Critical Reaction Post #9

In this module, we specifically focused on how the oil crisis of the 1970’s impacted America, on a global and personal scale. Within this case study, we related our work back to the historical thinking concept of establishing historical significance. Because there is just simply too much history to remember it all, it’s important to establish historical significance; or in simpler terms, prioritize certain events, people, and places over others. For example, events can be deemed historically significant if they resulted in major change over a period of time for a large number of people. This is a very fluid definition, however, as historical significance can be slightly different for everybody. For example, things can be significant to us and not someone else because we have a specific connection or interest in that topic that someone else may not have. All in all, significance depends on a person’s perspective and purpose. Can we link an event or person to larger historical trends that deem relevant today? Or when looking into a specific historical question, does that event or person appear irrelevant?

One aspect of historical significance is determining whether the events or developments were important to the people at the time. In our study of the 1970’s oil crisis, we can see that this event fits this aspect of determining historical significance. One way we can see this is through the lack of supply for the public’s demand. Americans doubled in their usage and demand of petroleum derived products such as gasoline, items for entertainment, home heating and cooling, clothing, and even food preservatives from the 1940’s to the 1970’s. Because of this, it began to become difficult to keep up with this high demand and the nation’s production could no longer keep up with its consumption. As America became more dependent on its foreign oil producers, these foreign oil producers became resentful. This was because American oil companies wouldn’t pay them a fair amount of money for the use of their land and resources. Eventually, in 1973, members of OPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This embargo was towards many countries, the United States included. Because of this, Americans’ everyday lives changed. The price of oil rose from $3 per barrel to nearly $12. Gas stations experiences gas shortages, with some stations even being shut down. There were limits on how much gas you could get. Lines of cars and people lined roadways waiting for their turn to get gas for their vehicles, lawnmowers, tractors and so on. Politicians called for retailers to not sell gasoline on Saturday or Sunday’s. Even Christmas lights were banned in some states. Overall, I believe that the 1970’s oil crisis was most definitely important enough to the people during this time that it can be safely deemed historically significant based off of this aspect.