AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: 1970s Foreign Policy Crises (Day 291/309)

Hey APUSHers, let’s chat about 1970s Foreign Policy Crises as part of my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

“It Gets Into Everything,” Library of Congress

The 1970s were marked by several significant foreign policy crises that shaped international relations and challenged global stability. 

The October Arab-Israeli War of 1973, Al Jazeera

The Yom Kippur War of 1973 erupted between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria leading to oil embargos that resulted in soaring energy prices and economic disruptions worldwide. 

Bombing of the Presidential Palace of Chile, Wikimedia Commons

The 1973 coup in Chile, which overthrew the democratically elected government and installed a military dictator heightened tensions between the United States and Latin American countries. 

The Final Days, Wikimedia Commons

The fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the end of the Vietnam War, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule and the displacement of millions of refugees. 

Map of Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, Wikimedia Commons

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 further escalated Cold War tensions and prompted a U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. 

“America’s 52: 444 Days in Captivity,” Wikimedia Commons

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 resulted in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran and the establishment of an Islamic Republic, leading to the Iran hostage crisis in which 52 American diplomats were held captive for over a year. 

These crises tested the diplomatic skills of Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter and furthered tensions within the nation about the effectiveness of the federal government.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Growth of Religious Activism in the next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!