The 1970s were a decade of great change, turmoil, and many events you probably didn’t know about.
The optimism and flower power of the 1960s was swiftly replaced with a crisis of confidence in America. Nixon was embroiled in scandal and eventually resigned, New York City moved from one disaster to another in the form of blackouts and near-bankruptcy, and the first American space station came crashing back to Earth.
On the lighter side, the opening of Star Wars caused a revolution in cinema, technology progressed with the founding of Apple Computers, and after years of protests and horror, the Vietnam War finally ended.
Go back and peek in on some of the most memorable happenings from this difficult to define decade.
1
The Concorde Jet Takes Flight
In 1976 the world’s first supersonic passenger jet took off
2
The Atari 2600 Is Released
In 1977 the first home video games hit the market
3
Skylab Crashes to Earth
In 1979 America’s first space station fell out of orbit and scattered debris over Australia.
4
Nixon Goes to China
Despite his faults, it was under Nixon that the U.S. opened diplomatic relations with Communist China for the first time.
5
Cuyahoga River
Caught Fire Pollution was so bad in Cleveland that the river literally ignited. Afterwards the event helped fuel environmental reform.
6
The “Battle of the Sexes”
In 1973, tennis star Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in a nationally televised match
7
Watergate Scandal
The 1972 break-in and cover-up that led to President Nixon resigning in disgrace.
8
The Vietnam War Ends
In 1975 after decades of conflict, the U.S. pulled out, and Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces, marking a major geopolitical shift.
9
The Oil Crisis
Embargoes caused gas shortages and economic turmoil throughout the 1970s.
10
Apple Computers Is Founded
In 1976 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak start Apple in a garage, helping launch the personal computing revolution.
11
The Jonestown Massacre
In 1978, over 900 members of the Peoples Temple cult died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana, shocking the world.
12
The Blizzard of 1978
A historic snowstorm froze the Northeast U.S. with record snowfall.
13
The New York City Blackout
A 25-hour power outage in 1977 triggered widespread looting, arson, and panic.
14
Star Wars Released
In 1977 George Lucas’s space opera created a franchise that still breaks box office records today.
15
Elvis Presley Dies
In 1977, The King of Rock and Roll passed away at 42 in his Graceland bathroom.
