Carter Presidency

Camp David Accords

A peace treaty between Israel and Egypt where Egypt agreed to recognize the nation state of Israel. 1977. The treaty was opposed by the PLO and most of the Arab world, but proved to be the 1st step in the long road to a negotiated peace in the Middle East. Israel agreed to give back territory that it had won in 1967, and Egypt promised to respect Israel's borders.

3 Mile Island Incident

An incident where *a nuclear power plant suffered a major meltdown, the worst in American history, with a combination of both mechanical and human errors allowing radiation to escape over a 16 mile radius.* This incident would harm the public perception of nuclear power, and damaged the viability of nuclear power as an alternative in the United States.

Iranian hostage crisis

Anti american sentiment in Iran since US tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected leader in 1953 and install a dictatorial govt. 1979, Islamic fundamentalists in Iran led by Ayatollah, Khomeini, overthrow the shah who was leading the govt. The shah kept the oil flowing for the west during the 70s, but his autocratic rule and policy of westernization had alienated a large part of Iranian population. 2nd Oil shortage and US did not handle the situation well, leading 50 members of the US embassy to be held as prisoners and hostages. 1980 helicopters sent but broke down and mission aborted. This made the president look weak and contributed to his defeat in the 1980 election.

Carter's Foreign Policy as a whole

Carter believed that in the post-Vietnam era, American foreign policy should de-emphasize Cold War thinking. Combating poverty in the Third World, preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, and promoting human rights should take priority over what he called "the inordinate fear of communism that once led us to embrace any dictator who joined us in that fear."

Salt II

Detente also moved ahead w/Soviet Union w/ the signing in 1979 of a SALT II treaty, providing for limiting the size of each superpowers nuclear delivery system. Senate never ratified the treaty, and we withdrew from the treaty altogether when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.

Economic Policies

He viewed inflation, not unemployment, as the country's main economic problem, and to combat it he promoted cuts in spending on domestic programs. In the hope that increased competition would reduce prices, his administration deregulated the trucking and airline industries. Carter supported the Federal Reserve Bank's decision to raise interest rates to curtail economic activity until both wages and prices fell, traditionally a Republican policy. In an unsuccessful attempt to bring down inflation, Carter had abandoned the Keynesian economic policy of increased government spending to combat recession in favor of high interest rates. He had cut back on social spending and the federal government's economic regulations, while projecting a major increase in the military budget.

James Earl Carter

Informal style signaled end to imperial presidency. Walked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White house instead of riding in the limo on inaugural day. Open primary victories lessened power of Democratic politicians. 97% of African vote.

controversial pardon

President Jimmy Carter, in his first day in office, fulfilled a campaign promise by granting unconditional pardons to hundreds of thousands of men who had evaded the draft during the Vietnam War by fleeing the country or by failing to register

Crisis of Confidence Speech

Speech given by President Carter on July 15, 1979, saying that the key problem the faced was that the U.S. had lost unity of purpose and confidence in their ability to lead and prosper.

Recognition of China

US ended its official recognition of the Nationalist Chinese government of Taiwan and completed the first exchange of ambassadors with the People's Republic of China.

"Human Rights" foreign policy

Under Carter, a commitment to promoting human rights became a centerpiece of American foreign policy for the first time. Amnesty Internationals research of human rights violations from both American Allies and enemies pressured elected officials in the United States to try to do something to promote human rights abroad. An example of this would be when in 1978, Carter cut off aid to the brutal military dictatorship governing Argentina, which in the name of anticommunism had launched a "dirty war" against its own citizens, kidnapping off the streets and secretly murdering an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 persons.

Latin American Policy

Wanted to remake the unjust treaty from 1903. In 1978, the Senate ratified a treaty that would gradually transfer operation and control of the Panama Canal from US to Panama, completed in 2000. Known as the "giveaway" and a factor in the 1980 election. In 1979, he resisted calls for intervention when a popular revolution led by the left-wing Sandinista movement overthrew Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, a longtime ally of the United States. Carter attempted to curb the murderous violence of death squads allied to the right-wing government of El Salvador, and in 1980 he suspended military aid after the murder of four American nuns by members of the country's army.

Department of Energy

1977 - Carter added it to the Cabinet to acknowledge the importance of energy conservation.

Soviet-Afghanistan invasion and the Carter Doctrine.

1979, Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan - aggressive action that ended a decade of improving US-Soviet relations. US feared invasion might lead to Soviet move to control the oil rich Persian Gulf. Carter revealed his Carter doctrine in light of this incident, declaring that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf. Carter placed an embargo on grain exports and sale of high tech to Soviets and boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Carter approved more military spending even though he had criticized it earlier in his campaign.