Which event was a direct result of increasing distrust in government following a major political scandal?

The resignation of President Richard Nixon was a direct result of the Watergate scandal, which significantly eroded public trust in government. Following the scandal, investigations revealed extensive misconduct involving Nixon and his administration, including wiretaps and attempts to cover up the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Faced with the impending threat of impeachment due to his role in the cover-up and the growing disillusionment among the American public with government integrity, Nixon chose to resign on August 8, 1974. This pivotal moment marked a significant decline in confidence in government institutions and set a precedent for increased scrutiny of political leaders and accountability in government actions.

In contrast, the War Powers Act emerged as a legislative response to concerns about executive overreach in military matters, the Civil Rights Act addressed racial discrimination and sought to promote civil rights rather than directly responding to political scandals, and the formation of the United Nations was driven by the desire to promote international cooperation and peace after World War II, unrelated to any distrust in the U.S. government stemming from a scandal.