America in the 1970's Flashcards

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1
Q

Vietnam War Causes

A
  • 1950s: the French were overwhelmed by North Vietnamese (communists) guerrilla warfare tactics, the U.S. becomes invested
  • South Vietnamese leader (Ngo Dinh Diem) was unpopular, leads to his assassination
  • Domino Theory: if Vietnam fell to communism, the rest of the South Pacific would
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2
Q

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

A
  • 1964
  • North Vietnamese ships attacked U.S. ships, seen as a direct threat
  • Lyndon B. Johnson uses this to convince Congress to send more troops to Vietnam
  • Congress authorizes office of the President “all necessary measures” in waging war against Vietnam
  • Increases the power of the President / the Executive Branch
  • American Boats get “blown up” so congress says “We need to go fight Vietnam and this justifies doing so”
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3
Q

Tet Offensive

A
  • North Vietnamese led a massive offensive on every South Vietnam City and U.S. military base in Vietnam
  • News agencies capture the offensive, release the images to millions across the U.S.
  • News covered more intensely than any other war (in previous wars they had been working for the government)
  • Americans begin to see the evils of war
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4
Q

The Pentagon Papers

A
  • Journalists leaked Vietnam War information to the public, focused on U.S. troops attacking women and children
  • Supreme Court rules that this information must be released to the public
  • Stirs up antiwar activity
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5
Q

Why does Lyndon B. Johnson not run for a second term?

A
  • Vietnam failures were too damaging

- Started losing primaries (because of Vietnam backlash)

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6
Q

Richard Nixon

A
  • Republican
  • former Vice President to Eisenhower
  • Believed in fiscal responsibility / modern republicanism
  • Goals
    - End Vietnam War with a U.S. victory
    - Follow Eisenhower’s Domino Theory
  • Social policy: leave it up to the states discretion; no civil rights acts
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7
Q

Moon Landing

A
  • July 20th, 1969
  • America wins the space race
  • Patriotic moment for the U.S.
  • Morale boost after 1960s (Vietnam War, JFK’s assassination,…)
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8
Q

Nixon’s Vietnam War Approach

A
  • Increase warfare
  • Increase bombing missions in Vietnam
  • Vietnamization: reduce troops and give money to South Vietnam
  • Utilize Cambodia to get rid of communism on the peninsula
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9
Q

Anti War Protests

A
  • 2 groups:
    - Supporters (Hawks)
    - Opposers (Doves)
  • As the Vietnam War worsens, more people protest
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10
Q

Kent State Massacre

A
  • May 4th, 1970
  • Massive antiwar protest at Kent State University
  • National Guard arrives, tensions flare, and 4 students are killed
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11
Q

End of Vietnam War

A
  • End of 1972 North Vietnam, South Vietnam, and the United States agree to an armistice
  • North Vietnam takes over South Vietnam
  • About 1 million dead on both sides
  • $118 million spent
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12
Q

Detente

A

Deliberate decrease in communism / Cold War tensions

  • a policy of “openness” + called for countries to respect each other’s differences and cooperate more closely
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13
Q

SALT Treaty

A
  • Stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

- Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to decrease the amount of nuclear weapons

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14
Q

New Federalism

A
  • Government program created by Nixon
  • Gives $30 million to states and local governments
  • Democrats are against it; they believe the government should decide what to do with the money, not the states
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15
Q

Stagflation

A
  • Stagnation & inflation
  • Wages and annual income stay constant
  • Costs of goods and services rises
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16
Q

Causes of Stagflation

A
  • Millions spent on trying to win the Vietnam War
  • OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) Oil Embargo because of increased tensions in Israel (causes gas prices to rise dramatically)
17
Q

The Burger Court

A
  • Nixon nominates conservative judges to replace retired liberal judges
  • Warren M. Burger replaces Earl Warren
  • Court doesn’t rule the way Nixon had expected
18
Q

Roe v. Wade

A
  • 1973
  • Burger Court dominated by conservatives, making Nixon think they would be against people in favor of abortion
  • Supreme Court rules that women have the right to abortion
19
Q

Election of 1972

A
  • Nixon has little competition
  • One of the biggest landslide victories in history
  • Nixon is looking to get America out of bad economy and establish good economic world relations
20
Q

Watergate Scandal

A
  • CREEP and Nixon set up illegal wiretaps to record the strategies of the democratic party
  • Wiretapping is ordered in the oval office too
21
Q

Nixon v. United States

A
  • 1974
  • Nixon says the wiretapping was a matter of national security
  • The judges that Nixon nominated ruled against him
  • Watergate Scandal = impeachable offense (the president isn’t above the law)
  • Nixon has to hand over the tapes
22
Q

Nixon’s Resignation

A
  • Impeachment trial would remove Nixon from office
  • Nixon chooses to resign first
  • Vice President Gerald Ford becomes President
23
Q

The War Powers Act

A
  • Congress has to be notified 48 hours before any military action
  • Military action > 60 days has to be approved by Congress
24
Q

Federalism

A

No branch has power > the other branches

25
Q

Gerald Ford

A

-Republican
-Vice President to Nixon, then President
Goals:
-Introduce conservative measures to fix inflation
-Investigations in federal corruption & wrongdoings
-Vetoes 37 democratic approaches to inflation

26
Q

Election of 1976

A
  • Jimmy Carter wins
  • Ford’s association with Nixon causes less votes because of national shame
  • Some Republicans liked Ford’s conservative approach
  • Republican Party splits
    - Gerald Ford (Moderate)
    - Ronald Reagan (Conservative)
  • Like elections of 1860 and 1912
27
Q

Jimmy Carter

A
  • Democrat
  • Goals:
    - Reduce Cold War tensions
    - Stabilize / recover the economy
    - More rights to minority groups
28
Q

Jimmy Carter & the Panama Canal

A
  • Convinces Congress to pass treaties with Panama to give back the canal
  • Takes 20 years for complete control
29
Q

Camp David Accords

A
  • Negotiate peace talks with Israel & Egypt to try to end Israeli Wars
  • Doesn’t provide long-lasting help
30
Q

Iran Hostage Situation

A
  • Sinks Carter’s reputation
  • Iran passes legislation to open trade to other countries (i.e. the Soviet Union)
  • U.S. puts the dictator in charge
  • 1979: the dictator is removed and the US embassy takes over
  • Carter sends a helicopter to rescue hostages but it crashes
31
Q

Carter’s Fiscal Policies

A
  • Inflation as high as 13%
  • Federal reserve raises interest rates (up to 20%) to reduce spending
  • Businesses are forced to lay off workers until the market is corrected
32
Q

Third Wave of Immigration (Technically called Fourth)

A
  • 47% immigrants are from Latin America
  • Economic recession causes extra tensions with immigrants
  • People fear they will take their jobs
  • Violent backlash leads to more awareness & support for immigrants
33
Q

Cesar Chavez

A
  • Worked with the United Farmers Organization to fight for immigrant rights
  • Collective Bargaining : immigrants can unionize and argue for better wages
  • Creates bilingual education in public schools
34
Q

American Indian Movement (AIM)

A
  • Group of Native Americans

- Protest the push for assimilation into American culture in the 60’s and 70’s

35
Q

Self-Determination Act of 1975

A
  • Gives Native Americans control over lands taken by unfair treaties
  • Treaties date back to the Black Hawk War
36
Q

Tribal Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978

A
  • Gives Native Americans more access to education (on & off reservations)
  • Incorporates Native American culture into schools
  • Leads to increase in Native American businesses & casinos