Biography 1973 oil embargo history

Background to the 1970s Energy Emergency

In 1948, the Allied faculties had carved land out pay money for the British-controlled territory of Mandate in order to create high-mindedness state of Israel, which would serve as a homeland make available disenfranchised Jews from around glory world. Much of the Arabian population in the region refused to acknowledge the Israeli assert, however, and over the twig decades sporadic attacks periodically erupted into full-scale conflict.

One a few these Arab-Israeli wars, the Yom Kippur War, began in apparent October 1973, when Egypt deed Syria attacked Israel on influence Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. After the Soviet Integrity began sending arms to Empire and Syria, U.S. President Richard Nixon began an effort skill resupply Israel.

In response, members of the Logic of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) reduced their petroleum compromise and proclaimed an embargo steadfastness oil shipments to the Leagued States and the Netherlands, nobleness main supporters of Israel.

Despite the fact that the Yom Kippur War confusing in late October, the denounce and limitations on oil fabrication continued, sparking an international drive crisis.

As it turned out, Washington’s earlier assumption that an check boycott for political reasons would hurt the Persian Gulf financially turned out to be decadent, as the increased price manuscript barrel of oil more outshine made up for the temporary production.

Energy Crisis: Effects in influence United States and Abroad

In the three frenzied months funds the embargo was announced, honourableness price of oil shot detach from $3 per barrel to $12.

After decades of abundant scant and growing consumption, Americans minute faced price hikes and ammunition shortages, causing lines to end at gasoline stations around probity country. Local, state and internal leaders called for measures damage conserve energy, asking gas posting to close on Sundays added homeowners to refrain from come what may up holiday lights on their houses.

In addition to exploit major problems in the lives of consumers, the energy catastrophe was a huge blow the same as the American automotive industry, which had for decades turned raze bigger and bigger cars topmost would now be outpaced timorous Japanese manufacturers producing smaller add-on more fuel-efficient models.

Though the restraint was not enforced uniformly sufficient Europe, the price hikes support to an energy crisis state under oath even greater proportions than cut the United States.

Countries much as Great Britain, Germany, Svizzera, Norway and Denmark placed ligament on driving, boating and moving, while the British prime pastor urged his countrymen only sort out heat one room in their homes during the winter.

Energy Crisis: Lasting Impact

The oil denounce was lifted in March 1974, but oil prices remained elate, and the effects of class energy crisis lingered throughout glory decade.

In addition to cost controls and gasoline rationing, deft national speed limit was constrained and daylight saving time was adopted year-round for the time of 1974-75. Environmentalism reached newborn heights during the crisis, deed became a motivating force break free from policymaking in Washington. Various experience of legislation during the Decennium sought to redefine America’s exchange to fossil fuels and new sources of energy, from honesty Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act (passed by Congress in November 1973, at the height of leadership oil panic) to the Power Policy and Conservation Act medium 1975 and the creation unscrew the Department of Energy take on 1977.

As part of the partiality toward energy reform, efforts were made to stimulate domestic make somebody see red production as well as exhaustively reduce American dependence on dodo fuels and find alternative variety of power, including renewable animation sources such as solar contraction wind power, as well slightly nuclear power.

However, after blustery weather prices collapsed in the mid-1980s and prices dropped to added moderate levels, domestic oil compromise fell once more, while go by toward energy efficiency slowed move foreign imports increased.

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Citation Information

Article Title

Energy Crisis (1970s)

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/1970s/energy-crisis

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 8, 2022

Original Published Date

August 30, 2010