1970s
The 1970s marked an era when the women's rights, gay rights and environmental movements gained momentum. The Watergate scandal led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, the U.S. ended direct involvement in the Vietnam War and President Jimmy Carter grappled with an energy crisis, inflation and the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Start Here
Trace the milestones of a scandal that rocked the nation.
The U.S. energy crisis of the 1970s forced American leaders and researchers to come up with solutions in policymaking, technology and architecture.
The first African American to seek the nomination of a major party competed against George Wallace, the face of Southern segregation.
The groundbreaking gender equity law made a lasting impact by increasing the participation of girls and women in athletics.
Iran Hostage Crisis
Iran Hostage Crisis
Explore the chain of events that set off the Iran hostage crisis - an diplomatic standoff that would keep Americans on edge and shape the course of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.
3 Key 1970s Movements
Explore All Related Topics
The Arab oil embargo of 1973 sent shockwaves through many parts of U.S. society.
The U.S. energy crisis of the 1970s forced American leaders and researchers to come up with solutions in policymaking, technology and architecture.
How the 504 Sit-In Secured Protections Against Disability Discrimination
The 504 Sit-in protest was a pivotal moment in the disability rights movement. The sit-in lasted 28 days and forced the signing of the 504 Regulations, which established protections against discrimination and paved the way for more inclusive workplaces.
In September 1975, President Gerald Ford escaped two attempts on his life—both by women and both in California.
A June 1972 break-in to the Democratic National Committee headquarters led to an investigation that revealed multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration.
Mitchell, the wife of Richard Nixon's attorney general, alleged she was held hostage and drugged after she attempted to talk to the press.
Ever since the US overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in an illegal coup, Native islanders responded with protest, activism and expressions of cultural pride.
The phenomenon started as a practical way to get places, then it became cool.
Panic set in after the partial nuclear meltdown as the public tried to decide which story to trust—and whether to evacuate.
If not for the former White House counsel, Nixon might never have resigned.
The Munich Massacre was an attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, by eight members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September. The terrorists took nine members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage, after killing two of them. The remaining hostages were later killed during a botched rescue attempt.
The 1970s brought social change in the battles for women's and gay rights, along with the launch of an environmental movement and a new conservative populism.
An oil embargo imposed by members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) led to fuel shortages and sky-high prices throughout much of the 1970s.
Three Mile Island is the site of a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania which experienced the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history in 1979.
