Study Guide #17
American Domestic Affairs 1961 - 2001
IN A NUTSHELL
After John Kennedy’s assassination President Johnson and Congress cooperated to enact more than 200 pieces of landmark legislation
The late 1960s was a time of protest from a variety of groups against many aspect of American society.
The Watergates scandal resulted in Richard Nixon’s resignation from the presidency.
President Ford generally continued Nixon’s foreign and domestic policies.
President Carter, who won the presidency running as an outsider, introduced no major program for reform. He did, however, introduce legislation to deal with energy and economic problems.
Ronald Reagan’s presidency gave the nation a conservative revolution that was in large part continued under George Bush.
Bill Clinton was elected president promising to restore the American economy.
Bill Clinton was impeached for sexual misconduct.
George W. Bush won a contested election in which he lost the popular vote.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATIONA. What happened in the election of 1968?
Facing a n antiwar challenge from Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson withdrew from the presidential race. After the assassination of Robert Kennedy, Johnson’s vice president Hubert Humphrey was nominated by the Democrats to run against the Republican candidate Richard Nixon. Humphrey, who was hurt by Johnson’s unpopular handling of the war, lost to Nixon who had a “secret plan” for peace.
B. What was the Great Society?
The Great Society was Lyndon Johnson’s program to bring “abundance and liberty” to all Americans. Johnson was able to use his political expertise to push a massive amount of legislation through Congress. The landmark legislation passed under Johnson included changes in civil rights, health care, education, the environment, housing, immigration, and funding for cultural endeavors. Johnson’s Great Society was characterized primarily by a “War on Poverty.”
C. Why was the Warren Court important?
Chief Justice Earl Warren, who served from 1954-1969, presided over a Supreme Court that provided the nation with fundamental changes in constitutional law. In several landmark cases the Warren Court made the Bill of Rights apply to the actions of the state and local governments. Shifting the emphasis of constitutional law from property right to personal rights, the Warren Court was in large part responsible for the revolution in individual rights the characterized the 1960s.
D. What caused the protest and rebellions of the 1960s?
The seeds of protest in the 1960s were planted in the 1950s and included rebellious activities by youth groups, feminists, racial minorities, and ethnic minorities. Numerous groups rose up to demand the equal rights and fair treatment that had long been denied to women and minorities. Youth protest was generally characterized by the New Left which wanted a more democratic society and the counterculture which rebelled against the materialism, racism, and violence of the modern world.
E. What characterized Richard Nixon’s domestic policies?
Surprisingly, Nixon presided over a significant expansion of liberal programs that were usually denounced by conservative Republicans. Nixon extended government benefits for health and welfare, transformed affirmative action into a program that set specific goals and time tables for hiring minorities, created the Environmental Protection Agency, and created a program of revenue-sharing with state governments. Faced with many economic problems including high inflation and the beginning of a large trade deficit, Nixon also ordered a wage and price freeze.
F. What was the Watergate break-in?
After several years of wiretapping and other illegal activities, members of the Nixon administration were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate office building in Washington D.C. Knowing a full investigation of the break-in would lead to the knowledge that several members of the Nixon administration and the Nixon reelection organization were involved in illegal activities, a cover-up was launched to protect Nixon’s presidency.
G. How were the illegal activities associated with the Watergate break-in uncovered?
After Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, uncovered damaging information, the U.S. Senate and a special prosecutor appointed by Nixon’s attorney general began investigating the break-in. These investigations led to court orders for Nixon to turn over tape recording of conversations he had made about the break-in. Nixon’s decision not to comply with these court orders led to a constitutional crisis.
H. Why did Nixon resign presidency?
When a special prosecutor refused to drop his demand to hear the Watergate tapes, Nixon had the special prosecutor fired. The incident prompted impeachment proceedings against Nixon, in which the House Judiciary Committee voted for three articles of impeachment. The charges against Nixon included obstruction of justice, defying court orders, and abuse of power. After the Supreme Court ordered tape recordings turned over to investigators, the tapes revealed Nixon had been part of a cover-up of illegal activities. Specifically, Nixon tried to use the CIA to stop an FBI investigation of the Watergate break-in. Fearing he had lost his support in congress; Nixon resigned the presidency and was later pardoned by President Ford for any crimes he might have committed.
I. What economic problems plagued the United States in the 1970’s?
Due to the Arab oil boycott and the end of the Vietnam war the U.S. was hit with a new economic problem- high inflation accompanied by sluggish economic growth that was known as stagflation. In addition, the U.S. faced growing budget deficits, a trade deficit, and a decline in real wages.
J. Why was Jimmy Carter elected in 1976?
Running as Washington outsider, Jimmy Carter was elected president promising honesty in government. Carter beat the incumbent president Gerald Ford who was likely hurt by his parson of Nixon, rising gas prices, rising deficits, and stagflation.
K. What characterized Jimmy Carter’s domestic policies?
Although Carter declared the need for a national energy policy was the “moral equivalent of war,” he was only able to push watered-down energy legislation through congress. Unable to deal with continuing stagflation, high interest rates, and growing deficits Carter’s popularity began to wane in the final year of his presidency.
L. What Characterized Ronald Reagan’s Domestic policies?
Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980 with a conservative antigovernment message and promises to cut government spending, lower taxes, strengthen the military, and protect conservative social values. Reaganomics, sometimes called supply-side economics, gave the nation a 25% cut in income taxes and cuts in numerous social programs. Combined with dramatic increases in military spending, these policies sparked several years of economic growth and lower inflation. However, the budget deficit soared, the national debt tripled, trade deficits continued, and the U.S. became a debtor nation for the first time since the early 1900’s.
M. What characterized George Bush’s domestic policies?
During bush’s presidency economic problems of high budget deficits and high unemployment were accompanied with the most business failures since the Great Depression. In addition, a Savings and loan scandal led to a massive financial bailout by the federal government that helped drive budget deficits even higher. In attempt to bring the deficit down, Bush broke his campaign pledge of “No new taxes.”
N. What happened to the election of 1992?
Although George Bush enjoyed historically high approval ratings at the end of the Persia Gulf War, his popularity plummeted as the three-way presidential race focused primarily on the nation’s economic problems. Ross Perot, an independent candidate, who at one point ran first in public opinion polls, brought attention to the problems of high budget deficits. Bill Clinton, the Democratic nominee, won the election with a promise to “focus like a laser” on the economy.
O. What was Bill Clinton’s Third Way?
In an attempt to create a third political philosophy that was neither conservative nor liberal, Clinton tried to achieve liberal objectives (providing equal opportunity and making work pay) through conservative means (minimal government regulation and government support of business). Clinton’s domestic program included welfare reform, free trade agreement, crime legislation, cutting the size of government, increasing aid to education, affirmative action, tax increases for the wealthy, and tax cuts for the poor and middle classes. Clinton failed, however, in one of his most important legislative goals- to push congress into passing a national health care program.
P. What happened in the midterm elections of 1994?
Republicans, led by Representative Newt Gingrich, produced a contract with America that led to a historic republican victory in both houses of the U.S. Congress. For the First time since the 1952 elections, Republicans had taken control of congress and they would retain control of both houses for the remainder of Bill Clinton’s presidency. Clinton and the Republicans fought over many issues, most notably a stalemated budget plan that led to a temporary shutdown of the U.S. government. Surprisingly, however, Clinton and the republican congress achieved significant budgetary success. In 1998, the federal government achieved its first balanced budget since 1969, and by 2000 the federal budget was producing record surpluses. In addition, the late 1990’s produced the longest economic recovery in U.S. history, a recovery that was accompanied by low inflation and low unemployment.
Q. Why was Bill Clinton impeached?
While investigating a Clinton financial deal in Arkansas, Kenneth Starr, a special prosecutor, began looking into the president’s conduct with a white house intern. Starr focused his investigation on whether the president had committed perjury while answering questions dealing with a sexual harassment lawsuit. Concluding that Clinton lied under oath< Starr reported his findings to the House of Representatives, which voted to impeach Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice. The U.S. Senate voted to acquit Clinton on both counts.
R. What Happened in the election of 2000?
In a close election that was to be determined by which candidate won Florida, Al Fore, the democratic nominee, and George W. Bush, The republican nominee, fought a legal battle over how to count Florida’s popular vote. After the Florida supreme court ordered a recount of Florida’s votes, the U.S. supreme court in a 5-4 decision stopped at recount. Gore, who won more popular votes nationwide, lost the election to Bush, who won the electoral vote.
President’s and their Domestic policies:
1. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
2. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
3. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
4. Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
5. Jimmy Carter(1977-1981)
6. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
7. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
8. William J. Clinton (1993-2001)
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS:
9. John Kennedy assassinated, 1963 / 24. Saving and Loan bailout begins, 1989
10. Miranda v. State of Arizona, 1966 / 25. Exxon Valdez oil spill, 1989
11. Robert Kennedy assassinated, 1968 / 26. U.S invasion of Panama, 1989
12. Democratic Convention in Chicago, 1968 / 27. Rodney King beating, 1991
13. Apollo 11 lands on moon,1969 / 28. Los Angeles race riots, 1992
14. Watergate break-in, 1972 / 29. Operations restore hope, 1992-1994
15. Roe v. Wade, 1973 / 30. FBI raids Branch Davidian Compound Waco, 1993
16. Saturday Night Massacre, 1973 / 31. NAFTA, 1993
17. Nixon resigns presidency, 1974 / 32. O.J Simpson trial, 1995
18. Ford pardons Nixon, 1974 / 33. Million Man March, 1995
19. Three Mile Island, 1979 / 34. Oklahoma City bombing, 1995
20. Regan assignation attempt, 1981 / 35. Federal government shut down, 1996
21. Challenger accident, 1986 / 36. Balanced Budget Agreement, 1997
22. INF Treaty, 1987 / 37. Clinton preachment trial, 1999
23. Black Monday, 1987 / 38. Election of 2000
IMPORTANT PEOPLE
39. Robert Kennedy / 47. Geraldine Ferraro
40. Hubert Humphrey / 48. Ross Perot
41. Cesar Chaves / 49. Hillary Rodham Clinton
42. Earl Warren / 50. Janet Reno
43. Gloria Steinem / 51. Madeline Albright
44. Phyllis Schlafly / 52. Newt Gingrich
45. Spiro Agnew / 53. Louis Farrakhan
46. Sandra Day O’Connor / 54. Al Gore
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
55. Great Society / 70. United Farm Workers
56. War on Poverty / 71. La Raza Unida
57. Medicare/Medicaid / 72. New Left
58. Economic Opportunity Act / 73. SDS
59. Head Start / 74. Counterculture
61. Immigration Act of 1965 / 75. Woodstock
62. Warren Court / 76. Stagflation
63. New Federalism / 77. Supply-side Economics
64. Nixon’s southern strategy / 78. Moral Majority
65. Rachel Carson, Silent Spring / 79. AIDS
66. Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique / 80. Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986
67. National Organization for Women / 81. Internet
68. Equal Rights Amendment / 82. Human Genome Project
69. American Indian Movement (AIM) / 83. Dolly