Political And Social Changes In The 1970's

There were a lot of issues going on in the 1970’s. Most were for good reasons and others were for bad reasons. Everything and picture has a story to it. Furthermore in order for you to have a future, then you need to know and go back to your past. Most people believe that things such as racism, cultural infusion, fighting, and war was just going on. But, there is much more to that story. In the 1970’s you had such things going on as fashion, films, political and social changes, and much more that went down in history. When you talk about a particular decade such as the 1970’s up until 1979 you might want to do some deep research to have a good and clear understanding. We as a community, nation, and race struggle everyday with different issues that are going on in our lives. Also, we as different races envy each other, just because we want to or just because we feel like it. In order for there to be a change, it starts with me then it starts with you.
The decade that my group is doing is the 1970’s. We decided this decade because we feel as though we need to do particular research in this area up until 79. The part of the project that I am doing is Political and Social changes in the 1970’s. I chose this because I believe that I know fully about all off the other things in the 1970’s such as fashion, film, entertainment, and dance, just from watching movies and doing some research from various decades, following the 70’s. My importance of typing this paper is just to give you a good brief and clear understanding of what was going on in the 1970’s. I am going to just highlight some important events that were dealing with political and social changes. After you read this paper I hope that you gain some true understanding and vision things more clearly.
On January 6,1970 that is where some of the political and social changes really started to come in making people see things differently. Starting with the United States, they had announced that a “Heroin-control Agreement” with France in hopes of halting drug smuggling. Furthermore on the 19th of January, judge Harrold carswell is nominated to the Supreme Court dealing with his civil rights record. February 20, 1970, Henry Kissinger goes to Paris to associate with Le Duc Tho, on the subject of North Vietnam, to ending the Vietnam War. President Nixon announces that the U.S. and South Vietnamese troops have crossed into Cambodia in the attempt to take out communist sanctuaries on April 30, 1970. May 4th, the members of National Guard kill four students during an antiwar protest, in the University Of Ohio. Lastly December 2, 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency begins operation. William D. Ruckelshaus is one of the first directors.
Now we move on to 1971.On January 4th which is an important event, Melvin H. Evans is elected the first black governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Following along with that, an earthquake in southern California kills sixty-five people and causes $500 million in damage on February 9th of 1971.On May 25, 1971 murder charges against the “Black Panther Party” leader Bobby Seale, are dropped and the United States signs a treaty restoring the island of Okinawa to Japan. September 30th, during the SALT negotiations, the United States and the soviet union sign an agreement on ways to reduce the risk of accidental nuclear war. November 5th, the White house announces a $136-million grain deal with the Soviet union.
March 22, 1972, The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommends that private possession and use of marijuana to not be penalized. April 7th, The Federal Election campaign Act goes into effect. The law sets limits and requires disclosure on personal contributions to political candidates. The 1st of July, John Mitchell who was the chairman of the Committee to reelect the President, resigns citing family problems. September 12th, the Senate approves President Nixon’s “33.5 billion revenue sharing plan” disbursing federal funds to state and local governments over a five-year period. October 27, 1972, citing high hosts, President Nixon vetoes nine social welfare, public works and ecology bills. Following in with that angry Native Americans seize the Bureau of Indians Affairs building in Washington, D.C. to dramatize official neglect.
April 11, 1973, the Mississippi Reaches its highest flood level in thirty years. The senate select Committee on Presidential campaign Activities, led by senator Ervin, convinces public hearings to investigate the Watergate affair and other illegal activities conducted by the Committee to reelect the president. Los Angeles its first black mayor who was named Thomas Bradley on May 29,1973. December 6th, Gerald Ford is the new vice- president and Nixon releases his income-tax and he returns and agrees to an Internal Revenue Service.
In June of 1974 Maynard Jackson is sworn in as the first black mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Also, in June President Nixon conducts tours of the Middle East, Europe, and Russia. August 2, Former White House counsel John Dean, is sentenced one to four years in conspiracy to cover up the Watergate affair. Gerald R. Ford is noted as the thirty-eighth president of the United States. Keep in mind that on August 20th, President Ford nominates New York governor Nelson A. Rockefeller for vice-president. He is then confirmed in December.
On June 10, 1975, The Rockefeller commission on CIA domestic activities reports that the CIA had undertaken unlawful surveillance of three hundred thousand American Citizens and organization and had supplied former president Nixon with information on political opponents. On August 6th President Ford approves a seven-year extension of the Voting Rights Acts. The 14th of November President Ford approves an 18 billion increase in the National debt-ceiling raising the total debt to 595 billion.
January 30, 1976, the Supreme court upholds the provisions of the 1974 campaign Financing reform act. It also requires that members of the Federal Election Commission be appointed by the president, not congress. Then President Ford announces the creation of an independent board to oversee U.S. intelligence operations. He had also issued executive order forbidding domestic surveillance and harassment and outlaws the assassination of foreign leaders. On April 23, Secretary of state Kissinger begins a twelve-day tour of African countries. After April, on July 3-4, the nation celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of its independence with festivals and political events around the country . The largest and most impressive festival in New York , celebrated through a flotilla of tall ships.
April 28th of 1977, The United States and Cuba sign agreements on fishing rights. Then July 13-14, a massive power grips New York City, thirty seven-hundred are arrested during widespread looting. Afterwards, a bill controlling strip-mining is signed into law by President Carter. Furthermore on October 5th Two United Nations covenants on human rights are also signed by president Carter as well. Another important event that occurred on November 1, 1977 President Carter signs legislation raising the minimum wage to $2.30 an hour. Democratic Ed Koch is elected mayor of New York city on November 8.
Second to last we move onto 1978. On January 11, the Labor Department announces that the unemployment rate for December 1977 was 6.4 percent which was the lowest in that three years. On February 6th, New England is paralyzed by the worst blizzard in recent history. The senate votes to extends the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to June 30, 1982. Thirty five states have already approved the amendment. Lastly, The House Select Committee on Assassinations ends its two-year inquiry by concluding that the murders of president John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King jr. were possibly the result of conspiracies.
Lastly, we talk about 1979. On April 3, Jane M, Byrne is elected the first woman mayor of Chicago. Next, More than sixty-five thousand demonstrators in Washington, D.C. and they protest against nuclear power. Furthermore California institutes gasoline rationing in nine counties.