1970's Flashcards
(24 cards)
Why did President Nixon resign in 1974?
He resigned due to the Watergate scandal to avoid impeachment.
What is NOW and what did it advocate for?
The National Organization for Women; it fought for women’s rights and gender equality.
What was the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?
A proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights regardless of sex; passed by Congress in 1972 but not ratified by enough states.
What was the Stop ERA Movement?
A conservative campaign led by Phyllis Schlafly that opposed the ERA, fearing it would undermine traditional family roles.
What were the 1970s protests on Vietnam about?
Americans protested the continuation of the Vietnam War, especially after the invasion of Cambodia and events like the Kent State shooting.
When and how did the Vietnam War end?
In 1975, with the fall of Saigon and the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
What did President Ford do that caused public controversy in 1974?
He pardoned Richard Nixon for any crimes committed during the Watergate scandal.
Who was Roy Benavidez and why is he notable?
A U.S. Army soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Vietnam War.
What happened when the Soviets took over Afghanistan in 1979?
It triggered U.S. sanctions, a boycott of the 1980 Olympics, and increased Cold War tensions.
What was the Panama Canal Treaty (1977)?
An agreement to gradually transfer control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama by 1999.
What was the Iran Hostage Crisis (1979–1981)?
52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days by Iranian revolutionaries after the U.S. embassy in Tehran was seized.
What was SALT I?
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks agreement (1972) between the U.S. and USSR to limit nuclear weapons.
What were the Camp David Accords (1978)?
A peace agreement between Egypt and Israel brokered by President Jimmy Carter.
What is the War Powers Resolution (1973)?
A law that limited the president’s ability to deploy military forces without Congressional approval.
Why were gas prices so high in the 1970s?
Due to oil embargoes by OPEC and the energy crisis caused by tensions in the Middle East.
What is executive privilege and how did Nixon use it?
The president’s right to withhold information; Nixon used it to try to avoid releasing Watergate tapes.
What was the Kent State shooting (1970)?
National Guardsmen shot and killed 4 students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University.
What is the 26th Amendment (1971)?
It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
What is Title IX and when was it passed?
A 1972 law that bans sex discrimination in federally funded education programs, including sports.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) and how did it affect the 1970s?
It gave the president broad war powers in Vietnam, leading to escalation of the war into the 1970s.
What was the Tet Offensive (1968) and why was it significant in the 1970s?
A major Viet Cong attack that shook American confidence and contributed to growing anti-war sentiment into the next decade.
What was Vietnamization?
Nixon’s strategy to gradually withdraw U.S. troops and transfer the war effort to South Vietnamese forces.
What was the Watergate scandal?
A break-in at the Democratic National Committee HQ and the Nixon administration’s cover-up, leading to Nixon’s resignation.
What was the Credibility Gap?
The growing distrust between the U.S. government and the American public, especially over Vietnam.
