1970-80

Question 1

When was the watergate scandal

Answer 1

1972-1974

Question 2

What was the result of the Watergate scandal

Answer 2

Public confidence was seriously shaken. Mismanagement of Nixon, shocked people

Question 3

How did the role of the media change from 68-80 (2)

Answer 3

Public had wider access to the media.

• Media’s role increasingly grew to see their job as uncovering government deception.
• Made the public more sceptical

Question 4

Factors for the decrease in confidence (6)

Answer 4

• The media
• Scandal
• Mishandling of events
• Societal factors, protests had divided and disillusioned Americans
• The presidents (weakened)
• Energy and economic crisis

Question 5

What type of president was Nixon (3)

Answer 5

Moderate and pragmatic leadership

• Statesmanlike leadership in foreign policy
• Not good with people, win votes on people’s fears

Question 6

Nixon relationship with Congress

Answer 6

Bad with Congress. Democratic Congress but couldn’t even get on with Republican congressmen

Question 7

Why was Nixon forced to resign (2)

Answer 7

• Threat of impeachment, ground of obstruction of justice

- abuse of power

Question 8

What kind of presidency did Ford have? (3)

Answer 8

• Seen as a regular guy “A Ford, not a Lincoln”
• Public confidence further declined when he pardoned Nixon (1974)
• indecisive in policy

Question 9

Ford’s relationship with Congress

Answer 9

• Congress furious with pardon

- Determined to redress balance of power

Question 10

What kind of Leadership did Carter have

Answer 10

• ‘Regular guy’

- Moralistic leadership style

Question 11

Example of Carter’s moralistic leadership alienating voters

Answer 11

• Carter said it was morally right to hand over US control of the Panama Canal
• Take in 125,000 refugees from Castro’s Cuba- Floridians especially incensed (no provisions)

Question 12

War Powers Resolution Act 1973

Answer 12

limit POTUS authority to wage war and reasserted its authority over foreign wars.

Question 13

What also impacted the political landscape (1970s)

Answer 13

Oil Crises
- 1973 OPEC embargoed
- 1979 Iran revolution

Question 14

Nixon methods of Vietnam criticised

Answer 14

• Methods by which he extracted America from Vietnam greatly criticised
• but praised for his détente policy

Question 15

What did the press leak about Nixon

Answer 15

1970- secret bombing of Cambodia

Question 16

Ford’s approval rating after pardoning Nixon

Answer 16

From 71% to 49%

Question 17

1976 election turnout

Answer 17

54%- reflects political apathy and disillusioned electorate

Question 18

By 1979, how many Americans believed their country was ‘in deep and serious trouble’

Answer 18

41%

Question 19

1979 scandal

Answer 19

Iran hostage scandal

Question 20

How many americans died in Vietnam

Answer 20

Roughly 56,000