Ford ran for President in 1976 against Jimmy Carter and lost. One of Carter's goals was to bring back the people's trust in the United States government after the Watergate incident.
Most of Carter's problems in the United States centered on energy. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries increased the price of oil. This led to inflation. Many people lost their jobs. Carter took the blame for this.
Camp David Accords
Carter brought Egypt's President Sadat and Israel's Prime Minister Begin together to talk about peace. The three leaders met at Camp David in the United States. A peace accord was signed in September 1978.
The Panama Canal Treaty
Carter also signed a treaty with Panama that gave control of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1999.
SALT II
Carter continued talks with the U.S.S.R. to limit the number of weapons each country could have. The U.S.S.R. and United States also worked on other issues including ecology, space, and science projects. The United States agreed to sell wheat, corn, and other grains to the Soviets. The grain sales ended when the U.S.S.R. sent troops into Afghanistan.
President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev sign theĀ
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) treaty, June 18, 1979, in Vienna.
China
On July 1, 1979 Carter renewed diplomatic relations with China.
Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter during Sino-American signing ceremony.
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