Malaise and the "Me Generation" mzielinski 9/16/2018

Background Reform continued in the ’70s, but without the same “’60s Spirit” Many disappointments had subdued and confused Americans: assassinations, civil unrest, Vietnam, Watergate, etc. 9/16/2018

WOMEN A paradigm change in employment patterns Positive: Branching out from traditional work, rising enrollment in professional schools Negative: unequal pay (1979= 59%, 2010=77%), “glass ceiling” 9/16/2018

The “Glass Ceiling” 9/16/2018

I. WOMEN Transformation of the Family Unit Institution of marriage less stable Decline in birth rate Industrial, urban society “Yuppie” lifestyle Economic struggles and social conflict 9/16/2018

I. WOMEN A Struggle over “Womanhood” E.R.A. Roe v. Wade (1973) Passed Congress Simplicity and interpretation Opposition led by Schlafly Roe v. Wade (1973) Majority opinion written by Harry Blackmun “Pro-Life” vs. “Pro-Choice” Title IX: 1972 (Education Amendments) 9/16/2018

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The American Divide Over Abortion 9/16/2018

II. Minority Issues African-Americans: Progress, but not equality Great strides taken Legal segregation gone Economic figures improving Political power increased A sense of disappointment remained Two-tier society Family breakdown, esp. in poor areas Affirmative Action 9/16/2018

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# of Black Southern Legislators Voter Registration Rates (1965 vs. 1988)   March 1965 November 1988 Black White Gap Ala. 19.3 69.2 49.9 68.4 75.0 6.6 Ga. 27.4 62.6 35.2 56.8 63.9 7.1 La. 31.6 80.5 48.9 77.1 75.1 -2.0 Miss. 6.7 69.9 63.2 74.2 6.3 N.C. 46.8 96.8 50.0 58.2 65.6 7.4 S. C. 37.3 75.7 38.4 56.7 61.8 5.1 Virginia 38.3 61.1 22.8 63.8 68.5 4.7 # of Black Southern Legislators 9/16/2018

Race in America: 1960-1980 Black Year White   Black Year White % of eligible children in pre-K, Kindergarten 29.8% 1967 31.8% 53.1% 1978 49.5% Avg. years of schooling 8.0 1960 10.6 11.7 12.4 % in college 19.4% 1970 25.9% 24.2% 1979 24.8% Male unemployment 7.3% 4.4% 10.9% 5.2% Avg. Household Income $4,325 $7,449 $8,422 1977 $14,272 % below the poverty level 39.8% 1966 11.3% 8.9% 9/16/2018

II. Minority Issues African-Americans: Progress, but not equality Great strides taken Legal segregation gone Economic figures improving Political power increased A sense of disappointment remained Two-tier society Family breakdown, esp. in poor areas Affirmative Action 9/16/2018

II. Minority Issues Latinos Largest increase of all groups A variety of experiences Ran into a nativist backlash Cheap labor Spanish-language proliferation Simpson-Rodino Act (1986) 9/16/2018

Race in America, Census Info 1970 2000 2010 African-American 12.6% 12.3% Latino 4.5% 16.3% Asian-American 0.6% 3.6% 4.8% 9/16/2018

II. Minority Issues Asian-Americans Families of Japanese & Chinese businessmen and academics, but also Filipino laborers and Vietnamese refugees (some of the “boat people”) Networks established for small business success Many immigrants from middle-class and wealthy, and industrial societies that valued education and order 9/16/2018

“Finding” Themselves Exercise Health Foods Spiritual/Psychological Cultural: Music Singer-Songwriters Disco “Supergroups” – fantasia 9/16/2018

Rise of the Sun Belt Major population shift to South and SW Retirement communities Generally more conservative The Sun Belt President Profited from the Energy Crisis Shift in population center Trend continues today 9/16/2018

A Troubled Economy Energy Crisis Three Mile Island Persistent Inflation 9/16/2018

Lines at the gas stations during the energy crisis of the 1970s 9/16/2018

Three Mile Island 9/16/2018

Politics of Mediocrity: The Ford and Carter Years Gerald Ford: Caretaker President Nixon Pardon Fighting inflation 1976: Bicentennial & Election Jimmy Carter: Washington outsider Frustration on the domestic front Serious setbacks (& one shining moment) in foreign policy 9/16/2018

Gerald Ford, U.S. President, 1974-1977 9/16/2018

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Jimmy Carter, U.S. Pres. 1977-1981 9/16/2018

Camp David Accords March 1979 9/16/2018

Jimmy Carter & Leonid Brezhnev SALT II Agreements Jimmy Carter & Leonid Brezhnev 9/16/2018

Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981 9/16/2018