What were the 1970s known for?

The 1970s are famous for bell-bottoms and the rise of disco, but it was also an era of economic struggle, cultural change and technological innovation.

How did the 1970s change America?

These changes took place for a variety of reasons—feminism, improved birth control, the legalization of abortion, the spread across the country of the sixties youth culture’s rejection of traditional mores—but what they added up to was that the nuclear family, consisting of a working husband and a nonworking wife, both …

What is special about the 1970s?

The 1970s were a tumultuous time. In some ways, the decade was a continuation of the 1960s. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, gays and lesbians and other marginalized people continued their fight for equality, and many Americans joined the protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam.

What events happened in the 1970s?

1970

U.S. President Richard Nixon orders an invasion of Cambodia, widening the war in Vietnam.
The U.S. Senate repeals the Gulf of Tonkin resolution that had given Presidents Johnson and Nixon sweeping powers in the Vietnam War.
The Beatles break up.
Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nassar dies.

What was the 70s decade known as?

Tom Wolfe called the 1970s the “Me Decade.” Across the land, Americans seemed determined to escape from the wars and social movements of the previous decade. Many during the ’70s wore the “afro” hairstyle simply as a fashion statement.

What was society like in 1970s?

Almost all aspects of American society in the 1970s were marked by a restlessness and a questioning of traditional authority. From public protest movements to personal fashion, people sought a means of self-expression.

What were the major cultural themes of the 1970s?

Schulman contends that personal liberation and rebellion against authority became key themes of the 1970s, as Americans sought individualism through new outlooks on religion, popular culture, and sexuality. Although such tendencies developed, not all Americans welcomed them.

What major event happened in 1973?

January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam. January 20 – President Nixon and Vice President Agnew are sworn in for their second term. Roe v. Wade: The U.S. Supreme Court overturns state bans on abortion.

What did people call the 1970s?

Me Decade
Tom Wolfe called the 1970s the “Me Decade.” Across the land, Americans seemed determined to escape from the wars and social movements of the previous decade.

What was technology like in the 1970s?

Innovative technology in the ’70s culminated in the development of accessible, attainable personal computers. Large-scale business adoption, the digital gaming industry and electronic word processing flourished, as did technology giants, including Microsoft and Apple.

What was entertainment in the 1970s?

Audiences turned out in droves to see disaster films, horror movies, science fiction films, Vietnam War dramas, comedies, violent action pictures, and “buddy” movies. All these genres were dominated, however, by the runaway success of just two pictures, directed by young filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

What significant event happened in 1975?

April 30 – Vietnam War: The Fall of Saigon: The Vietnam War ends as Communist forces take Saigon, resulting in mass evacuations of Americans and South Vietnamese. As the capital is taken, South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally.

What was the social trend in the 1970s?

The decade of the 1970s was in many ways a continuation of the late 1960s with respect to social trends. The activists of the 1960s crusaded for social justice in the 1970s, gaining new freedoms for women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, homosexuals, the elderly, and other ethnic and minority groups.

What was life like in America in the 1970s?

With three recessions, double-digit inflation, and double-digit unemployment, the 1970s was a period of economic upheaval. Facing an uncertain future, many Americans were drawn to the stability of traditional values and fundamentalist Christian teachings. Other Americans turned away from the problems of society, focusing on themselves instead.

What did people listen to in the 1970s?

In the 1970s, groups played hard rock and punk music, instead. Self-help books were another sign that Americans were becoming more concerned about their own lives. These books described ways to make people happier with themselves.

Why was the 1970s a tumultuous time in America?