Transcript America Since 1970 - Social Studies School Service

Recent U.S. History
An American flag is framed
by the wreckage of the World
Trade Center in New York City
shortly after the terrorist attacks
of September 11th, 2001.
The 9/11 attacks were one of
the most traumatic events to
strike the nation in the last
40 years; their long-term
effects are felt to this day.
Essential Questions
• What issues and factors have dominated U.S. foreign policy since
the 1970s?
• What impact did political and economic scandals have on
U.S. policy and the American people?
• How did terrorism and events in the Middle East affect the
nation psychologically?
• What U.S. policies contributed to the eventual end of the
Cold War?
• How did the rise of the Internet change the U.S. economy and
people’s everyday lives?
• What factors contributed to the emergence and rising influence of
various social and political groups during the period?
• Why did the U.S. government restrict civil liberties in the period
following the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
Nixon Becomes President
• Won close victory against
Humphrey in 1968 election
• Considered himself a “law
and order” candidate
• Views resonated with many
tired of social unrest
and war
Richard Nixon prepares to take the
Presidential Oath from Chief Justice Earl
Warren on January 20, 1969
Richard M. Nixon
• Served in House, Senate
• Eisenhower’s VP
• Lost narrowly to JFK
in 1960
• Defeated for California
Governor in 1962
• Elected president in
1968, 1972
• Resigned in 1974
Nixon’s Domestic Policies
• “New Federalism”
• Environmental policies
(Clean Air Act, EPA)
• OSHA and workplace safety
• Women’s rights
• “Revenue sharing”
• Revamping welfare
Nixon’s Foreign Policy
• Development of realpolitik
and détente
• Role of Henry Kissinger
• Visits to China, USSR
• Arms limitation treaties
• CIA involvement in 1973
Chilean coup
President Nixon views the Great
Wall of China in February 1972
Arab Oil Embargo
• OPEC cut production by 25%
due to U.S. dollar devaluation
and Yom Kippur War
• Gasoline prices increased, oil
consumption decreased
• American auto market declined
• Move towards
energy conservation
Discussion Questions
1. What was President Nixon’s “New Federalism”
program? In your estimation, how effective was it?
2. What did Nixon do regarding environmental issues?
3. How did Nixon change his views regarding the
USSR and communist China? Describe the effect
this had on arms limitation agreements.
4. What factors caused the Arab Oil Embargo, and what
short- and long-term impact did it have on the U.S.
economy and society?
Nixon’s “Law and Order” Strategy
• Nixon sought to realign political allegiances into a
new Republican coalition
• Southern Strategy
• Harassment of “militant groups”
• “Enemies List”
The Huston Plan
• Named after White House aide Tom Charles Huston
• Sought to provide coordination of domestic
intelligence assets
• Plan called for domestic burglary, electronic
surveillance, and mail fraud
• Use of IRS to harass subjects
• “White House Plumbers”