1. 2-3: Crisis of Confidence

2. Objectives
CUL 3.0 Explain how ideas about women’s rights and gender roles have affected society and politics.
CUL 4.0 Explain how different group identities, including racial, ethnic, class, and regional identities, have emerged and changed over time.
GEO 1.0 Explain how geographic and environmental factors shaped the development of various communities, and analyze how competition for and debates over natural resources have affected both interactions among different groups and the development of government policies.
POL 2.0 Explain how popular movements, reform efforts, and activist groups have sought to change American society and institutions.
POL 3.0 Explain how different beliefs about the federal government’s role in U.S. social and economic life have affected political debates and policies.

3. Key Concepts
The United States responded to an uncertain and unstable postwar world by asserting and working to maintain a position of global leadership, with far- reaching international and domestic consequences.
New movements for civil rights and liberal efforts to expand the role of government generated a range of political and cultural responses.
Post-war economic and demographic changes had far-reaching consequences for American society, politics, and culture.

4. Overview
Continued debates over the scope of power of the federal government
New movements for civil rights
Liberal efforts to expand role of government attacked by resurgent conservative movement

5. Gerald Ford in the White House
Pardoning of Nixon
Failure of U.S. Policy in Southeast Asia
Fall of Saigon to Communists
Economic Policy
Inflation—Ford called for voluntary spending cuts
Caused stagnant economy—”stagflation”

6. Jimmy Carter’s Presidency
Foreign Policy
Human Rights Diplomacy
Transfer of Panama Canal
Camp David Accords
Iran and the Hostage Crisis
Revolution and the Ayatollah
Shah exiled to U.S., capture of U.S. diplomats
Unsuccessful rescue attempt

7. Jimmy Carter’s Presidency
Foreign Policy
Cold War
Continuation of détente
SALT II Treaty
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
U.S. embargo and Olympics boycott

8. Jimmy Carter’s Presidency
Domestic Policy: Dealing with Inflation
Inflation
Vietnam costs
Rising energy costs
Federal budget deficits
Rising health care costs
Unemployment
Loss of Popularity
“National malaise” blamed on “moral and spiritual crisis”
Americans blamed Carter for weak and indecisive leadership

9. American Society in Transition
Growth of Immigration
Elimination of quotas
Increase in illegal immigration
Demands for Minority Rights
Activism from Latino, American Indian, Asian, feminist, and gay and lesbian groups
Cesar Chavez—United Farm Workers

10. American Society in Transition
The Environmental Movement
Problems and Accidents
Silent Spring
Three Mile Island and Chernobyl
Exxon-Valdez oil spill
New Regulations
Clean Air and Water Acts
Endangered Species Act
Environmental Protection Agency

11. American Society in Transition
Conservative Shift
Reaction to excesses of liberalism
High government spending
Counterculture
Civil rights movements
Emphasis on traditional values
Growth of evangelical Christian organizations
Opposition to abortion
Opposition to affirmative action
Emphasizing nuclear families
Ronald Reagan and 1980 Election