Carter essays

Carter essays The effect of petroleum price limitations became compounded when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) met on Oct. 17, 1973. During the Kuwait City meeting, OPEC delegates recommended that the United States be subjected to the most severe cuts to punish America for supporting Israel during the Yam Kipur War. Furthermore, the resulting OPEC embargo cut five percent of petroleum production per month until Israel pulled out of the Arab territories. Despite OPEC's ruling, President Nixon proposed a 2.2 billion-dollar aid package for Israel. Saudi Arabia, enraged, cut off all shipments of oil to the United States. Although Middle Eastern oil only accounted for 11 percent of U.S. consumption in 1972, by 1973 the level had risen to 18 percent. The increase in American dependence combined with a 470 percent increase in OPEC oil prices between January and December 1973 plunged the United States into a full-fledged crisis. Accordingly, the United States adjusted gas consump tion for motor vehicles. The government regulated the amount of gas and which days Americans were able to acquire gasoline for their vehicles. Harshly, the government reduced the gas amount to 8 gallons per week for all American motor vehicles. To capitalize on the situation of the United States Japan introduced a more economical car compared to American cars named the Datsun, which later became Nissan. The Datsun achieved a gas mileage between 28-32 miles per gallon. As a result, the American car industry was crushed and would not recover for 16 years. Even further, Americans needed to find alternate ways of providing energy for their homes because of the major role oil plays in the production of energy. Continuing on, to aid the economy in hopes of recuperation Carter instituted the energy act of 1978. Carter asked congress for billions of dollars to research other forms of energy including wind power, geothermal energy, as well as nuclear energy. ...