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■Essential Question: –Why did the economic & foreign
policies of Ford & Carter fail to meet the needs of America in the late 1970s?
■Chapter 30 pg 1093-1112
■Essential Question: –Why did the economic & foreign
policies of Ford & Carter fail to meet the needs of America in the late 1970s?
The 1970s: A Crisis in Confidence■The “overextended society” of the
1970s was defined by:–Low economic growth, high
prices, & rising unemployment –Distrust of the government due
to the Watergate scandal–“Passionless presidents” who
failed to project clear leadership–An end of Nixon-era détente &
resumption of Cold War rivalries
The U.S. Economy in the 1970s
Energy and the Economy■In the 1970s, 2 great oil shocks
hurt the U.S. economy:–In 1973, the Arab members of
OPEC initiated a 5% cut on production & an embargo against the U.S.
–The Iranian Revolution in 1979 cut off oil & led to another gas-shortage & soaring interest rates
To punish Israel’s allies when Egypt & Syria attacked against Israel
The fuel shortage led to a 200% increase in the price of gas & home heating
Led to worst recession since Depression
The OPEC oil embargoIranian Revolution
The Oil Shocks: Price Increases of Crude Oil & Gasoline
The Search for an Energy Policy■These oil shocks forced the U.S.
to realize its dependency on other nations for oil & led to action:–Nixon formed the EPA to oversee
industry’s environmental impact–The new Dept of Energy (1977)
emphasized conservation & domestic energy production
–Still…U.S. oil imports rose 50% from 1973 to 1979
Mandated gas mileage requirements, speed
limits, & price controls on domestic oilNuclear plants &
Alaskan oil pipeline
A Troubled American Economy■The 1970s economy grew stagnant:
–Unemployment grew to 9% –Heavy industry jobs fell due to
outsourcing & foreign competition■1970s experienced huge inflation:
–Due to Vietnam deficit spending, global food shortage, oil shocks
–Massive price increases led to a 5.5% decrease in “real income” for average Americans
Workers’ wages did not keep up with rising prices
Milk & hamburger prices rose 200%
Bread prices rose 400%Car prices rose 72%A stagnant economy
High inflationSTAGFLATION
Neither Ford nor Carter could stop “stagflation;” Carter’s policies actually
drove interest rates up to 20%
The “Lean Years”The Presidencies of
Ford & Carter
The Ford Administration■Gerald Ford failed to restore
public confidence after Watergate:–Ford pardoned Nixon for any
crimes he may have committed –He revealed a number of past
CIA assassination attempts & appointed George Bush to reorganize the CIA
–Vetoed 39 Great Society-style bills initiated by Congress
The 1976 Campaign■In 1976, dark-horse Jimmy Carter
won the Democratic nomination & campaigned as an outsider, an honest man, with fresh leadership
■Carter won a narrow victory due to social class & racial factors:–Affluent, well-educated,
suburban voters chose Ford–Socially & economically
disadvantaged voted for Carter
Ford’s foreign policy blunder during the TV debates in 1976: “There is no Soviet
domination of Eastern Europe”
Disenchantment with Carter■Carter entered office with no clear
political philosophy or vision:–Deregulated the airline industry
which lowered prices –But…his attempts to reform
welfare & Social Security failed–He had no remedy for soaring
inflation, interest rates, & bank failures that hurt the economy
In 1979, Carter gave the “national malaise” speech in which he discussed the importance
of conserving energy but seemed to blame Americans for creating a “crisis in confidence”
Carter’s Human Rights Foreign Policy
A Declining Superpower■America’s international dominance
declined sharply in 1970s due to:–Americans’ increasing desires
to avoid “another Vietnam”–The War Powers Act forced the
president to consult with Congress before sending troops
–The escalating military costs & deficit spending made sustaining the Cold War impossible
Foreign Policy & Human Rights■Carter focused his foreign policy
on a commitment to human rights:–Spoke out against repressive
regimes in Latin America & apartheid in South Africa
–Reformed the CIA to operate “within the law” (but only briefly)
–Negotiated the return of the Panama Canal to Panamanians
Foreign Policy & Human Rights■In Nov 1977, Egyptian leader
Sadat made an appeal with Israel to settle the October War of 1973
■Carter invited Egyptian leader Sadat & Israeli leader Begin to the U.S. to negotiate terms
■The Camp David accords in 1979 led to a peace treaty between Egypt & Israel, but alienated other Arab nations
Celebrating the Camp David Accords: Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter, & Anwar Sadat
The Cold War Resumes■During the Carter years, the
Cold War rivalry between the U.S. & USSR widened due to:–A new arms race as the U.S.
adopted new MX missiles & Trident submarines
–SALT II failed to make lasting arms reduction
–Increased U.S.-Sino relations put the USSR on the defensive
Ohio-class submarine with Trident nuclear missile capability
The Cold War Resumes■Détente ended when the USSR
invaded Afghanistan in 1979 ■The U.S. interpreted the attack as
a move to take the Middle East & responded with:–Economic embargo of the USSR –Boycott of the Moscow Olympics–Aid to the Afghani resistance
Carter hoped to limit nuclear arms & advance human rights, but found himself in a heightened Cold War
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, 1979
The Iranian Hostage Crisis ■The Camp David victory was offset
by the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis:–Exiled Islamic fundamentalist
Ayatollah Khomeini led a coup against U.S.-backed the shah
–When Carter allowed the shah to enter the U.S. for medical aid, irate mobs in Tehran took 52 hostages from the U.S. embassy
Quest for Peace in the Middle East■Carter’s attempts at diplomatic,
military, & economic threats failed to bring a return of the hostages–In 1980, Carter approved a
rescue mission that was aborted after 2 helicopters crashed
–The perceived blunders & inability of Carter to end the hostage crisis hurt Carter in his re-election bid in 1980
Conclusions:A Failed Presidency
A Failed Presidency■Carter’s failures with inflation,
Iran, & Afghanistan overshadowed his foreign policy victories with the Panama Canal & the Middle East
■The failures of Johnson, Nixon, Ford, & Carter led to a desire among Americans for a strong leader who could face both domestic & foreign challenges
Carter’s 1980 approval rating was 23%