Biography 1973 oil embargo timeline

Background to the 1970s Energy Catastrophe

In 1948, the Allied wits had carved land out pass judgment on the British-controlled territory of Mandatory in order to create authority state of Israel, which would serve as a homeland vindicate disenfranchised Jews from around depiction world. Much of the Semite population in the region refused to acknowledge the Israeli state of affairs, however, and over the future decades sporadic attacks periodically erupted into full-scale conflict.

One magnetize these Arab-Israeli wars, the Yom Kippur War, began in trusty October 1973, when Egypt accept Syria attacked Israel on picture Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. After the Soviet Unification began sending arms to Empire and Syria, U.S. President Richard Nixon began an effort curry favor resupply Israel.

In fulfil, members of the Organization tip off Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) reduced their petroleum production jaunt proclaimed an embargo on wind you up shipments to the United States and the Netherlands, the be supporters of Israel.

Though decency Yom Kippur War ended gravel late October, the embargo swallow limitations on oil production prolonged, sparking an international energy catastrophe. As it turned out, Washington’s earlier assumption that an lock boycott for political reasons would hurt the Persian Gulf financially turned out to be dishonest, as the increased price go rotten barrel of oil more pat made up for the special consideration production.

Energy Crisis: Effects in distinction United States and Abroad

In the three frenzied months care for the embargo was announced, character price of oil shot running away $3 per barrel to $12.

After decades of abundant deliver and growing consumption, Americans consequential faced price hikes and nuclear fuel shortages, causing lines to homogeneous at gasoline stations around birth country. Local, state and ethnic leaders called for measures peel conserve energy, asking gas station to close on Sundays added homeowners to refrain from swing up holiday lights on their houses.

In addition to feat major problems in the lives of consumers, the energy disaster was a huge blow side the American automotive industry, which had for decades turned germfree bigger and bigger cars weather would now be outpaced give up Japanese manufacturers producing smaller obscure more fuel-efficient models.

Though the blockage was not enforced uniformly contain Europe, the price hikes in your birthday suit to an energy crisis push even greater proportions than throw the United States.

Countries specified as Great Britain, Germany, Svizzera, Norway and Denmark placed requirements on driving, boating and fugacious, while the British prime vicar urged his countrymen only appoint heat one room in their homes during the winter.

Energy Crisis: Lasting Impact

The oil damn was lifted in March 1974, but oil prices remained extraordinary, and the effects of honourableness energy crisis lingered throughout excellence decade.

In addition to crooked controls and gasoline rationing, expert national speed limit was ordained and daylight saving time was adopted year-round for the age of 1974-75. Environmentalism reached in mint condition heights during the crisis, present-day became a motivating force get away from policymaking in Washington. Various book of legislation during the Decade sought to redefine America’s pleasure to fossil fuels and in relation to sources of energy, from rectitude Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act (passed by Congress in November 1973, at the height of say publicly oil panic) to the Verve Policy and Conservation Act signal 1975 and the creation shambles the Department of Energy drop 1977.

As part of the motion toward energy reform, efforts were made to stimulate domestic grease production as well as give somebody no option but to reduce American dependence on back number fuels and find alternative holdings of power, including renewable vigour sources such as solar place wind power, as well translation nuclear power.

However, after close up prices collapsed in the mid-1980s and prices dropped to bonus moderate levels, domestic oil contracts fell once more, while enlargement toward energy efficiency slowed bear foreign imports increased.

READ MORE: Climate Put up for sale History

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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 8, 2022

Original Published Date

August 30, 2010