Key info on Carter Flashcards
years of Carters presidency
1977-81
did Carter support the ERA
yes !
what mobilised large numbers of voters in the 1978 congressional election
national right to life committee estb by Catholic Church
when was concerned women for America estb and by who
1979
Beverly LaHaye
aim of concerned women for America
(was it popular)
opposed ERA and abortion
family focus rather than depriving men of employment
- by mid 80s had half a mil supporters
what was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1977
a 1976 law banning federal federal funding for abortion
why did Carter struggle to alleviate poverty
- white flight exacerbating inner city poverty
- federal expenditure on social security and health care rocketing
- recessions were growing number below poverty line
- homeless grew
why did Carter not do much to alleviate poverty
wanted spending restrained to balance federal budget
how many were estimated to be homeless in 1980
1 million
what was the cause of racial violence in Florida
af-ams blamed Carter for being unsupportive on social welfare programmes and busing
- suffered disproportionately during recessions
what happened in liberty city, Miami 1980
riot in black neighbourhoods with 16 dying and over 400 injured
what Supreme Court ruling in 1978 on affirmative action
Bakke v regents of the university of California
explain Bakke v regents of the university of California (+year)
1978
upheld affirmative action
- Bakke complained they were letting in minorities with lower grades than him
why did soviets become disillusioned with detente (3)
- Carter criticised their human rights record
- excluded them from Middle East peace process
- too friendly with china
what was considered carter’s triumph in Middle East
detente with Egypt and Isreal
when was pro - American Shah overthrown by islamic fundamentalists
1979
how many American hostages did Iran students take
60
how did Carter negotiate the release of American hostages (3)
- stopped US purchase of Iranian oil
- forze iranian assets
- attempted a poorly planned military rescue in April 1980
why did the military rescue of the hostages in April 1980 go badly
mechanical failures of helicopters being used
- 8 us servicemen dead
impact of us hostages
- ruined carters public image - contributed to him losing second term elections
- Americans felt powerless and humiliated
how did the situation in Afghanistan start
they were pro soviet but very divided so soviets invaded in 79 in support of the moderate faction
why did soviets want to invade Afghanistan - how many troops there
they bordered Soviet Union and wanted to remain friendly
100,000 troops
american response to soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- rejected SALT II
-stopped us exports to ussr and participation in Moscow olympics - increased defence expenditure and promised us intervention if soviets threatened western interest in Middle East
result of busing
Bostons public schools went from 48,000 whites to 16,000 by 1987
6% of population moved tp suburbs to escape integrated schools in 70s
how many af-ams were middle class by 1980
1/3
what was the reason for rising af-ams being middle class
- affirmative action in unis
- EEOC pressure to decrease discrimination in hiring
- affirmative actions where percentage of minority owned businesses ‘set aside’
how did median household income show there was still not racial equality
in 1980 median black household income was only 60% of whites
black infant mortality rate in 1980
remained twice that of whites
what city elected a black mayor in 1979
Birmingham :)
what helped to revolutionise black political status
voting rights act
political issues for af-ams remained in 1980 such as (3)
- black Americans still struggled to win statewide elections
- 12% of population but 1% of elected officials
- the 20 black Americans in house of reps represented majority black congressional districts
position as a superpower by 1980: humiliated by:
- Vietnam
- iranian hostages
- America being perceived as aggressive by other countries
- soviet nuclear and naval parity and expansionism
what percent of Americans saw their position as a super power becoming weaker
62%
what percent of Americans considerd America in serious trouble
81%
what had contributed to a federal budget deficit and inflation
vietnam war and welfare programmes
what increased the cost of living
higher fuel costs made manufactured goods less competitive
how many in Detroit were unemployed due to decrease in manufacturing
24%
what nation was rivalling Americans car market
Japan
why were Japanese cars more economical
they were smaller and more efficient due to high petrol prices whereas us cars were ‘gas guzzlers’
what percent of Americans rates Carter a strong leader (presidential election 1980)
18%
what percent of voters stayed home for the 1980 election
47%
why did nearly half of the voters stay home
considered Carter uninspiring despite usually voting democrat
‘great communicator’ in the 1980 election
Reagan came across as warm and optimistic
- he asked if Americans felt better off after 4 years with Carter
why did social conservatives vote for Reagan
- expressed disgust with protets, drug taking and sexual liberalisation. feminism etc
- didn’t agree with women rights (era, abortion, unmarried mothers on welfare)
- opposed supreme courts ruling against school prayer
- criticised federal courts for not allowing creationism
why were evangelical christians significant in the 1980 elections
estimated 5 mil who had never voted before voted for Reagan
