Chapter 29

What was the reaction of Congress to the abuses of the Nixon administration and what did each accomplish?

- War Powers Act- limited the power of the president to send U.S troops abroad without the approval of congress. -Freedom of information Act- gave citizens access to federal records -Ethics in government act- prohibited domestic wire taping without a warrant.

What new laws resulted from the National Environmental Policy Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and what did they seek to do?

-Clean Air Act - state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary (industrial) sources and mobile sources. -OHSA- to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. -Water Pollution Control Act- enacted for prevention and control of water pollution and maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water. -Endangered Species Act- conservation of threatened and endangered plants and animals and the habitats in which they are found

Explain the causes of the Energy Crisis of the 1970s and why conflict in the Middle East resulted in an oil embargo.

A period of fuel shortages in the United States. We supported Israel in the yom kippur war so the Arab states in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) declared an oil embargo in October 1973. The prices of oil skyrocketed because of this

Describe the impact on the economy of the transformation of the US economy from an industrial-manufacturing economy to a postindustrial-service one. (deindustrialization, stagflation...)

Competition from over seas ran Americas booming steel industry out of business. Formerly titanic steel companies began a massive dismantling. Stagflation in the 70's meant high interest and unemployment rates as well as slow econonmic growth

Describe the arguments for and against the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)

For: Equality of rights under the law shall not be obliged or denied. 34 of the necessary 38 ratified it. Against: Phyllis Schlafly said It would create an unnatural unisex society. Women would be drafted into the army and forced to use unisex toilets. Her movement was STOP ERA.

Describe the arguments on both sides of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case.

For: People wanted to make legal abortions easier to obtain. Against: It was taking a persons life groups like The National Right to life committee saw it as sinful and immoral. The court ruled that a state law that banned abortions (except to save the life of the mother) was unconstitutional.

What problem did affirmative action seek to resolve?

Fought racial discrimination by taking in account of the disadvantaged position of majority groups.

What effect did the stagnation of wages in the 1970s and 1980s have on American family life and single mothers?

Many families saw 10% stops in real wages. Women decided to enter workforce and eventually households became dependent on two incomes.

Describe the Watergate affair.

Nixon and his administration were abusing their power by using wire tapping equipment. The impeachment committee approved 3 articles of impeachment against him, obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of congress. Nixon, knowing it was certain that he would get removed from office, resigned.

Environmentalism - what events triggered the environmental movement in the 1970's?

The energy crisis drove home the realization that the earth's resources are not limitless. Silent Spring was a book written by Rachel Carson it was about the dangers of pesticides on the environment. in 1969, three major events spurred the movement: an offshore drilling rig spilled millions of gallons of oil off the coast of Santa Barbara; the Cuyahoga River burst into flames because of the accumulation of flammable chemicals on its surface and Friends of the Everglades opposed an airport that threatened plants and wildlife in florida. Earth day resulted from this.

The Fourth Great Awakening: what combination of events in the 1960's and 1970's sparked the evangelical revival of the 1970's (what was it in reaction to)?

The great awakening were intense periods of religious revival. Decreased importance of church, rising divorce rates, social unrest, perceived musical decay

While the earlier women's rights movement goal was the right to vote, women's activism in the 1970's focused more on what issues?

The movement was focused on women's own bodies. They fought to reform antiabortion laws and started an anti rape movement.