United States History · Chapter 30
30. Political Storms at Home and Abroad, 1968-1980
The chapter discusses the political and social upheavals in the U.S. from 1968 to 1980, highlighting the rise of identity politics, the counterculture movement, and significant protests, including those by American Indians and the gay rights movement. It covers Nixon's election, his domestic policies, the Vietnam War's escalation and eventual withdrawal, the Watergate scandal, and the subsequent presidencies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, emphasizing the challenges of economic stagnation and foreign policy crises, including the Iranian hostage situation.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Describe the counterculture of the 1960s
- Explain the origins of the American Indian Movement and its major activities
- Assess the significance of the gay rights and women’s liberation movements
- Explain the factors responsible for Richard Nixon’s election in 1968
- Describe the splintering of the Democratic Party in 1968
- Discuss Richard Nixon’s economic policies
- Discuss the major successes of Richard Nixon’s foreign policy
- Describe the events that fueled antiwar sentiment in the Vietnam era
- Explain Nixon’s steps to withdraw the United States from the conflict in South Vietnam
- Describe the actions that Nixon and his confederates took to ensure his reelection in 1972
- Explain the significance of the Watergate crisis
- Describe Gerald Ford’s domestic policies and achievements in foreign affairs
- Explain why Gerald Ford lost the election of 1976
- Describe Jimmy Carter’s domestic and foreign policy achievements
- Discuss how the Iranian hostage crisis affected the Carter presidency
Introduction#
Figure 30.1 Pop artist Peter Max designed this postage stamp to commemorate Expo ‘74, a world’s fair held in Spokane, Washington. The fair’s theme was the natural environment. Unfortunately, and ironically, gasoline shortages prevented many from attending the exposition.
From May 4 to November 4, 1974, a universal exposition was held in the city of Spokane, Washington. This world’s fair, Expo ‘74, and the postage stamp issued to commemorate it, reflected many of the issues and interests of the 1970s (Figure 30.1). The stamp features psychedelic colors, and the character of the Cosmic Runner in the center wears bellbottoms, a popular fashion at the time. The theme of the fair was the environment, a subject beginning to be of great concern to people in the United States, especially the younger generation and those in the hippie counterculturea culture that develops in opposition to the dominant culture of a society. In the 1970s, the environment, social justice, distrust of the government, and a desire to end the war in Vietnam—the concerns and attitudes of younger people, women, gays and lesbians, and people of color—began to draw the attention of the mainstream as well.