United States' Energy Crisis During 1970

The energy crisis of the 1970’s caused authorities to search out other renewable sources of energy, which currently remain undeveloped and keep the U.S. today generally dependant on foreign fuel. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a crisis is a “difficult or dangerous situation that needs serious attention.” The energy crisis of the 1970’s produced a backlash that affected much of the economy and spread fear and panic over the United States.

Energy Crisis (1970’s) states that the crisis officially began when the “Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) reduced their petroleum production and proclaimed an embargo on oil shipments to the United States and the Netherlands, the main supporters of Israel.” They did this because of the United States providing support to Israel during the Yom Kippur War (Energy Crisis (1970’s)). Although it “ended in late October, the embargo and limitations on oil production continued, sparking an international energy crisis” (Energy Crisis (1970’s)). The United States presumed that a boycott would damage the Persian Gulf financially, however, because of the rise in the price of oil, it actually helped them (Energy Crisis (1970’s)). The price of oil actually shot from $3 a barrel to $12 a barrel. (Energy Crisis (1970’s)). This produced tremendous lines at gas stations, exorbitant gas prices, and people were told not to put up Christmas lights. Other countries that were affected could only heat one room in the winter (Energy Crisis (1970’s)). The American auto manufactures were injured as well while they were turning out large vehicles, whereas Japanese manufacturers produced tiny fuel- efficient autos (Energy Crisis (1970’s)).

What are fossil fuels? Natural gas, pe...

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...m fossil fuels, there remains alternative resources that can easily be taken advantage of. So why isn’t the United States taking this deeply into consideration and improving this dilemma? The energy crisis of the 1970’s continues on into the present as Americans search for new ways to fuel the consumption. This remains unresolved.

Works Cited

“Energy Crisis (1970’s).” History. A&E Television Networks. 2014. Web. 9 March 2014. http://www.history.com/topics/energy-crisis

“How Did the ‘70s Energy Crisis Affect the United States?” wiseGEEK. 2014. Web. 9

March 2014. http://www.wisegeek.org/how-did-the-70s-energy-crisis-affect-the-united-states.htm

Daniel, Faust R. Energy Crisis The Future of Fossil Fuels. New York: The Rosen

Publishing Group Inc, 2009. Print.

Dorion, Christiane. Are We Running Out of Energy? Mankato: Arcturus Publishing,

2008. Print.