End of the Cold War (1974-1991) Flashcards
Gerald Ford’s Background
Gerald R. Ford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913. He later moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was a high school football star, and he attended the University of Michigan. Ford served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier in WWII. He served as a long-time Republican Congressman. Ford was later appointed to be Vice President by Richard Nixon. When Nixon resigned, Ford took over as President.
Ford’s Pardon of Nixon
Shortly after taking office as President after Nixon resigned, Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes he may have committed as President. The pardon meant that Nixon would never have to face criminal charges for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Ford’s decision generated a lot of controversy as millions of Americans wanted to see the disgraced former President brought to justice. Some critics charged that Ford issued the pardon to Nixon as part of a pre-arranged deal to reach the Oval Office. But, Ford insisted that the nation’s future hinged on ending the scandal of Watergate and beginning the process of healing.
Ford’s Domestic Policy, OPEC & Inflation
Ford faced a troubled economy as President. Inflation and unemployment remained high. Foreign competition led to factory closings and worker layoffs. Oil prices remained high. He called on Americans to save rather than spend money. He urged people to plant gardens to offset rising food prices. To fight inflation, Ford launched voluntary wage and price controls. He also tried to cut government spending to control inflation. When this failed, the President asked Congress to pass a tax cut. This tax cut helped improve the economy, but it reduced government revenue and helped lead to a budget deficit. Ford battled a heavy Democratic Congress and vetoed 66 pieces of legislation that conflicted with his basic philosophy of fiscal conservatism.
Election of 1976
Republican President Gerald R. Ford ran against Democrat Jimmy Carter from Georgia. Carter stressed his integrity, or moral character, and his religious faith. Carter vowed to restore the faith of Americans in the federal government by making it more open and efficient. Carter won in a close election over Ford.
Jimmy Carter’s Background
A former Georgia governor, Carter had never worked in Washington, D.C. He was seen as an “outsider” candidate. This was an appealing quality after the Watergate scandal.
Carter Economy - Stagflation and Gas Problems
Carter tried to boost the economy. He cut taxes and increased spending. Unemployment went down, but inflation went up. Carter then called for spending cuts and a delayed tax cut. Carter’s change of course made him seem weak and uncertain. As an outsider, he also had trouble gaining support in Congress. Carter tried to address the country’s energy problems. High energy costs made inflation worse. Carter presented a National Energy Plan to solve the energy crisis. He also wanted to collect taxes to increase oil production and energy conservation. Congress passed a weakened version of his plan in 1978.
3 Mile Island Incident
In March 1979, a major accident took place at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Officials said there was little threat to the public from the event. However, many people feared that this kind of accident could cause widespread harm. It could lead to a release of nuclear energy that might poison people and the land.
Panama Canal Treaties
Carter took action to end Latin American bitterness over the Panama Canal. Over the years, U.S. control of the canal had caused friction between the U.S. and Panama. Carter signed two treaties with Panama in 1977 that turned the Panama Canal over to Panama by the year 2000. They also ensured that the canal would remain a neutral waterway open to all shipping.
Iranian Hostage Crisis
In the 1970s, Iran was a major U.S. ally in the oil-rich Persian Gulf region. Iran’s ruler built a powerful military with U.S. aid. In January 1979, Islamic fundamentalists forced the shaw to flee Iran. The new ruler was hostile to the U.S. In November 1979, Iranian students with government support stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The group held 52 Americans hostage. Diplomatic attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages failed. A daring rescue attempt ended in tragedy with the deaths of 8 American soldiers. The hostage crisis dragged on and became a major issue in the election of 1980.
Soviets Invade Afghanistan
In December 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and the U.S. was outraged. The U.S. and other nations refused to participate in the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in Moscow.
Miracle on Ice (1980)
One of the most dramatic upsets in sports history. February 22, 1980, the U.S. men’s olympic hockey team defeated the heavily-favored Soviets in the Winter Olympic games in Lake Placid, New York. The U.S. team was a group of amateurs, while the Soviet team was a “dream team” that had just defeated the U.S. in an exhibition game 10-3. To many Americans, the victory was an ideological victory in the Cold War as meaningful as the Berlin Airlift and the Apollo moon landing. The upset came at a needed time for the U.S., as the Soviets had just invaded Afghanistan, and the Iran Hostage Crisis was ongoing.
Election of 1980
President Carter ran against Republican candidate Ronald Reagan. As the election approached, Carter’s troubles mounted. Many Americans blamed him for a weak economy, which was experiencing both high inflation and high unemployment. They also blamed him for not gaining the release of the American hostages in Iran. Reagan easily won the election over Carter, and Republicans also gained control of the Senate for the first time since 1954. The Iran hostages finally were freed after Reagan took office after being in captivity for 444 days.
Ronald Reagan’s Background
Reagan was a former actor in Hollywood, and had previously been a Democrat before switching to the Republican party. He served as California’s governor before running for President. He lost a close election vs. Carter in the election of 1976, then won a huge victory of Carter in the election of 1980.
Reagan’s Beliefs - Conservatism
Reagan believed in lower taxes, less government spending, strong defense, and national pride. Conservatism favors tradition and moderation. Conservatives prefer a smaller government that has a limited reach into business and people’s lives. Reagan called for a return to what he called “traditional American values.” These included ideas such as family life, hard work, respect for law, and patriotism. Reagan supporters shared the belief that the government made too many rules. They also thought that government collected too much in taxes and spent too much on social programs.
Reagan and Labor (PATCO)
A few months after Reagan took office, the nation’s air traffic controllers went on strike. The strike was against the law, and Reagan ordered the controllers to go back to work. When they refused, Reagan acted quickly and fired the controllers. Then, he ordered the military to oversee air traffic while new controllers were trained to do the work. Reagan’s firm, swift action sent a message that he would use his power to carry out the policies in which he believed. He took a strong stance on following the law and hard work.
