modern us history

1. Modern American History
1970s-present

2. • Nixon was elected in 1968
• In 1972 Nixon visited China. For 25
years, relations between the two
countries was weak. This visit
restored the relationship.
• Between 1972 and 1974, Nixon
became involved in the Watergate
scandal. His involvement in this
scandal would eventually lead to his
resignation from the presidency.
Nixon’s Elected
1968

3. Nixon Resigns
Aug 1974
• Watergate scandal leads
to Nixon’s resignation.
• Gerald Ford assumes
office.
• Sept 1974: Ford pardons
Nixon for any crimes he
“committed or may have
committed” as Pres.
• “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln.”

4. OPEC OIL EMBARGO
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries)
stop shipping oil to countries which supported Israel.
• Drastic rise in prices—1973 $3/barrel
• 1980 $30/barrel
• Gas shortages all over country

5. 1976 Election
Jimmy Carter ran as an
outsider, not tainted by the
scandals of Watergate.
Seen as honest, a man of
the people. But his
inexperience in working
with Congress led to an
ineffective Presidency.
Camp David Accords
Carter saw success in his
foreign policy. He brokered
an historic peace treaty
between Israel and Egypt in
1978.
BUT THEN….

6. Hostage Crisis in Iran
1978: Shah of Iran is pushed out of
power.
• Pres. Carter allows the Shah
to enter the US for medical
reasons.
• In 1979, in Tehran, Iran,
militants take 52 embassy
staff as hostages for 444
days.
Iran becomes an Islamic Republic
led by the Ayatollah Khomeini.
• 8 American soldiers killed in
failed rescue attempt.
• Pres. Carter loses support of
Americans. Seen as weak
and ineffectual.

7. 1980 Election
• Ronald Reagan defeated Carter. Former Calif.
gov. and actor. Signalled a swing to a New
Conservatism in US as well as the rise of the
religious right, the Moral Majority.

8. What’s the difference?
Which one are YOU?
Conservatives
• Distrust fed. gov’t
• Favor free enterprise with
little gov’t regulation
• Lower taxes encourage
investment.
• Believe gov’t programs take
away the incentive to work
and invest.
Liberals
• Gov’t should regulate the
economy.
• Fed gov’t should help
disadvantaged thru social
programs paid for thru
taxes.
• Strong supporters of free
speech and privacy.

9. The Reagan Years
1980-88
• Domestic Policy
• Reaganomics: cut taxes to
stimulate the economy. Encouraged
investment. “Supply-side”
Economics or “trickle-down” theory
(Hoover)
• Program Cuts: lower taxes meant
less money for gov’t programs like
welfare.
• Deregulation: airlines, auto safety
standards, EPA standards on pesticides,
chemicals, cable tv industry.
• Supreme Court: appointed
conservative justices who would follow
original intent of the Constitution
rather than expand.
• Foreign Policy
• Military Buildup: Peace thru
strength. Saw USSR as the “evil
empire” to be defeated, not negotiated
with.
• Afghanistan: US support the
Afghan mujahadeen against a Soviet
invasion. Becomes the USSR’s Vietnam.
1988 Soviets withdraw.
• Nicaragua: US arms the “contras”
fighting the socialist gov’t. Congress
banned aid to contras.
• Grenada: Marxist (communist)
rebels overthrow gov’t. US troops sent
in to put down rebellion .

10. What was the Iran-Contra Affair?
• 1985 scandal
• Senior members of Reagan’s
administration sold
weapons to “moderates” in
Iran hoping that Iran’s
influence would free
American hostages in
Lebanon.
• Profits from the sales then
went to support the Contras
in Nicaragua, bypassing
Congress.
• Was Reagan fully aware of
the situation?
• Lt. Col. Oliver North
oversaw much of operation.
• He claims he had authority
from the President; Reagan
testified he was not aware
of the deal.

11. • US-Soviet Relations
• Under Reagan and Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev,
there was a reduction in
Cold War tensions.
Gorbachev was known for
perestroika (restructuring)
and glasnost (openness),
very “unsoviet” ideas.
• Led to breakup of USSR and
satellite nations and the
reunification of Germany

12. George Bush

13. 1988 Election—Read my lips: no new
taxes!—George Bush
• George Bush elected President. Strong
background in foreign policy.
• Collapse of the Soviet Union, peaceful revolutions
in Eastern Europe. 1989-91
• Tiananmen Square Protest, Beijing 1989.
• Iraq invasion of Kuwait Aug.1990
• Operation Desert Storm Jan.1991
• Recession at home—growing deficit, slow
economy, rising unemployment. Responds with
program cuts and tax increases.

14. 1989 Berlin Wall falls

15. Collapse of the Soviet Union

16. Operation Desert Storm

17. 1992 Election

18. Clinton Presidency 1992-2000
• Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeats George Bush
• Focus on economic issues
• Somali intervention 1992 US troops attempt to
provide food relief and stabilize political situation, but
pulled out after American soldiers were killed. Because
of this setback, there was no US assistance when 1mill+
Rwandans were murdered in 1994.
• Yugoslavia Intervention 1999– Ethnic cleansing in
former Yugoslavia. US and NATO air strikes forced
Serbia to withdraw from Kosovo and stop violence

19. S Somalia 1992

20. Somalia
• Operation Restore Hope, initiated by Bush in Dec ’92,
sent troops in a humanitarian mission in civil war-
torn Somalia. Control of the country was splintered
by rival warlords, and refugees were starving.
• After the situation was “stabilized”, the mission
changed to restoring peace and democracy.
However, not all factions were willing to give up their
power.
• After 19 Americans died in the Battle of Mogadishu
in Oct ’93(Black Hawk Down), Pres. Clinton ordered
all US troops removed from Somalia.

21. Why was Clinton impeached?
• He was charged with
perjury, obstruction of
justice, and abusing his
power as president.
• He was accused of illegal
financial dealings and
improper conduct with a
White House intern, and of
lying about it.
• Charges originate in the
House, but votes in the
Senate fell short of the
majority needed to remove
him from office.

22. 2000 Election………………….

23. Pres. George W. Bush