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The American Indian Movement
The A,erican Indian Movement was created to give power to the Indians over their land in the reservation. Attempts were also created to oncrease Indian culture that had been eradicated due to assimilation. This led to increased control over their lands and Casinos created on Reservation lands. -
Richard Nixon's Inaguration
In 1969, Nixon was inagurated into presidency. He promised to bring the country todether after its turmoils in the 1960s but his secretive nature cause his presidency to be named an "imperial presidency" by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. He was successful at decreasing tensions among the cold war in foreign policy. -
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Vietnamization
Nixon announced that he would gradually remove U.S troops from Vietnam. His goal was to decrease U.S intervention without appearing like the country was defeated. He decreased the number of troops in VIetnam from 540 thousand in 1969 to 30 thousand in 1972. This was also termed the Nixon Doctrine. -
My Lai Massacre
In 1970, U.S citizens learned that U.S troops attacked a town in Vietnam. The troops kiled women and children. This fueled antiwar sentiments in both the New York TImes and the Pentagon Papers. This antiwa sentiment expanded to the citizens who were already fighting agains the war in VIetnam due to pressures inside the country. -
Nixon Visits China
In February of 1972, Nixon surprised many by visiting China to have a conderence with Mao Zedong. This ked to the ultimate recognition of China as a communist government in 1979 and increased the relationship between the U.S and China. It also led to borh agreeing to SALT 1, which aimed at freezing Soviet balistic missiles. -
Election of 1972
In 1972, Nixon ran for reelection. He was successful. He won 61 percent of the popular vote. The Democrats, however, mangaeed to retain control of both houses in the government. He would not remain in term due to the Watergate Scandal. -
Watergate
A group of Nixon's men hired on hi reelection comitte were caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic national headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington D.C. Nixon's support further fell when his vice president was forced to resign for taking bribes from the government of Maryland. -
The Paris Accords
THe Paris Accords of 1973 were created to end the war in Vietnam. It promised for cease fire and free election in Vietnam. While this ended fighting between the U.S and Vietnamn, it did not end fighting between North and South Vietnam. The war ultimately caused the lives of 58 thousand American lives and a cost of 118 billion dollars. -
War Powers Act
After having been caught authorizing 3,500 secret bombing raids in Cambodia, the War Powers Act was passed. THis law required the President to meet up with congress 48 hours after he gave a military action to prevent an abuse of power like Nixon wa believed to have done. -
Oil Embargo and Israeli attack
During a Jewish holiday, Syrians and Egyptians launched a surprise attack on Israel hoping to regain land they lost in the 6 day war. The U.S decided to aid Israel. As a result, OPEC placed an embargo on oil sold to the U.S, which caused an economic downfall due to its dependence on the petroleum fuel. -
Resignation of 1974 and Gerald Ford
After the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned from office in 1974. He was replaced by Gerald Ford, the first man in office who had never been elected. Ford was quick to fully pardon Nixon, which some too to believe that Nixon bribed Ford for the political pardon. No reasoning for the pardon was ever given by Ford. -
Election of 1976
In the 1976 election, Jimmy Carte won presidency. His frist act was to deal with the Panama canal. He decided the power of the canal would gradually return to the Panamanians by the year 2000. Americans saw this as a sign of waekness and believe Carter gave away mone and power by relaesing control ove the canal. -
Iranian Hostage Crisis
In 1979, fifty U,S staff were caotured and taken hostage by the Iranian military, This created high tensions amongs the two countriess. They were held for over 100 days. Carter arranged a rescue mission in April of 1980.