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Understanding the American Malaise: 1974-1980 and the Conservative Revolution

This analysis explores the socio-political landscape of the United States between 1974 and 1980, a period marked by economic stagnation, the loss of credibility in leadership, and the emergence of a conservative political wave. It examines essential questions of identity change, the era of progressive reform, and key events like the Iranian Revolution and the OPEC oil crisis. Through case studies like the Mayaguez Incident and the landmark Regents v. Bakke decision, we unravel the deep societal shifts that set the stage for Ronald Reagan's election and impact America's self-image.

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Understanding the American Malaise: 1974-1980 and the Conservative Revolution

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  1. MALAISE1974-1980 EUGENIA LANGAN MATER ACADEMY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL HIALEAH GARDENS, FLORIDA

  2. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS: • TODAY • WHY MALAISE? • WHAT LED TO THE CONSERVATIVE REVOLUTION OF 1980? • LONG-RANGE • HOW HAS THE AMERICAN IDENTITY (SELF-IMAGE) CHANGED THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, AND WHY? • WHEN DID THE ERA OF PROGRESSIVE REFORM BEGIN AND END, AND WHY?

  3. WE WENT THROUGH THE VERY DIVISIVE AND VIOLENT 1960s • WE LOST A WAR FOR THE FIRST TIME • A PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT WERE FORCED TO RESIGN FOR THE FIRST TIME • CREDIBILITY GAP • WOUND UP WITH UNELECTED PRESIDENT, VEEP - ONE TERM • THEN INEXPERIENCED CHANGE PRESIDENT – ONE TERM • AS ALWAYS, "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!" • BUT INSTEAD OF GROWING MORE RADICAL, MOST PEOPLE GREW MORE CONSERVATIVE

  4. GERALD W. FORD – ONE TERM! • UNELECTED • NIXON PARDON • OPEC OIL EMBARGO • INFLATION/ STAGFLATION • RECESSION OF 1974 • WIN • FED INCREASED INTEREST RATES • TAX CUTS "TO CREATE JOBS" •  DEFICITS! •  MORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WORKING

  5. REAL WAGES PEAKED IN 1974 AND DECLINED UNTIL 1982 – NOTE THEY HAVE NEVER RETURNED TO '74 LEVEL

  6. REMEMBER THIS CHART? % 0F NATIONAL WEALTH HELD BY TOP 1% WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS: NOTE THE TREND SINCE MID-1970s. TODAY TOP 10% HOLD 75%, TOP 1% HOLD 40.4 (DUE TO BUSH TAX CUTS, GREAT RECESSION OF 2007 AND BANK/ CORPORATE BAILOUTS

  7. INCOME DISTRIBUTION

  8. OIL PRICES -- WHEN THEY GO UP SO DO THE PRICES OF ALMOST ALL OTHER GOODS (ALL THAT MUST BE TRANSPORTED!) 1973 – OPEC OIL EMBARGO 1979 – OIL CRISIS DUE TO IRANIAN REVOLUTION

  9. OVER DECADES – GDP FLAT AND MODEST

  10. DECLINE OF SKILLED INDUSTRIAL JOBS

  11. '74-76 – EFFECT OF FORD TAX CUTS W/ NO SPENDING CUTS

  12. "WHIP INFLATION NOW" – A FAILURE "STUPID IDEA" ACCORDING TO ALAN GREENSPAN

  13. The Mayaguez Incident, 1975: "WAG THE DOG"

  14. FORD'S APPROVAL RATINGS –NOTE THE UPTICK IN '75 DUE TO THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT

  15. 1976: JIMMY CARTER AND WALTER MONDALE (ONLY 50.1% OF POPULAR VOTE) CARTER'S MAIN QUALIFICATION: NOT A WASHINGTON INSIDER

  16. WALKING TO THE INAUGURATION

  17. THE SWEATER, THE FIRESIDE CHATS, and . . .

  18. CARTER: • ENERGY CRISIS: "MEOW" – THE MORAL EQUIVALENT OF WAR • DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, 1977 • national energy act, 1978 • DEREGULATION OF OIL PRICES, TAX SUBSIDIES (ENERGY POLICY ACT) • 1979 – WINDFALL oil PROFITS TAX • surface coal mining and reclamation act. Opposition to nuclear energy

  19. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) -- superfund • deregulation of TRANSPORTATION RATES (STAGGERS RAIL ACT, 1979, MOTOR CARRIER ACT, 1980) • WORSE INFLATION – FED IMPOSED DOUBLE-DIGIT INTEREST RATES (SLOWDOWN) • RECESSION, 1978 • PANAMA CANAL TREATY, 1978 • IRANIAN REVOLUTION, 1979

  20. HOSTAGE CRISIS AND BOTCHED RESCUE ATTEMPT, 1980

  21. Regents of the University of California v.Bakke, 1980. burger court. • lawsuit by white man denied admission to ucdavis med. School alleging “reverse discrimination” due to university’s affirmative action program • holding: affirmative action is lawful as a remedy for past discrimination, but it cannot impose quotas.

  22. Election of 1980: ronaldreagan, georgeh.w. bush, 50.7% of popular vote, carter/ mondale 41%

  23. Morning in america?

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