HIS 170B Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Jerry Falwell, Flower Child, Meritocracy
Document Summary
Characterized by backlash to many socioeconomic changes at the time. Nixon tapped into this backlash successfully and used it to his advantage. Step 1: economy flounders: for the first time since 1964, the us suffered an unfavorable trading situation. In 1980, 75% of american-made goods were competing with foreign imported competition items: all of the sudden, the us was not the biggest, best manufacturer in the world. All of the great, stable manufacturing jobs are dwindling in number. Manufacturing jobs are 38% of all jobs in 1960, 20% in 1970. B. 3. a: vietnam war was so expensive (b. 3. a. 1) lbj was not straight up with the american people (b. 3. a. 2) he just made transactions on his own (b. 3. a. 3) he contributed to inflation. B. 3. b: overseas competition, two biggest competitors for us. West germany: 1955: us produced 40% of world"s steel, 1980: us produced 15% Step 2: politics as a zero sum game.
