Chapter 24: An Age of Limits

Section 1: The Nixon Administration

New Federalism Nixon’s plan to give more financial freedom to state and local govts. Decrease the size of the federal govt. Revenue sharing = state and local govts. could decide how to spend federal money

Welfare Reform Family Assistance Plan (FAP) – every family of four receives $1,600 a year and have to accept any reasonable work Senate does not approve it

Social Programs Social Security Medicare Food stamps Nixon Increases Fed. $ Nixon Decreases Fed. $ Social Security Medicare Food stamps Impounded (withheld) $15 billion for housing, health, education Ended the Office of Economic Opportunity

Law and Order Politics Peace negotiations with N. Vietnam End Urban Riots and Protests Peace negotiations with N. Vietnam FBI, CIA, Internal Revenue Service target antiwar and civil rights activists

Nixon’s Southern Strategy Since Reconstruction the South had been mainly Democratic White Southern Democrats are losing faith in their “liberal” party (anti-Great Society and Civil Rights) Nixon tries to reverse civil rights policies by delaying desegregation plans for schools Supreme Court orders Nixon to change policies Opposes the extension of the Voting Rights Act Opposes integration of schools through busing Appoints 3 conservative judges to the Supreme Court

Questions 1. What was the goal of Nixon’s New Federalism? 2. In what ways did Nixon both strengthen and weaken federal programs? 3. Why had many Democratic voters in the South become potential Republican supporters by 1968? 4. Why did Pres. Nixon oppose the extension of the Voting Rights Act?

Section 4: Environmental Activism 1962 – Rachel Carson – publishes Silent Spring Pesticides – chemicals used to kill insects and rodents – were dangerous Americans realize human behavior and our nation’s industrial growth have a damaging effect

Environmental Concerns – 1970s April 22,1970 – first Earth Day – almost every community in the country hosts an environmental – awareness activity 1970 – Nixon brings 15 existing fed. pollution programs into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and signs the Clean Air Act 1971 – Nixon signs Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Carter furthers it in 1978

Environmental Concerns – 1970s Nuclear power plants seem like a good alternative to foreign oil but scientists warn about health risks 1979 – nuclear reactor at a plant on Three Mile Island (Penn) malfunctions and low level radiation escapes 100,000 residents are evacuated but no one dies

A Continuing Movement “Why worry about the long run, when you’re out of work right now?” -unemployed steelworker