Exploring American HistoryExploring American HistoryUnit X – Modern AmericaUnit X – Modern America

Chapter 30– Searching for Order

Section 2 – America in the 1970’s

America in the 1970sThe Big Idea

Americans faced major challenges both at home and around the world in the 1970s.

Main Ideas

• American society debated key social issues during the 1970s.

• Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976.

• Carter had successes as well as failures in foreign policy during his administration.

Main Idea 1: American society debated key social issues during the 1970s.

The American population was changing in the 1970s.

America faced new challenges in finding ways to balance the views of all Americans.

The Equal Rights Amendment

1972 Title IX.

In 1973 Roe v. Wade.

Affirmative Affirmative ActionAction

Issues of the 1970s

EnvironmentEnvironment•Biologist Rachel

Carson

•April 22, 1970, Earth Day.

•New laws.

•The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1970

Main Idea 2:Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976.

Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter defeated Republican nominee Gerald Ford in a close 1976 election.

Carter faced many challenges.

Carter hoped to use nuclear energy to help solve energy crisis.

Three Mile Island nuclear power plant .

President Jimmy Carter

Main Idea 3:Carter had successes as well as failures in

foreign policy during his administration.

Carter favored policies that promoted human rights– the basic rights and freedoms of all people.

Reduced U.S. aid

South African – apartheid

sanctions

Human Rights

Soviet Relations

•SALT II talks in 1979 that limited nuclear weapons

Carter’s Foreign Policy

Recognizing China

Latin America and the Soviet Union

Policy in Latin America

In 1977 Panama Canal

Relations with the Soviet Union

Détente broke down

Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Carter broke off arms talks and refused to allow athletes to participate in 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Panama Canal Treaties

Why- The U.S. had been in control of Canal

since 1903 and could be forever. Riots in Panama demanding control of

canal, the biggest industry in Panama. Panamanian Dictator Omar Torrijos

threatened to blow up the canal if the U.S. didn't get out.

1st Treaty U.S. hands over Canal to Panama on Dec.

31, 1999

2nd Treaty Canal to be neutral waterway U.S. has permanent right to protect and

defend that neutrality.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan- 1979

U.S. embargoes grain sales and technology, and culture exchanges to USSR.

U.S. and 61 other nations boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow

The Soviet stay in Afghanistan until April 14, 1988- Soviet Vietnam.

The Middle East

Carter worked to ease tensions in the Middle East. In 1978 Camp David Accords.

In 1979, rebels in Iran. On November 4, 1979

The Iran hostage crisis lasted for more than a year.

Camp David Accords Camp David Accords- 1977

Anwar Sadat- new President of Egypt- wants peace with Israel.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel

President Jimmy Carter of U.S.A

All three meet at Camp David, the presidential retreat.

Sept. 17. 1978 peace agreement reached.

Other Arab nation objected and said Egypt acts alone. Arabs put a economic boycott on Egypt.

Iran and the United States Shah of Iran

Improved education Women’s rights Improved public health U.S. ally but was a dictator, corrupt, and used torture to

westernize

Islamic revolution Overthrew the Shah. Shah goes to US for

Cancer treatment Ayatollah Khomeini- New Fanatical Muslim

leader of Iran Fundamental Islam

U.S. Embassy in Teheran Our interest were oil based. Islamic fundamentalist mob invades embassy

and siezed the Americans there. Demand return of Shah and unfreeze Iranian

assets Carter refuses the demands

Hostage Crisis- 52 for 444 daysKathryn L. Koob, 42 - Kathryn L. Koob, 42 - Embassy Cultural Officer; one Embassy Cultural Officer; one of two female hostagesof two female hostages.