Lessons From a 1970s Energy Crisis | Retro Report

Analyze the causes of the 1970s energy crisis and explain its immediate and long-term effects on American society. When oil-producing nations in the Middle East cut supplies to the United States in the 1970s, the resulting shortages caused gas prices to soar and long lines to become a fixture of American life. This crisis exposed the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, prompting U.S. presidents to pursue strategies ranging from strict conservation and fuel efficiency to early investments in renewable energy. Using clear academic language to make cause-and-effect arguments, students analyze primary sources to understand how the crisis changed energy policy.