Transcript Unit 9 Ppt #7 (The Ford and the Carter Years).

Today’s Objective
We will identify the key events that
occurred in the U.S. during the presidency’s
of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
Sub-Objective
We will describe U.S. involvement in the Middle East
such as support the Iran Hostage Crisis.
The Ford and Carter Years
SEs: 2B, 10C, 10D, 19D
State Standards
10C (s)
Compare the impact of energy on the American
way of life over time.
10D (s)
Describe U.S. involvement in the Middle East such
as support for Israel, the Camp David Accords, the
Iran-Contra Affair, Marines in Lebanon, and the Iran
Hostage Crisis.
19D (s)
Discuss the role of contemporary government
legislation in the private and public sectors such
as the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, USA
PATRIOT Act of 2001, and the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Ford becomes President
Following the resignation of Richard
Nixon in August of 1974, Gerald Ford
became the nation’s 38 th President.
Ford Becomes President
Ford was the first and to date only person to have
served as both Vice President and President of
the United States without being elected.
Ford’s Presidency
Saying that he wanted to save the nation the shame
of having a president found guilty of a federal
crime, in September 1974, Ford pardoned Nixon.
Ford Pardons Nixon
A pardon is when someone is forgiven of a crime
and released from the penalty of the crime.
Ford Pardons Nixon
Ford’s pardon of Nixon made him unpopular
with many people and made many Americans
even more distrusting of the government.
Stagflation
The U.S. economy in the mid-1970s was hit by
“stagflation,” which is a combination of rising
prices (inflation) and high unemployment.
Whip Inflation Now
In response to rising inflation, Ford
went before the American public in
October 1974 and asked them to
"Whip Inflation Now“ (WIN).
Helsinki Accords
Ford continued Nixon’s policy of détente when
numerous countries, including the U.S. and the
Soviet Union, signed an international
agreement known as the Helsinki Accords.
Helsinki Accords
By signing the Helsinki Accords, the nations of
the world recognized post-World War II borders
and promised respect for human rights.
U.S. celebrates Bicentennial
On July 4, 1976, the United States celebrated
its bicentennial (200th birthday)
Election of 1976
In the Election of 1976, Democrats nominated a
relative unknown, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter,
a former peanut farmer, to run against Ford.
Gerald Ford, Republican
Jimmy Carter, Democrat
The Carter Years
Carter was liked by many because he was a Southern
Democrat, he wasn’t a Washington, D.C. insider, and he
promised to end corruption and clean up Washington.
Election of 1976
In a close election, Carter defeated Ford to
become the nation’s 39th president. Texas was a
key state in the victory for Carter.
Community Reinvestment
Act of 1977
In1977 , Carter signed a bill that encouraged
banks and savings associations to meet the
needs of borrowers in their local communities.
Community Reinvestment
Act of 1977
Passage of this law helped to reduce
discriminatory practices against low and
moderate-income neighborhoods.
The Carter Years
But Carter’s Presidency was troubled by a poor
economy and by numerous problems in the
Middle East, including the Iran hostage crisis .
Middle East Turmoil
Trouble began in the Middle East following
World War II with the creation of Israel in 1948
Middle East Turmoil
The conflict led to two wars between Israel and
numerous Muslim-dominated Arab countries
Middle East Turmoil
During the wars, the United States supported
Israel due to our close Judea-Christian ties.
OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
Background – U.S. became dependent on on
imports from Middle East and Africa.
 OPEC decided to use oil as an eco and pol weapon
 Israel-Arab fighting causes strain btwn U.S & Middle
East
 OPEC placed an embargo on those that supported
Israel
 U.S. OIL PRICES TRIPLED
 Caused a recession in the U.S., people were spending
more on heating and gas – leading to little & being
spent on personal items

Camp David Accords
One of Carter’s greatest achievements was in foreign
affairs when he negotiated the Camp David Accords.
Camp David Accords
Signed in September 1978, the Camp David
Accords was a peace agreement between Anwar
Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel.
Camp David Accords
Carter’s work with foreign countries eventually
helped earn him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Trouble Begins in Iran
Before 1979, the U.S. and Iran had been close
allies as the U.S. was an important oil trade
partner for Iran and it’s leader, the Shah of Iran.
Trouble Begins in Iran
The Shah was royalty in Iran, but was despised in
his own country for “modernizing” the country,
which many Iranians saw as an affront to Islam.
Iranian Revolution
The 1979 oil crisis in the United States occurred
in the wake of the Iranian Revolution.
Iranian Revolution
Amid massive protests, the Shah fled to the U.S.
in early 1979 and Muslim cleric Ayatollah
Khomeini soon became the new leader of Iran.
Iran Hostage Crisis
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis
between Iran and the U.S. when 52 Americans at
the U.S. embassy were captured and held hostage.
Iran Hostage Crisis
The hostages were taken captive by Islamic
militants in 1979 in response to the U.S. allowing
the Shah to come to the United States.
Iran Hostage Crisis
President Carter responded by halting oil exports
from Iran, expelling many Iranians living in the U.S.,
and freezing Iranian government assets .
Operation Eagle Claw
When economic sanctions failed to end the
crisis, Carter ordered a rescue mission, which
was a massive failure that led to eight deaths.
Iran Hostage Crisis
Lastly, Carter tried in vain to negotiate the
release of the hostages, but that failed as well.
Iran Hostage Crisis
The American hostages were held in captivity for
444 days and not released until after Carter was
defeated in the 1980 election and left office in 1981.
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island incident occurred when a nuclear
power plant in Pennsylvania had a core meltdown,
which led to radioactive gases being leaked into the air.
Three Mile Island accident
The incident occurred in March of 1979, led to the
evacuation of nearly 200,000 people, and was the
worst nuclear power accident in U.S. history.
Three Mile Island accident
Although there were no deaths directly related
to the accident, the incident led to a shutdown
of building any new nuclear power plants.
Three Mile Island accident
The incident also led to Carter creating the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, which developed strict
standards for use of nuclear energy in the U.S.
Pop Culture of the 70s
CB Radios
Disco
Pet Rocks
Bellbottoms
Exercising
Pop Culture of the 70s
All in the Family
The Brady Bunch
Happy Days
Top TV
Shows
Pop Culture of the 70s
Top in
Movies
Pop Culture of the 70s
Top in
Music
Independent Practice
Create a flow map identifying and describing
key events of the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Today’s Product
I will evaluate the three most important events
during the Ford/Carter years and will justify
why I made the choices that I made.