1970's

1970's

Period: Jan 1, 1970 to Dec 31, 1979

The main events of the 70's decade.

Beatles' break up.

Apr 10, 1970

The BeatlesThe Beatles officially break up, when George Harrison announces to be solo. Many events lead up to the destruction of the band. The past few years, each member began to record their own albums, and slowly grew apart from each other. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr all wanted their solo careers, too.

Apollo 13

Apr 11, 1970

NASA Apollo Mission Apollo-13Apollo 13 is launched from Kennedy Space Center, with astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise. Their intension was to land on the moon. However, the capsule’s oxygen tank blew up, and the lunar landing was aborted. After struggling to survive, the crew eventually crash landed in the Pacific.

My Lai massacre revealed

Nov 17, 1970

American Experience | PBS |...U.S. soldiers are found guilty of the My Lei Massacre, a mass murder of 500 Vietnamese civilians. Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade of the Americal Division Murdered 300 unarmed civilians in My Lei, and another 200 in My Khe. The soldiers were charged with criminal offenses, and disobeying orders.

Invasion of Laos

Jan 1, 1971

Laos-Wikipedia, the free en...The U.S. and South Vietnam invade Laos. Towards the end of the war for America, the U.S. military decided to bring the war outside of Vietnam. So, the democratic forces launched a major assault on the North Vietnamese held country of Laos. It was a failed assault however, as the Vietcong were able to repel the attacking forces.

Disney World opens

Oct 1, 1971

Disney World's Grand OpeningWalt Disney World opens. The past decade it has been under construction, and when it opened, it only had the magic castle. But since then, they have added many more parks and resorts, like the Animal Kingdom, Epcot Centre, and Hollywood studios. Since its beginning, Disney World has been the greatest and most visited resort in the world.

China in the UN

Nov 25, 1971

China and the United Nation...China joins the United Nations. China had a huge role in the history of the 20th century. They were one of the big 4 Allies in World War 2, became Japan’s biggest enemy, had a civil war, becoming Communist and having democratic China revolt and form its own nation Taiwan, fought on the side of North Korea in the Korean war, and joined the United Nations. All these events lead to China’s entrance in the UN.

Watergate Scandal

Jun 17, 1972

Watergate: Brief Timeline of ...The Watergate Scandal begins. President Richard Nixon sends five agents to the Watergate in Washington D.C. to figure out the Democrats’ method of winning elections. Nixon’s men searched through folders and files, and placed listening chips on the phones. However, the agents were caught by the silent alarm, and arrested by the F.B.I. This event led to Nixon’s impeachment, the first time a U.S. president has ever resigned in history.

Pong released

Nov 29, 1972

Pong Video Game History - I...The first successful video game, Pong, is released by Atari Inc. It was originally released as an arcade game, but was later made into its own console.

Apollo 17

Dec 7, 1972

Apollo 17The last man on the moon. Manned by Eugene Cernan, Apollo 17 was the last mission in the Apollo Lunar mission program. The crew was able to land on the moon, and return safely. The operation lasted 12 days.

U.S. exit from Vietnam

Mar 15, 1973

Vietnam WarThe U.S. begins pulling out of Vietnam. After expanding the war to Cambodia and Laos, President Nixon lost the support of many. The government decided to start bringing troops back, after heavily losing the war. The North Vietnamese were dominating, and it wouldn’t be long before the South Vietnamese gave up too.

Oil crisis

Oct 1, 1973

http://www.envirothonpa.or...OPEC doubles price of oil. This is in response to America’s support for Israel during the Yom Kipper War. This is the largest oil crisis in history.

Agnew resigns

Oct 10, 1973

U.S. Senate: Art & History H...Vice President Spiro Agnew resigns. He is the second Vice President in history to ever resign. He was accused of tax evasion, accepting over $100,000 in bribes.

FOIA overrides veto

Jan 1, 1974

Freedom of Information Act(...Freedom of Information Act passes over President Gerald Ford’s veto.

NMSL passed

Jan 15, 1974

National Maximum Speed La...National Maximum Speed Law is passed. This bill limits speed to 55 mph. This was mainly because of the oil crisis the year before. However, it saved about 4000 lives a week. The national speed limit eventually rose again, however.

Nixon resigns

Aug 9, 1974

Richard Nixon : BiographyPresident Richard Nixon resigns. Many people wanted him out of office for many things he has done, like the Watergate scandal, and the expansion of the Vietnam War. He was the first president to resign from office.

Microsoft founded

Apr 4, 1975

Microsoft - Wikipedia, the fre...The Company of Microsoft is founded. Since its birth, Microsoft has made a wide variety of technology and services. Windows, Xbox and Xbox 360, Office, Hotmail, and Windows phone are some of the many successful accomplishments of the biggest and most popular computer company in the world, Microsoft.

Ford assassination attempt

Sep 5, 1975

Ford escaped 2 assassinatio...Lynette Fromme attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford with a colt .45 handgun. However, a secret service agent stopped the gun from firing. The failed assassin was sentenced to life in prison.

Franco dies

Nov 20, 1975

General Francisco FrancoFrancisco Franco dies in a comma, at age 82. Franco was a Spanish general, and a navy sailor. He led the rebellion in the Spanish civil war, and was the totalitarian of Spain.

Vietnam war ends

Jul 2, 1976

Vietnam War -Wikipedia, the...The Vietnam war officially ends, when North and South Vietnam join to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The long and miserable war lasted for about 13 years. Currently, Vietnam is still one nation.

Entebbe raid

Jul 4, 1976

The Entebbe Rescue MissionThe Entebbe air raid occurs. Israel launched a rescue mission to free 106 hostages. The plane was hijacked by terrorists from Palestine, Germany, and Uganda. The rescue operation was a success, as 102 out of 106 hostages were liberated.

Legionellosis outbreak

Jul 15, 1976

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/...Legionnaire’s disease strikes 182 people, and kills 29. Legionellosis is a bacterium that is harmful under the right conditions, and can even cause death. However, sometimes little or no symptoms can be present. This disease also seams to target and infect people who are middle aged and older. Fortunately, a Legionellosis outbreak is very rare. This case is the first, and also the most famous.

Star Wars released

May 25, 1977

Star Wars - Wookieepedia, t...The original Star Wars film is released by 20th Century Fox. It is the first movie in the Star Wars saga, being the 4th event in the Star Wars chronological timeline. This is one of the most famous and successful series’ in filming history.

Neutron bomb funding

Jun 1, 1977

Nuetron bomb - Wikipedia, th...Neutron bomb funding begins. America plans to purchase the newly tested neutron bomb, a highly radioactive thermonuclear weapon. It was designed to kill people and preserve the surrounding construction. However, it still has all of the effects of a nuclear weapon, and can easily destroy anything in the radius, through blast and heat. America planned to use it in future conflicts, but the plots were canceled after the cold war, to prevent nuclear annihilation.

Elvis dies

Aug 16, 1977

Biography of Elvis Presley - Li...Elvis Presley is found dead. Elvis was nicknamed “The King of Rock and Roll”, and was famous for what is explained in his nickname. He was only 42 years old at death, but no one knows exactly what caused it. A likely cause is drug use, since he became sick and hospitalized 4 years earlier.

Louise Brown born

Jul 25, 1978

First Test-Tube Baby - Louise...The first test tube baby, Louise Brown, is born. The process of in vitro fertilization is when a women’s egg is fertilized by sperm outside of the body, like in a test tube.

Joh Paul 2 becomes Pope

Oct 16, 1978

http://www.vatican.va/news...John Paul 2 becomes Pope. Being Pope of the Catholic Church, he worked to bring all religions close together. For example, Orthodox, Muslims, and Christians became closer because of him. He also traveled all across the world, forming the largest crowds in human history.

Jonestown massacre

Nov 18, 1978

Jonestown Massacre - The S...Mass suicide occurs at Jonestown, South America. 918 people drank poisoned fruit punch. Congressmen poisoned the drink, so their people wouldn’t have to face an upcoming attack.

Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown

Mar 28, 1979

Three Mile Island | TMI 2 |Th...The nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania begins. The nuclear power plant underwent a partial meltdown, and radioactive particles were released into the area. The residents were evacuated, while repairs and radiation cleanup took place.

Greensboro massacre

Nov 3, 1979

Greensboro massacre - Wikip...The Greensboro massacre occurs in Greensboro, North Carolina. Protesters for black industrial workers organization were shot and killed by members of the Ku Klux Klan, and the American Nazi party.

Iran hostage crisis

Nov 4, 1979

Iran hostage crisis --- Infople...The Iran hostage crisis begins. Terrorists from Iran Kidnapped Americans from an embassy, and held them hostage in Tehran. 2 years later, however, America was able to negotiate with the Iranian government, and the hostages were released.