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Difficulty: EasyPolitical Realignment, Watergate, and Rise of Conservatism

"My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here, the people rule."

— President Gerald Ford, Address upon taking the office of the presidency, August 9, 1974

Which of the following was a primary domestic effect of the political crisis referenced in the excerpt?

  1. A significant decline in public trust in the presidency and other federal institutionsAnswer
  2. B
    A renewed national consensus to expand Great Society social welfare programs
  3. C
    A shift to an absolute isolationist foreign policy that rejected international trade
  4. D
    A widespread belief that containment doctrine policies would resolve domestic constitutional issues

Answer

A significant decline in public trust in the presidency and other federal institutions
The correct answer is correct because the political crisis of the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon's resignation led directly to a significant decline in public trust in the presidency and other federal government institutions during the 1970s.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus context and author.
The excerpt is from President Gerald Ford's address upon taking office in August 1974, immediately following Richard Nixon's resignation due to the Watergate scandal.
Identifying the historical context of the speech is essential to understanding what event is referred to as the 'national nightmare.'
2
Identify the primary domestic consequence of that event.
The Watergate scandal and the abuse of executive power exposed by the investigation led directly to a sharp decline in public trust in political institutions.
Connecting the Watergate crisis to the subsequent decline in public trust directly addresses the historical developments of the period.

Key Concept

Political Realignment, Watergate, and Rise of Conservatism
Estimated Time:45s
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Political Realignment, Watergate, and Rise of Conservatism

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