Topic: American in the 1970s Ch. 30.2
MAIN IDEAS
NOTES:
Social Issues
in the 1970s

Affirmative Action
o Giving special consideration to non-whites or women to make up for
the past.
 Supporters: was needed to improve opportunities
 Opponents: any race or gender preferences was unfair

Jimmy Carter
o Democrat with no ties to Washington, D.C. or scandals.
o Wanted to be different than presidents before; informal and open
o Dealt with high unemployment, inflation and oil prices

Carter didn’t like realpolitik
o Liked policies that promoted human rights
 Reduced aid to countries committing human rights violations
 South Africa- apartheid
o Called for sanctions to encourage reform
o Panama- Carter signed treaty giving control of Canal by 2000
o Soviet Union- Détente broke when Carter criticized for human rights
abuses
 Broke off arms-control talks and refused to allow US athletes
participate in 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow

Camp David Accords
o Peace talk between Egypt and Israel’s Prime Ministers
 Considered one of Carter’s greatest achievements
Iran
o Since 1950s, America supported the pro-American shah (king)
 Iranians did not support the changes the shah was making
 Supported Ruhollah Khomeini
o Drove the shah out of Iran and became the
leader
 Iran hostage crisis
 Iranian students attack US Embassy and capture 90
American hostages
 Goes on for over a year
 Carter bans Iranian oil imports and froze assets in
American banks
 Failed rescue attempt
 Many lost faith in Carter’s leadership
Carter Elected
Carter and
Foreign Policy
Changing
Policies
The Middle East
