Setting the stage
The 1970’s was a time of big events and movements. America was close to concluding the Vietnam war, Watergate would shake America’s politics and movements such as the Feminist movement would give Americans a different perception of independence and the breaking traditional gender roles.
Vietnam war
After the end of the First Indochina war between Viet Minh and France, Vietnam would be split into two parts (North/Com. South/Cap) and would lead to political and social turmoil that would ultimately result in the Second Indochina War or the Vietnam war. American intervention was due to fear of the spread of communism. This war would last over 20 years, and in that time there were large civilian and US deaths in Vietnam, protests against the war and the draft as well as an exodus of people fleeing the draft. This war would be a popular example of US foreign policy, the social and political consequences of an ideologically-driven conflict and the moral question as to whether the US had any business being there.
Watergate Scandal
The Watergate scandal would not only be Nixon’s most embarrassing and devastating scandal as president, but it would lead his political career, as well as the careers of many others, down a fiery spiral. In 1972, Nixon wanted to protect his image and his position of power as president. He had people working under him to set up bugged-wire tapes and to photograph sensitive documents in the Watergate complex in DC. This would result in their eventual arrest which began a series of investigation by the FBI which lead to FBI Assc. director Mark Felt to leak the investigation to the press. This would result in a series of events that would tarnish Nixon’s career and lead to his eventual resignation.
Women’s liberation
Since the early 19th century, women were significant to the progressive movement which would lead to the feminist movement. 1920, the 19th amendment would allow women to vote as a result of their involvement in the first world war as nurses. However, the fight for equality didn’t stop there. Eventually the feminist movement in the 60’s would liberate female sexuality with the use of birth control being prominent. Then in the 1970’s, one of the important cases that would affect women’s reproduction, Roe V Wade, would allow women to have more of a say when it comes to reproductive rights. Additionally, the feminist movement brought about fairer and equal protections from discrimination. Although there were some victories for the Women’s Liberation Movement, there are still pressing issues that modern feminists fight in today’s contemporary times.
