Ford and Carter Administrations Todays Objective After todays

Ford and Carter Administrations

Today’s Objective After today’s lesson, students will be able to… Assess Essential the Ford and Carter administrations Skill: Explicitly assess information and draw conclusions

Political Cartoon You are an American citizen on September 9, 1974 – the day after Ford pardons Nixon Create a political cartoon that depicts how you may have felt at this time…keeping in mind the following events: Watergate Ford’s Pardon

Gerald Ford Only president never elected to office Pardoned Nixon “for any and all crimes” Persistent stagflation Economy Continued 1974 gets worse Détente Helsinki Accords Republican Defeated candidate in 1976 by Jimmy Carter

Helsinki Accords President Ford’s most important accomplishment Document was seen as a significant step toward reducing Cold War tensions Also seen as a major diplomatic boost for the Soviet Union Goal was to create greater cooperation between E and W Europe

Gerald Ford A few ill-timed episodes of camera-range clumsiness, like stumbling down the steps of Air Force One in Austria, wiping out on the slopes in Vail, Colorado, and getting hit on the head by a passing chairlift

1976 Election

Jimmy Carter “Washington Outsider” Pro/Cons? One term Georgia governor Peanut farmer Engineer Devout “I’ll Baptist never lie to you” Controversial Pardons More Stagflation Energy crisis Foreign competition

Carter’s Foreign Policy Emphasis Camp on Human Rights David Accords (1978) Peace Panama agreement between Egypt and Israel Canal Treaties Panama Canal Zone returned in 1999 Resumption of full diplomatic relations with China (1979)

Carter and Détente The Salt II Negotiations Established numerical equality between U. S. and Soviet Union in terms of nuclear weapons Highly controversial amongst Americans Never ratified in Senate 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan First Soviet expedition beyond the Eastern Bloc since World War II Officially ended the period of détente between U. S. and Soviet Union Boycotted the 1980 Olympics

Carter’s Downfall Iran Hostage Crisis Context: During Ike’s administration CIA helped to place Sha Reza Pahlavi back on the throne after government attempts to nationalize industry 1979 – Rise of Ayatolla Khomeini (militant Islamic Fundamentalist) Shah overthrown American Hostages embassy overrun (60 hostages) released hours after Reagan takes office (444 days)

Problems at Home Energy Crisis OPEC and Rates Creation of the Department of Energy Three Mile Island Economy High inflation (13%) Americans’ national morale/confidence low

1980’s Conservatism A direct response to the 1970 s