Chapter 26: The Triumph of Conservatism, 1969–1988

1. Title 1X A ban on gender discrimination in higher education is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any

federally funded education program or activity2. Nixon and China

Full diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China were not established until 1979, but Nixon’s visit sparked a dramatic increase in trade between the two countries.

3. Oil Crisis4. Nixon and the Great Society

More efficient administration Shift responsibility to the states Shift school desegregation to the court

5. The Nixon pardon Among his first acts as president, Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, shielding him from

prosecution for obstruction of justice.6. Iranian Hostage Crisis

When Carter in November 1979 allowed the deposed shah of Iran to seek medical treatment in the United States, Khomeini’s followers invaded the American embassy in Tehran and seized fifty-three hostages. They did not regain their freedom until January 1981, on the day Carter’s term as president ended. Events in Iran made Carter seem helpless and inept and led to a rapid fall in his popularity.

7. The Savings and Loan Crisis8. Iran-Contra Affair

Scandal of the second Reagan administration involving sales of arms to Iran in partial exchange for release of hostages in Lebanon and use of the arms money to aid the Contras in Nicaragua, which had been expressly forbidden by Congress.

9. Family Assistance Plan A ''negative income tax'' that would replace Aid to Families with Dependent Children

(AFDC) by having the federal government guarantee a minimum income for all Americans.

10. Block grants Grants given to states to spend as they see fit, rather than for specific purposes.

11. San Antonio Independent School District V. Rodriguez A 5-4 Court majority ruling that the Constitution did not require equality of school

funding12. Reverse Discrimination

Claims that, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause, minorities were granted special advantages over whites.

13. Regents of the University of California V. Bakke Case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the California university system�s

use of racial quotas in admissions but allowed the use of race as one factor in admissions decisions.

was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. It upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admission policy.

14. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Agreements which froze each country’s arsenal of intercontinental missiles capable of

carrying nuclear warheads.15. My Lai Massacre

An incident in which a company of American troops killed some 350 South Vietnamese civilians.

A mass killing of helpless inhabitants of a village in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, carried out in 1968 by United States troops under the command of Lieutenant William Calley.

16. War Powers Act Law passed in 1973, reflecting growing opposition to American involvement in Vietnam

War; required congressional approval before president sent troops abroad Congress passed this to limit the power of the president in military affairs Congress also passed the congressional budget and impoundment act which forced the

president to spend any money he attempted to hold onto17. Stagflation

A combination of stagnant economic growth and high inflation present during the 1970s.

18. Misery index The sum of the unemployment and inflation rates

19. Helsinki Accords Agreements made in 1975 between the United States and Soviet Union that, over time,

inspired movements for greater freedom within the communist countries of eastern Europe.

20. Camp David Peace Treaty A peace agreement between Egypt and Israel facilitated by Jimmy Carter.

21. Neoconservatives A group of intellectuals who charged that the 1960s had produced a decline in moral

standards and respect for authority.22. Regan Revolution

A reference to how Reagan reshaped the nation’s agenda and political language more effectively than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

23. Reaganomics Popular name for President Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of supply side economics,

which combined tax cuts with an unregulated marketplace. The ascendancy of conservation in the 1980’s can be partially attributed to the

economic “stagflation” of the Carter years Regan espoused supply-side economic theory Supply-sides favored simultaneous tax cuts and reduction in spending to encourage

investors and entrepreneurs Conservative author George Glides wrote “a successful economy depends on the

proliferation of the rich”

24. Nixon’s Domestic Policy25. Vietnam

26. Watergate

Watergate Scandalo Summer 1973-Senate investigation

Damaging Senate hearings on cover-up White House tapes discovered

o Summer 1974 Nixon must relinquish tapes House Judiciary committee recommends impeachment

o August 9,1974 Nixon resigns

Watergate Scandal Consequenceso Demonstrates growing power of the executive brancho Illustrates vitality of institutions

Press Federal judiciary Congress

Watergateo Nixon had attorney general appoint a special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, to help

in the investigationo After, Cox asked Nixon to give him the tapes, Nixon ordered the attorney

general to fire coxo Response to that, the attorney general resigned as well as top aides to him

27. Gold age28. Gerald Ford

Vice president Nixon appoint Gerald Ford as his new VP Nixon did release written transcripts of the tapes although they were heavily edited Supreme court ordered Nixon to hand over the tapes and he did Tapes revealed direct evidence of a cover up of the break-in

29. Jimmy Carter Carter’s Success

o 1978—Camp David Accordso 1979—Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty

Carter’s Failureo 1979—Iranian Revolutiono November—U.S> embassy in Teheran invaded, 58 Americans taken hostageo Carter fails to secure hostages’ release

Carter lost public confidence during the Iranian hostage crisis30. Regan Revolution

following his overwhelming victory Reagan and his political allies began an effort to reverse the political legacy of the New Deal and Great society

His 1st Inaugural Address: “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem government is the problem”

Regan was able to capitalize on the new conservative national sentiment with a simple message: low taxes. Smaller government and strong national defense

Addition to delivering a clear, concise agenda, Reagan conveyed a sense of optimism and accessibility that earned him the title “the Great Communisator”

31. Cold War 32. Détente

Nixon more interested in foreign policy Henry Kissinger was his primary advisor Nixon and Kissinger had practical approach to diplomacy Cold war traditional Great Power struggle. Not ideological war with Communism Detente-Relaxation of tension with soviets Detente: Tactics and Actions

o Nixon’s 1972 visit to china and the “China Card”o Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)o Limited each side to 200 ABMso Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)o Froze number of offensive ballistic missiles for 5 years

33. Election of 198834. Reagan

The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989

Reagan Administration:1980-1988o Ascendancy of conservatism

Promoted the concept that social programs had not solved poverty Did not favor social programs to aid the poor Social spending was incompatible with economic growth Did not support federal civil rights