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Carter Presidency
Foreign Policy Changes
Containment &
Brinkmanship
Detente
Crusader & Conciliator
Truman, Eisenhower &
Kennedy
Nixon & Carter
Reagan
Contain, Coercion, M.A.D., Arm and Space race
manage rivalry
Arms control treaties
Exploit weaknesses of Soviet union
Cold War
Foreign Policy under Carter
President Carter (1977-1981) Camp David accords between Egypt and Israel Panama Canal treaties
1904 Panama granted US rights to build & control the canal 1977 agreement to relinquish control by year 2000 Dec. 31, 1999 Carter’s ceremony
Cold War- dormant through most of 70’s Soviet influence threatened in Afghanistan when a Muslim revolt
prepared to topple the Communist regime Rebels armed by the US US boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow
Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and US refused to ratify a SALT II treaty (limit strategic offensive missiles)
Foreign Policy- Middle East
Growing Arab nationalism & OPEC drove oil prices up
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Formed in 1960’s by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela
1970’s 2 oil pricing crisis Arab oil embargo- 1973
Iranian Revolution- 1979
Carter’s Crisis of Confidence After the 1979 Islamic Revolution,
Iran stopped oil shipments to the US.
Gas lines, shortages He delivered a televised address
that became known as the "Malaise Speech."
Carter asks Americans to share the responsibility of energy conservation.
Carter's approval rating plummeted.
The president was criticized for "blaming" the American people and offering few solutions.
Foreign Policy under Carter
OPEC raised prices (over $1 a gallon)
Energy Crisis: reliance on foreign oil
Ration: Even/odd days by license plates
Late 1970’s
Foreign Policy: Middle East
Iranian Revolution
1953 CIA helped to overthrow Iran’s elected leader and supported the Shah.
Conflict between Shah and conservative Muslim leaders known as ayatollahs
Shah fled Iran in 1979 to US for medical
treatment Ayatollah Khomeini returned
from exile
1979 US Embassy in Tehran seized by Islamic revolutionaries (students) More than 53 hostages held
for 444 days
Demand Shah be put on trial
Released on Jan. 20, 1981- Reagan now President
1980’s
Public confidence in leaders shaken, 60’s and 70’s resulted ingrowing cynicism with government
Economy: recession and inflation
Disturbing overseas events
Paved path for popularity of President Ronald Reagan
Conservative ideology
Opposed the “Tax and spend” Great Society & War on
Poverty policies of Democratic Administrations
Creationism, “family values,” cut government, stop
communists, end abortion, restrictions on immigration
Strong military / national defense
American global power
Individualism
Lead to “Culture Wars” & Reagan “Revolution…”
The Christian Right
The growth of evangelical Christianity in the 1970's reflects the concern for what many perceived as a decline in traditional moral values.
By 1978, 40% of Americans described themselves as "born again," including President Carter.
The divisive issues pervading American politics, including abortion and women's rights, contributed to the proliferation of evangelical political organizations.
Political Influence of the Christian
Right
Groups like the National Conservative Political Action Committee and Reverend Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority pioneered the use of sophisticated campaigning and fundraising techniques such as direct mail. The influence and campaign tactics of Christian Right delivered a critical proportion of votes to Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Rev. Jerry Falwall
Reaganomics
Trickle-Down or Supply Side Economics
Congress members received him with applause and quickly passed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (with cut taxes by $747 billion over five years) and the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 (which in one piece of legislation, cut over 200 social and cultural spending by $136 billion over two years).
The tax cut was the largest in history.
Reagan & Foreign Policy
SDI strategy to exploit economic weakness of the Soviet Union
1985 Gorbachev initiates reforms in USSR but unable to keep up with US military spending Glasnost- “openness”
Perestroika-“economic restructuring”
1989 Fall of Berlin Wall (Reagan’s Famous “Tear down this wall” speech)
1990 Germany reunified
1991 Soviet Union collapsed
15 Republics
Foreign Policy in Latin America
Policy of engagement: Long standing US policy to promote stability & order through military and economic aid to protect US interests: support of repressive regimes
Cold War Context: nationalist & revolutionary movements calling for land reforms
Policy of Confrontation: willingness to support violent overthrow of leftist governments
Ex. Sandinistas in Nicaragua once courted by US. Ties to Soviets led to reversal and covert CIA sponsored funding of Contras (counterrevolutionaries)
Iran-Contra Affair, 1980s
1979 election in Nicaragua, US now
opposed the Sandinistas
Sold military land & weapons to Iran
(Khomeini), in return for release of 6
hostages held in Lebanon
Used weapons against Iraq
Used $ to fund the “Contras” who fought
Sandinistas, thus backing rebels in
Nicaragua
Col. Oliver North took the blame,
imprisoned
Illegal sale of US property w/o
Congressional approval
Aid to Contras violated the Boland
Amendments
Election of 1988
Vice President George Bush elected
Republican Party lost ground in both houses of Congress
EXTRA SLIDES
Foreign Policy
(Middle East)
1948 Israel made a state Challenge: deep seated
hostilities between Arabs and Israelis (War 1956, ‘67 and ’73)
Wars led to Israeli victory and took Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza Strip & Sinai Peninsula
1973 Yom Kippur War Joint Arab surprise attack
led by Anwar Sadat (Egypt)
US supplies Israel with weapons for counter attack
Saudi Arabia oil boycott
1979 Camp David Accords under President Carter- peace talks led to concessions
Israel recognized as a state
Egypt receives Sinai Peninsula
Palestinian autonomy in Gaza Strip and West Bank not settled
Reagan & Foreign Policy
Middle East
West Bank dispute as raids from Lebanon attack the region and Israel seeks buffer zone
1982 Israel attacked Lebanon
US entered conflict to restore order
1984 US forces withdrew
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