we are the decades...
that changed the world.
1970s-Present Module
Richard Nixon
Watergate
The Watergate scandal was a scandal during and after the 1972 Presidential Election. U.S. President and Republican Richard Nixon was running for election against Democrat George McGovern. Frank Wills, a security guard, discovered clues that former FBI and CIA agents broke into the offices of the Democratic Party and George McGovern months before the election. These people listened to phone lines and secret papers were stolen.
When these men were found, it turned out that Nixon was involved and he had helped them cover it all up and might have even hired the men. The Washington Post was a newspaper which played a big role in exposing the misdoings, specifically reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. This showed the public that Nixon was not to be trusted, and society began to view him in a different light.
Nixon chose to resign from office on August 9, 1974
OPEC, Oil Embargo
The OPEC oil embargo was an event where the 12 countries that made up OPEC stopped selling oil to the United States. The embargo sent gas prices through the roof. Between 1973-1974, prices more than quadrupled. ... In response to the oil crisis, the United States took steps to become increasingly energy independent.
SALT I
SALT I, the first series of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, extended from November 1969 to May 1972. During that period the United States and the Soviet Union negotiated the first agreements to place limits and restraints on some of their central and most important armaments.
SALT II
SALT II was a series of talks between American and Soviet negotiators from 1972 to 1979 that sought to curtail the manufacture of strategic nuclear weapons. ... The SALT II Treaty banned new missile programs, defined as those with any key parameter 5% better than in currently-employed missiles.
Space Exploration
Space Exploration will continue to improve.
Unfortunately the Space Shuttle Challenger will explode in mid-air killing all inside.
Normalization of Relations with China
Nixon was seeking to create trade with China and to normalize our relations with them.
Détente
Starting with Nixon, Détente would be a policy seeking to create an easing of tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Middle East
Israel-The U.S. will begin to support Israel
Camp David Accords-President Carter will initiate a treaty between Egypt and Israel. Israel will agree to give back some of the territory taken during the 6 day war and Yom Kipper war and Egypt will agree to peace.
President Ford
Pardoned Nixon from the Watergate Scandal
Helsinki Accords, which were meant to strengthen the relationship between Western nations and the communist countries of Europe and solidify Détente.. for now.
President Carter
During Carter's term as president, two new cabinet-level departments, the Department of Energy and the Department of Education, were established. He established a national energy policy that included conservation, price control, and new technology.
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra Affair was a secret U.S. arms deal that traded missiles and other arms to Iran to free some Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon, but also used the funds from the arms deal to support armed conflict in Nicaragua. Congress was against this and Reagan administration trying to covertly go against them was seen as a huge sandal.
Marines in Lebanon
Marines were sent to Lebanon to help with peacekeeping during the Lebanese Civil War. On October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, housing American and French service members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.
Iran Hostage Crisis
52 American Diplomats held hostage for 444 days by a group of militarized college students seeking a revolution after feeling the U.S. supported the Shah of Iran who they wanted to stand trial.
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
The Community Reinvestment Act is a United States federal law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan; February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and became a highly influential voice of modern conservatism.
Reaganomics or 'Trickle Down Theory'
The concept that if tax breaks are given to big businesses they will use the breaks to benefit those who work with them, as well as, hire more people.
Peace through Strength
The concept that we will keep peace with the world if they are too afraid to mess with the U.S. because our military size and strength.
AIDS Epidemic
AIDS will hit an all time high in the U.S. during Reagan's presidency and he will be forced to look at the issue from a political healthcare crises standpoint.
Conservative Resurgence of the 1980s
Heritage Foundation
The conservative mostly Christian viewed Americans would begin to dominate the polls and their politicians the polls.
The Heritage Foundation is an institution geared at formulating public policy towards conservative goals.
Moral Majority
Group of right wing Christians who supported strict interpretations of the Bible, and pushed for politicians to adhere to their beliefs, and their parishioners to vote for those that did.
War on Drugs
Started in Nixon and continued through to Reagan, this was the movement to stop the drug usage that was taking place. The problem was the war on drugs militarized the police to begin using tactics to take on small time drug dealers and was more a war on poor minority communities and less on rich white communities, both of which used drugs.
Technological Advancements
GPS
Transportation
Robotics with the Assembly Line
Personal Computers
Petroleum Based Products