Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter Enters the White Enters the White

HouseHouse

Election of 1976In the 1976 Presidential Election, the Republicans nominated the In the 1976 Presidential Election, the Republicans nominated the

sitting president Gerald Ford as their candidatesitting president Gerald Ford as their candidate

The Democrats nominated a relative unknown, Georgia Governor The Democrats nominated a relative unknown, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, who had once been a peanut farmerJimmy Carter, who had once been a peanut farmer

In a close In a close election, Carter election, Carter defeated Ford defeated Ford to become the to become the nation’s 39nation’s 39thth president.president.

Texas was a key Texas was a key state in the state in the victory for victory for

Carter.Carter.

Gerald Ford, Republican Jimmy Carter, Democrat

Election of 1976

Carter won 40.8 million votes and 297 electoral votesFord won 39.1 million votes and 240 electoral votes

The Carter YearsThe Carter YearsJimmy Carter was liked by Jimmy Carter was liked by

many because he was a many because he was a Southern Democrat who Southern Democrat who

was not a Washington was not a Washington insiderinsider

But Carter’s Presidency But Carter’s Presidency was troubled by the Iran was troubled by the Iran

hostage crisis and an hostage crisis and an economic downturneconomic downturn

Economic Problems Economic Problems ContinueContinue

Carter increased government spending to Carter increased government spending to put more money into the economy. Result: put more money into the economy. Result: Rising inflation.Rising inflation.

Then Carter cut government spending. Then Carter cut government spending. Funding was cut for social programs.Funding was cut for social programs.

Businesses failed & more people lost their Businesses failed & more people lost their jobs.jobs.

Then asked for an increase in government Then asked for an increase in government spending.spending.

Voters had enough of his economic policy Voters had enough of his economic policy swings.swings.

OPEC OPEC OPEC is the Organization of OPEC is the Organization of

Petroleum Exporting Countries and it Petroleum Exporting Countries and it was founded in 1960 by five founding was founded in 1960 by five founding

members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.Arabia and Venezuela.

One of the factors that One of the factors that caused inflation was caused inflation was

the rising price of the rising price of energy like gasoline & energy like gasoline &

heating oil heating oil

OPEC-Embargo OPEC-Embargo • OPEC Member Nations agree on OPEC Member Nations agree on

how much oil to pump and at how much oil to pump and at what price to sell their oil.what price to sell their oil.

• OPEC decided to use oil as a OPEC decided to use oil as a political weapon.political weapon.

• In response to the U.S. support of In response to the U.S. support of Israel, in 1973 OPEC placed an oil Israel, in 1973 OPEC placed an oil embargo (ban) on any nation that embargo (ban) on any nation that supported Israel. This included supported Israel. This included the US & Western Europe.the US & Western Europe.

Middle East TurmoilMiddle East Turmoil Trouble began in the Middle East Trouble began in the Middle East

following World War II with the following World War II with the creation of Israel.creation of Israel.

During the wars, the During the wars, the United States supported United States supported Israel due to our close Israel due to our close Judea-Christian ties.Judea-Christian ties.

The conflict led to four wars The conflict led to four wars between Israel and numerous between Israel and numerous

Muslim-dominated Arab countriesMuslim-dominated Arab countries

Gas ShortagesGas ShortagesThe OPEC oil embargo The OPEC oil embargo led to gas shortages in led to gas shortages in the United States and the United States and throughout the world.throughout the world.

Gas prices skyrocketed and Gas prices skyrocketed and people were limited to the amount people were limited to the amount

of gasoline they could buy.of gasoline they could buy.

The fuel shortage The fuel shortage became known as became known as the US Energy Crisis the US Energy Crisis due to OPEC raising due to OPEC raising pricesprices

Gas ShortagesGas Shortages

Long lines and hours of waiting to get gas were common Long lines and hours of waiting to get gas were common sights in the 1970s.sights in the 1970s.

The embargo was meant to force Israel’s allies to desert it.

The embargo was called off in March of 1974 without achieving its goal.

Conserving EnergyConserving Energy

As PresidentAs President Carter’s goal was to Carter’s goal was to

cut the nation’s cut the nation’s dependence on foreign dependence on foreign oil. oil.

Called for increase in Called for increase in coal production.coal production.

Funding for research Funding for research on renewable energy on renewable energy sources such as solar, sources such as solar, sun, power & wind sun, power & wind power. power.

Carter asked Carter asked Citizens to make fewer car Citizens to make fewer car

trips use more trips use more transportationtransportation

Homes, offices & schools Homes, offices & schools should be kept cooler in should be kept cooler in winter and warmer in winter and warmer in summer.summer.

Automakers began to Automakers began to produce smaller cars with produce smaller cars with more fuel-efficient engines.more fuel-efficient engines.

US greatly reduced the use US greatly reduced the use of foreign oil during the late of foreign oil during the late 70s70s

Carter’s Foreign AffairsCarter’s Foreign Affairs 1978, Pres. Carter 1978, Pres. Carter

negotiated that the negotiated that the Panama canal would be Panama canal would be givengiven to the nation of to the nation of Panama on 12/31/1999.Panama on 12/31/1999.

Central goal: Promote Central goal: Promote human rights. Carter cut human rights. Carter cut aid to countries that aid to countries that violated the rights of their violated the rights of their people. people.

US pressured US pressured RussianPremier Brezhnev RussianPremier Brezhnev to stop mistreating to stop mistreating dissidents (pp who dissidents (pp who disagreed with communist)disagreed with communist)

US-Soviet TensionsUS-Soviet Tensions Soviets invaded Soviets invaded

AfghanistanAfghanistan Brezhnev refused to Brezhnev refused to

withdraw forces. withdraw forces. Carter ordered embargo Carter ordered embargo

on the shipment of grain on the shipment of grain & ordered US Olympic & ordered US Olympic team to boycott the team to boycott the 1980 summer games in 1980 summer games in Moscow.Moscow.

Détente had fallen apart.Détente had fallen apart.

Camp David AccordsCamp David Accords

One of the greatest achievements of Carter was in his foreign One of the greatest achievements of Carter was in his foreign policy.policy.

Carter negotiated a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt Carter negotiated a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt that was known as the Camp David Accords, signed in September that was known as the Camp David Accords, signed in September

1978.1978. Egypt recognized Israel and Israel agreed to give up some of Egypt recognized Israel and Israel agreed to give up some of

the territory it had captured.the territory it had captured.

Iran Hostage CrisisIran Hostage Crisis

*Carter allowed the Shah of Iran to enter US for cancer treatment. *Carter allowed the Shah of Iran to enter US for cancer treatment. *This angered the revolutionaries.*This angered the revolutionaries.*They took over the American Embassy in response to the U.S. *They took over the American Embassy in response to the U.S. allowing the former Shah of Iran to come to the U.S.allowing the former Shah of Iran to come to the U.S.

Iran was a country that ignored human rights.US backed Shah or leader of Iran for 2 reasons.1.Major oil producer2.Iran bordered the Soviets. US believed it would keep Soviets out of the Middle East

Iran Hostage CrisisIran Hostage Crisis

The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the U.S., when 52 Americans were held hostage Iran and the U.S., when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981

Iran Hostage CrisisIran Hostage Crisis

• They demanded that U.S. send the Shah back to Iran in return for the hostages. Carter refused.

• They were not released until after Carter was defeated in the 1980 election and left office.