Question

what impact did the watergate crisis have on american political life? do you think the quest for social reform in the 1970's succeeded? why or why not?

Answer 1

Watergate Scandal

A break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate complex in Washington was carried out under the direction of White House employees. Disclosure of the White House involvement in the break-in and subsequent cover-up forced President Nixon to resign in 1974 to avoid impeachment

As a result of the Watergate Scandal many Americans lost faith in the government and caused the reputation of the presidency to be greatly damaged.

The social reforms in 1970 succeeded to some extent.It was a time when many gains were made. School desegregation and voting rights were among the top ones. Of course not every social gain was made in the 1970s, but enough did to mark this decade as a time of change for the better.

New left was a broad political movement mainly in the 1960s and 1970s consisting of educators, agitators and others who sought to implement a broad range of reforms on issues such as civil rights, same sex rights, abortion, gender roles, and drugs, in contrast to earlier leftist or Marxist movements.

Selma and voting rights act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson (1908-73) on August 6, 1965, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment (1870) to the Constitution of the United States.

Equal rights amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women. Women's Rights Movement was aimed to give women rights to speak in public freely, give equal education opportunities for women, equal pay and work for women and allow women to vote.

Ending Slavery Movement was aimed to completely end slavery, and to achieve political and social equality for different races (especially slaves).

The aim of Prison Movement was to give mentally ill people professional care and safe facilities, to change punishment for prisoners and for child prisoners to not have as much punishment as adults.

The aim of Common School Movement was for all children to be taught in a common place, regardless of their background, longer school year and teacher training and increase school budget and teacher salaries.

To conclude the social reforms in 1970 was not a complete success but they paved a way for the future time where changes were made for better society.