Ford and Carter Flashcards
When and why did Gerald Ford become president?
9th August 1974, after Nixon’s resignation the day before
What three key domestic challenges did Ford face as president?
Public distrust, rising inflation and unemployment
What key issues caused tension under Ford?
Busing, Aborition and Native/Hispanic American rights
What reputation/image did Ford have when he became president?
Integrity and a ‘man of the people’
Why did Ford’s good reputation soon change?
He pardoned NIxon for the Watergate scandal
How did the media portray Ford?
They mocked him for bad decisions, saying the wrong thing and being clumsy
Jimmy Carter beat Ford in the presidential election of which year?
1976
What did Carter aim to do as president?
Regain trust and heal divisions in American society
What was Carter relucatant to do as president?
Use federal spending to gain support in Congress
How did Congress respond to Carter’s reluctance?
They were unwilling to work with him
What key event in March 1979 damaged Carter’s popularity?
The Three Mile Island Accident (a partial nuclear meltdown in Pennsylvania
Althoug they were not significant, how many acts were passed under Carter?
29
What fell immediately under Ford’s presidency?
Social unrest over Vietnam
Without Congress’ support, what could Ford not do?
Push minority rights issues
Which First Lady supported Ford’s pro-women’s rights stance?
Betty Ford - she spoke on addiction and abortion
Which 1974 act outlawed credit discrimination on sex?
The 1974 Equal Credit Opportunity Act
What increased during Carter’s presidency?
Distrust, activism and protest
Why did Native Americans get new freedoms in 1976?
The Supreme Court ruled against property tax on reservation
What did Carter refuse to ban in the government in 1977?
Anti-gay discrimination
What changes to American law does ERA stand for?
Equal Rights Ammendments
Give two examples of ERA signed by Carter?
1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Domestic Violence laws
Who opposed minority and womens’ rights?
Right wing Christian groups
Why did some groups oppose minority and women’s rights?
They thought this wenr against the American Dream
What did Ford do with Nixon’s advisers after he became president?
Kept them in his cabinet
What did the Church Committee reveal in 1975?
The CIA involvement in assassinations and coups
Why did some question Carter’s honesty?
There were rumours of corruption and drug use in his cabinet
Which scandal damaged Congress’ reputation in 1976?
Koreagate
How did Carter’s family damage his image?
His sister was seen with a porn magazine owner and his brother had taken a $200,000 ‘loan’ from the Libyan government
What three key things damaged America’s self-confidence?
Vietnam, Communist power and dependence on OPEC oil
What did many Americans feel about their country under Ford and Carter?
That it had lost its way
What increased under Ford and Carter that damaged America’s confidence?
Divorce and juvenile crime rates
What important foreign policy did Ford and Kissinger oversee?
America’s withdrawal from Vietnam (April 1975)
How much money did America give to help secure the South Vietnamese government?
$700 million
What happened to Saigon in April 1975?
Communist forces entered the city and took control. ‘The fall of Saigon’
Why did the evacuation of Saigon lead to chaos?
Vietnamese civilians tried to escape on US helicopters from the embassy
How did Ford restore support after Saigon’s evacuation?
US Ship The Mayaguez was recaptured from Cambodia
What key policy did Ford and Kissinger continue with the USSR?
Detente
In 1975, which Soviet leader signed the Helsinki Accords with Ford/
Leonid Brezhnev
Give two terms of the 1975 Helsinki Accords?
America recognised USSR’s control of Eastern Europe and USSR committed to human rights
Who was Carter’s influential National Security Adviser?
Zbigniew Brzezinksi
(Breh-zin-ski)
What did Brzezinksi criticise and argue about the USSR?
Criticised detente and said the USSR were weak
What nuclear limitations policy was agreed between the USSR and America in 1979?
SALT II
What did Carter accuse the USSR of doing?
Human rights abuses and breaking Helsinki Accords
Who became the leader of China after Mao’s death in 1976?
Deng Xiaping
How did Carter respond to human rights abuses of South American nations?
He stopped military aid
How did Carter build relations with China?
Recognising the Communist regime in 1979 and agreeing trade
How did Carter cut official ties with Taiwan?
He ended the 1955 Mutual Defence Treaty
Who opposed Carter’s attempts to cut ties with Taiwan?
The Supreme Court
How did Carter ensure that trade with Taiwan continued?
He passed the Taiwan Relations Act
Give two reasons why the Middle East was important to America?
The US supported Israel and relied on Middle Eastern Oil
After the Yom Kippur War, Carter met with the leaders of which nations?
Egypt and Israel