long lines at gas stations
-Many states limit number of gallons and ability to every other day for odd/ even license plate numbers
-Ex: Varied by state, but $2-10 limits or 4-10 gallon limits were common

Issue 2: Gas Shortage

• Some items increase in price by 50-400%

• Average car price went up from $2,250 from $3,200 in ten years

  Bread: $2.03 to $3.31

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Issue 3: Stagflation
(Rising prices, no raise in wages)

-The US continued to have a strained relationship with major Communist Super-Powers that also possessed "nukes"
-Soviet Union (USSR)
-China
-1950s/ 60s "Brinkmanship" policyhad led to panic/ fear in the US

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Issue 4: Cold War Tensions/ threat of Nuclear War

Poll

If you lived in the 1970s: Which issue would be your TOP concern? (You can pick top 2)

• Environment/ Extinction

• "Stagflation"

  (Rising Prices)

• Gas Shortage

• Cold War Tensions/ Nuclear Threats

Poll

If you lived in the 1970s, Which of the issues would be your LEAST concern?

• Environmental/ Extinction

• "Stagflation"

  (Rising prices)

• Gas Shortage

• Cold War Tensions/ Nuclear Threats

Today we will look at these and other issues from the 1970s.
As we go through the events, record key information about the problems and the governmental solutions