The Oil Crisis of 1973-1974: A Brief History with Documents (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)

In a year that saw both the formal end to the Vietnam War and the unfolding of the Watergate scandal, the oil crisis of 1973-1974 dealt a critical blow to the American psyche. After decades of wealth and prosperity, stagflation and gas shortages hit Americans in their own pockets. They faced hard questions about a national culture of consumption that had ravaged the environment and left the U.S. dangerously dependent on foreign oil -- and at the mercy of nations who could and would use oil as a political weapon. Karen Merrill offers a thorough examination of this watershed event with a collection of primary sources ranging from industry and government memos to contemporary news coverage and political cartoons. Her introduction provides historical perspective on U.S.-Middle East relations, as well as insights into oil's role in shepherding in a new era of environmental awareness within the American consumer culture. Useful pedagogical tools include questions for consideration, a chronology of events, and a bibliographic essay.