During the 1970's, America was going through major changes. New nations grew around the world, there were insurrectionary movements that looked forward to end existing governments, and settled countries increased their economic power, which represented a rival for the U.S.
In the social sphere, there was a rise of movements looking for equality (African-Americans, gay people and women), and anti-Vietnam war movements. In the political and economical field, high inflation, high energetic cost, difficulties to compete with low cost imports, and high unemployment rates represented major challenges for every president during this decade, and America's economy eventually got sunk into a deep recession.
