CARTER

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS DO YOU FEEL IS MOST TRUE:A. President’s create their own legacy

through their actions.B. Events dictate the legacy of the

president?

THE ELECTION OF 1976 Republican

NominationWent to Gerald

Ford Democratic

NominationWent to a peanut

farmer and former Georgia governor, James Earl Carter, Jr. (Jimmy Carter)

RESULTS OF THE ELECTION OF 1976 Carter won:

Won 51% of the popular vote

297-240 African Americans

cast 97% of their ballots for Carter

Large Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress

FIRST HUNDRED DAYS Created the Department of Energy in

the cabinet Cut taxes Pardoned ten thousand draft evaders Generating Discord Was a “Washington outsider” and had

no friends in Congress Carter failed to consult adequately with

Congressional leaders

SALT II SALT II agreement

limited the levels of lethal strategic weapons in the Soviet and American arsenals

CARTER’S HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY Called for the end of black oppression in

Zimbabwe and South Africa

CARTER’S HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY Called for the end of black oppression in

Zimbabwe and South Africa Camp David Accords

In 1978, Carter invited the leaders of Israel and Egypt to Camp David to settle their differences.

While they were there, Israel and Egypt signed the Camp David Accords, in which Israel would withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt would be the first Arab nation to recognize Israel’s existence as a nation

CARTER’S HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY Called for the end of black oppression in

Zimbabwe and South Africa Camp David Accords Panama Canal

Theodore Roosevelt had obtained the Panama Canal in the early 1900s

Many Latin Americans resented the continuing U.S. presence at the Panama Canal

In 1978, Carter created a treaty that would return the canal to Panama in 2000. It was passed in the Senate by 1 vote

A second treaty was also signed that allowed the U.S. to take military action to keep it open

CARTER’S HUMANITARIAN DIPLOMACY Called for the end of black oppression in Zimbabwe

and South Africa Camp David Accords Panama Canal Soviet Union

Détente was at a high point when Carter took office. However, Carter’s stand on human rights alienated the Soviet Union

In December 1979, relations were further strained when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, a country on its southern border. It sent troops to end agitation against the Soviet-supported government there. The Soviets became bogged down and it became “Russia’s Vietnam”

The U.S. and 60 other nations boycotted the 1980 Olympics that were being held in Moscow

INCREASING INFLATION In 1979, the inflation rate was 13% The bill for imported oil was $40 billion Foreign trade accounted for 27% of the

GNP by the 1970s Loans weren’t given, the interest rate

rose to 20%, and people living on fixed incomes were hurt

PROBLEMS IN IRAN Mohammed Reza Pahlevi

installed as shah of Iran with help from America’s CIA in 1953,

Ruled with brutal force. Reliably traded oil with the

U.S. for years His repressive regime was

overthrown in January 1979. The Islamic leader, the

Ayatollah (title given to a Muslim religious leader) was now Ruholla Khomeini. He and his advisors denounced the U.S. as the “Great Satan” and burned oil fields  

THIS RESULTED IN:Oil shortagesHigh pricesWaiting in long linesWaiting for gas on specified days

NUCLEAR ENERGY AND THREE MILE ISLAND Nuclear power was an

alternative to oil A nuclear accident occurred

at Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg, PA

A partial meltdown occurred, releasing some radiation. 140,000 people were evacuated

Afterwards, the nuclear industry fell on hard times. People weren’t willing to pay the high costs for new plants. Protesters blocked building sites for fear of public safety

IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS In October, Carter let

the exiled shah enter the U.S. for medical treatment.

In November 1979, angry followers of Khomeini seized the American embassy in Tehran.

66 Americans hostages, of which, about 50 were held for over 1 year

IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS Carter broke diplomatic relations with Iran

and froze all Iranian assets in the U.S. Khomeini insisted that the shah be sent back

for trial In April 1980, Carter authorized a risky

commando rescue mission. It ended in disaster when several helicopters broke down in the desert sands and eight Americans were killed. The government was humiliated and Carter’s popularity dropped dramatically

Finally, in early 1981, the hostages were released