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1970s – 1980s • Nixon was afraid he would not get re-elected in 1972 Election • His campaign team, “CRP,” (Committee to Re-Elect the President) is determined to discredit the Democratic Party • 5 men break in to the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Building Complex – plan to steal documents & wiretap office – they are arrested • series of illegal acts begin, to cover-up involvement of CRP in break-in • Two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein, begin to investigate cover-up • Senate begins an investigation…the big question: “What did the president know and when did he know it?” • Senate discovers that Nixon had taped all of his presidential conversations • Senate demands copies of tapes – a year long battle ensues • several White House officials are fired & V.P Spiro Agnew resigns (Gerald Ford is appointed as V.P) • In 1974 Nixon releases edited versions of tapes – Supreme Court orders Nixon to surrender unedited versions • Senate impeaches (accuses) President of three crimes • obstruction of justice • abuse of power • Contempt of Congress • Nixon releases tapes, but parts have been “accidently” erased • Nixon resigns & Gerald Ford becomes President • Americans are totally disillusioned with government 1974 – 1977 Republican Best Known For: • pardoning President Nixon (prevented a trial) • economic policies that triggered the worst recession in 40 years • last American troops & advisors left South Vietnam • signed the Helsinki Accords (attempt at establishing cooperation between Eastern & Western Europe) 1977-1981 Democrat Best Known For: • National Energy Act (attempt to encourage energy conservation and reduce reliance on foreign oil) • Lack of economic plan which contributed to rising inflation & decline in standard of living • attempted to promote peace around the world • problems in Middle East (Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan & Iran Hostage Crisis) 1981-1989 Republican Best Known For: • Reaganomics (economic policy of budget cuts, tax cuts, increased defense spending) • end of the Cold War COLD WAR • Economic, Political, and Military Battles • Between U.S. & U.S.S.R • Competition to be the #1 “superpower” • Began in 1945 and ended in 1991 • Affected world events for almost 50 years 1945 U.S. Detonates Atomic Bomb 1946 Iron Curtain Speech 1947 Marshall Plan 1948 1949 Berlin Blockade and Airlift 1949 USSR Detonates A-Bomb 1949 NATO Formed 1950 Korean War Begins 1953 Khrushchev in Power 1955 Warsaw Pact 1956 Hungarian Uprising 1957 Soviets launch Sputnik 1961 Berlin Wall Built 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis 1964 Vietnam War 1970s Détente 1979 USSR Invades Afghanistan 1989 Soviet communism weakening East German communist leaders ousted East and West Berliners begin to tear down wall German voters re-unify Germany with a democratic government Mikhail Gorbachev • Wanted to end Cold War • Domestic Reforms: • Glasnost: • “openness” • Ended censorship & encouraged discussion of government • Perestroika: • “Restructuring” of government and economy CAUSES Cold War “battles” drain resources (money and people) Ethnic tensions lead to independence movements Gorbachev’s Reforms: • cause economic turmoil (shortages, high prices and unemployment) • Glasnost allows for criticism of government critics call for changes Gorbachev resigns in 1991 1992 President Bush & Boris Yelstin (Russian President) sign an official treaty ending the Cold War EFFECTS Soviet Union breaks up into independent countries (with mostly democratic governments) Independent countries have to deal with a variety of problems: • civil wars • corruption • economic reforms • ethnic tensions U.S. is left as the #1 Superpower – but now that we won what is our new role in the world? Countries outlined in black are all new, independent countries