1. Today we are going to look at some events, issues, and crises during the Jimmy Carter Presidency

2. James Earl Carter (D) - Georgia governor (from Plains, GA)
VP Candidate - Walter Mondale (MN)
A Washington “Outsider”
Honest, Hardworking, Intelligent (Do you know which presidents have the highest IQs?)
Born-again Christian (Southern Baptist)
Moderate Southerner regarding social issues - especially race
Appealed to small town America
The 1976 Election

3. Key Events and Issues of the Carter Presidency
Domestic Issues
Pardon of Vietnam War Draft Evaders
Energy Crisis
Three-Mile Island Nuclear Accident
Foreign Issues
Panama Canal Treaty
Camp David Accords
Iran-Hostage Crisis

4. Presidential Pardon
Jimmy Carter came across as an honest man of deep religious faith who promised not to lie to the American people.
Carter immediately tried to help the nation heal some of the wounds of the past.
He issued a pardon to thousands of Vietnam War draft dodgers.

5. U.S. Relationship with Israel
After WWII the state of Israel was created and the US quickly recognized its sovereignty. The surrounding Arab nations – many of which were good friends of the US violently opposed Israel’s existence.
The historic conflict between Israel and the Arab/Muslim world has complicated the US role in the region.
The US support of Jewish State during the 1967 Six Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War, upset many Arab nations (many of which turned to the USSR during the Cold War.)
The US dependence on foreign oil will have a major influence on foreign policy. This resource will become a national security priority.

6. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

7. ENERGY CRISIS

8. The Energy Crises of the 1970s
Effects:
Seek alternative fuel sources
More fuel-efficient automobiles
More domestic petroleum exploration and production
OPEC Oil Embargo
(response to US support for Israel)
Gas Shortages
Gas-price inflation
National Energy Policy

9. Rise in Consumption Gas Guzzling “Muscle” Cars

10. Gas Shortage

11. Nuclear Accident

12. Three-Mile Island Middletown, Pennsylvania Nuclear Power station
the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history
Media attention and public backlash to the accident led to nuclear protests all over the world
Picture from NARA archives

13. Nuclear Protests following TMI
Safety of nuclear energy questioned
sweeping changes to regulation of nuclear power
What is the latest nuclear accident?

14. The Panama Canal Treaty
Treaty would return control of Canal Zone to Panama
“On September 7, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty and Neutrality Treaty promising to give control of the canal to the Panamanians by the year 2000.”
Divisive and controversial
For some Americans, loss of control of the canal represented a decline in American power
Image source:
-Sept 17, Debate on MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour on the Panama Canal Treaty between Sen Strom Thurmond and Lt. Gen Welborn Dolvin
Site documents - former President Jimmy Carter was on hand at the ceremony officially turning over control of the Panama Canal to Panamanian authorities.

15. Camp David Accords

16. Camp David Peace Accords
Anwar el-Sadat (EGYPT)
Menachem Begin (ISRAEL)
Met at Camp David Presidential Retreat Center, Maryland.

17. Camp David Peace Accords
The Camp David Accords were a major breakthrough in relations between countries.
Agreed to work on peace treaty.
Israel to withdraw from Sinai Peninsula (occupied since Six-Day War in 1967)
Egypt – First Arab country to recognize the existence of the nation of Israel

18. Quote on Camp David Accords
“The Camp David Accords rank as one of the most important achievements of the Carter administration. First, they opened the way to peace between Egypt and Israel, which transformed the entire political, military, and strategic character of the Middle East dispute. Genuine peace between Egypt and Israel meant there would be no major Arab-Israeli war, whatever the positions of [other Arab groups].”
Secretary of State Cyrus Vance

19. U.S. – Iran Relations

20. US-Iranian Relations US supported Shah (King) of Iran
The Shah had modernized Iran
Supplier of oil and pro-Western leadership in the region.
US overlooked repression and corruption of his administration

21. Khomeini takes power

22. The Iranian Revolution
Backed by Muslim Fundamentalists and liberal critics of the Shah
The Shah fled Iran
Replaced by Ayatollah Khomeini - who had been exiled
Extremely anti-Western
President Carter allowed the Shah into the US for cancer treatment.

23. Iran Hostage Crisis

24. Seized the US Embassy Followers of Khomeini seized US Embassy
66 American hostages taken
Hostages terrorized and threatened

25. 444 Days
American public grew increasingly impatient for hostages release
Carter tried to rescue:
Broke diplomatic relations with Iran
Froze Iranian assets in the US
1980 Commando Mission to rescue hostages (disastrous crash in Iranian desert)
8 US soldiers died and the US was internationally humiliated

26. Hostages released… Hostages released on Inauguration of Ronald Reagan
Reagan sent Carter an invitation (as a private citizen) to greet the freed hostages

27. Greeting Cards You must have words and image on front and
Hallmark claims to have a greeting card for all occasions.
You will need to Create 1 Greeting Card for each of the following: (4 total)
Energy Crisis
U.S. relationship with Israel
Iran Hostages
Camp David Accords
You must have words and image on front and
a corresponding message inside.