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

2. 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

3. 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

4. The “Glass Ceiling”
9/16/2018

5. 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

6. 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

7. 9/16/2018

8. The American Divide Over Abortion
9/16/2018

9. 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

10. 9/16/2018

11. # 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

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

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

21. Three Mile Island
9/16/2018

22. 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

23. Gerald Ford,
U.S. President,
9/16/2018

24. 9/16/2018

25. Jimmy Carter,
U.S. Pres.
9/16/2018

26. Camp David Accords
March 1979
9/16/2018

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

28. Iran Hostage Crisis,
9/16/2018