Confronting Limits
Divisions at Home and Abroad in a Conservative Era
1.
Why did the federal government regulate the maximum speed limit to 55 miles per
hour?
The United States imposed a temporary 55 mph speed limit in 1973 in response to the oil
embargo brought on by the Yom Kippur War in Israel in an effort to conserve gasoline. This
was the first energy scarcity the US had ever experienced.
2.
What was the Panama Canal Treaty?
President Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty in 1977 out of moral obligation;
Panama regained control of the canal in 2000.
3.
What is supply-side economics?
Regan used the theory of supply-side economics to support significant tax cuts. People
were supposed to work harder and businesses would grow, but that wasn't how things
ended up.
4.
What happened to the Equal Rights Amendment?
Regrettably, the Equal Rights Amendment was not able to proceed with the ratification
process because not enough signatures were obtained within the allowed time frame.
Around this time, the Republican Party began to formally adopt an antifeminist stance.
5.
What was the Iran-Contra Scandal?
The CIA and National Security Council officials conspired in secret to sell
weapons to Iran, which led to the Iran-Contra scandal. This was a scandal because
Iraq, with whom Iran was at war, was openly receiving weaponry from the United
States.
