The Triumph of Conservatism, Nixon s Domestic Policy

Transcription

1 The Triumph of Conservatism, Chapter 26 Unit 7: 1969-Present Nixon s Domestic Policy New Federalism allowed statesto use federal grants however they wanted Established newfederal agencies(epa, OSHA, and NTSB) and expanded welfare programs Endangered Species Act and Clean Air Act were first federal protections of the environment 1

2 Supreme Court and Gender Equality Court continuedto protect right to privacy and guarantee equal access to education Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion University of California v. Bakke (1978): allowed raceto be considered in admission decisions (affirmative action) Title IXbanned gender discrimination in higher education Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed Congress in 1970 bus was not ratified Nixon s Détente Nixonand Secretary of state Henry Kissingerwere realistic about the cold war In 1972, Nixon visited the People s Republic of China, and supported Beijing s participation in the UN Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union led to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of

3 Vietnam Vietnamization planned to replace American troops with South Vietnamese soldiers This and the failed invasion of Cambodia escalated the war NY Times released details of the 1968 My Lai Massacre in which American soldiers killed 350 civilians The classified Pentagon Papers revealed how several presidents mislead Americans about the war War Powers Act (1973) requiresthe President to get congressional approval before sending troops overseas Paris Peace Agreement withdrew American troops Saigon fell to communist forces in

4 Watergate Scandal In 1972, burglars broke into the Democratic Party headquarters Washington Post reporters learned that the orders came from someone close to the President Congressional hearings uncovered extensive abuses of presidential power Impeachment recommended but Nixon resigned in 1974 Stagflation and Recession Low economic growth and high inflation in the 1970s Companies sent manufacturingjobs overseas 1 st trade deficit in the 20 th century meant we imported more than we exported In 1973, the Middle East placed an embargo on oil sales to the U.S. America s dependence on foreign oil became obvious 4

5 Ford and Carter Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon Encouraged Americans to spend wisely and save money to combat inflation Jimmy Carter elected in 1976 Inflationdue to high oil prices continued Nuclear power initiatives stopped after Three Mile Incident released radiation in 1979 The Middle East Carter negotiated the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, in 1979 Iran s American-supported shah was overthrown in hostageswere taken fromthe American Embassy and held until

6 Rise of Conservatism Neoconservative movement argued for less govt. regulation, lower taxes andrenewed focus on the Cold War Moral Majority led by Jerry Falwell: Evangelical Christians argued that moral standards and family values were in decline Reagan Revolution Ronald Reagan won the 1980 election with 91% of the electoral vote Reversedthe trend of federal controlthat started in the Progressive era Reagan hoped to rebuild American confidence with an optimistic view of the future 6

7 Reaganomics Supply Side (Trickle Down) Economics: Cut taxes for businesses and the wealthy and reduced welfare benefits Deregulated industry and relaxed anti-trust laws Increased military spending to stimulate economy Foreign Policy Reagan Doctrine: U.S. should work to roll back Communism by supporting freedom fighters U.S. invasion of Grenada Peace through Strength to stop aggression Announced Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars):Plan to use lasers to shoot down missiles 7

8 Iran-Contra Affair Officials sold arms to Iran in exchange for American hostages in Lebanon Money was than sent to anticommunist rebels (Contras) in Nicaragua Undermined Reagan s statement that we would not negotiate with terrorists End of the Soviet Union At the beginning of his presidency, Reagan took a hardline, calling the Soviet s an Evil Empire In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced political and economic reforms Negotiationsbetween the nations reducedthe number of nuclear weapons in Europe 8