This document summarizes key social, political, economic, and cultural events and trends of the 1970s in the United States. It discusses the Nixon presidency, the Vietnam War and related protests, the Watergate scandal, stagflation and economic struggles including two oil crises, the rise of feminism and gay rights, changes in sexual and social norms, the counterculture movement, and developments in music, television, movies, literature and fashion. Overall, it provides a comprehensive overview of the tumultuous changes and events that defined this transformative decade in American history.

1. Kelly Creary
Nicole Castro
Ashley John

3. Nixon(Republican)

5. My Lai Massacre(1968)

7. Invasion of Cambodia (1970)

8. Kent State
• American public reacted with the Kent
State protest which resulted in the deaths of
college students as enforcement was
brought in to quell the unrest generated by
the public

9. Pentagon Papers
(United States- Vietnam Relations)

12. OPEC (Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries)

14. Watergate Scandal

15. Economic Problems

17. Arab Oil Embargo 1973-1974

19. Oil Crisis of 1979
Another shortage in oil came in 1979 when the Iranian shah
fled the country and Ayatollah Khomeini took over
Oil production fell below normal in Iran and were
inconsistent and hurt the US
The Carter administration started price controls again and
gas lines returned

20. Results of the Oil Crisis
Oil consumption decreased 20% in the decade
Daylight savings was created to conserve oil
America’s economic growth ended
Led to a period known as stagnation

21. Inflation

22. Causes of
Inflation
People were more skeptical in investing in companies because of the
Great Depression
Rising oil prices set by OPEC
The end of the Vietnam War which removed Nixon’s price controls on
inflation
Nixon removed the US from the gold standard
Government policies of the 1960s- especially the Great Society and the
Vietnam War- because no tax increases were made to support these
Productivity declined because of inexperienced workers

23. Stagflation
It is the combination of increasing inflation and stagnant
business activity along with high unemployment
People bought a lot of goods fearing prices would increase
even more and then the increased demand pushed up
prices
The increased prices led to demands for increased wages

24. Results
The standard of living for the average person decreased
because of the high prices on goods
Older people on fixed incomes found it harder to survive
Businesses needed to take out loans because they were
failing

25. Reaction to Inflation
By 1979 inflation reached 13%
People were forced to take out loans
and interest rates increased
The Federal Reserve froze the
money supply which started a
recession
Jimmy Carter created a voluntary
wage and price control to control
inflation
In 1974 Ford passed a tax cut to end
the recession

27. The inexperienced baby- boomers entering the
workforce in the 1970s led to high rates of
unemployment because of the amount of them.
Many more women and minorities were now allowed
into the workforce
Unemployment went from about 4% in 1970 to 9%
in 1975 and remained high throughout the decade
About 96 million people were employed in the 70s

28. Results of Unemployment
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act was passed
in 1974 that guaranteed workers would be given their
pension benefits
The Revenue Act of 1978 reduced income taxes and it
created the Flexible Spending Account which let employees
get compensated for medical expenses

29. Foreign Trade
The high foreign oil prices led to Americans trading world
wide.
Before the 1970s the gross national product had less than
10% due to foreign trade
By 1979 foreign trade made up 27% of the gross national
product
Americans paid more for foreign products than they could
make selling their own goods overseas.

30. Deficits in the federal budget
reached about $60 billion at
the end of 1979.

32. The early 1970s were a time marked by intense
emotional fervor, social unrest and a continuation
of the non-conformist counterculture ideals of the
1960’s. The new generation rejected the ideas,
values and ethics of their parents and elders,
including competition, social conventions and
sometimes capitalism. These were replaced by
community, cooperation, toleration and
individuality.
Social justice and liberation movements and riots
were commonplace.
Women, Native Americans,Chicanos, and

33. •The early 1970s saw an •The role of homosexuals
increase in: in society
•Drug Usage •Ethnic Awareness
•Environmental
awareness •Equality for Women
•pollution •Crime Rates
•Changing of Sexual •Lack of Faith in the
Morality American Dream
•Birth Control •Criticism of the
•Sex Appeal as a government
marketing strategy •The Generation Gap
•Divorce Rates
•Single Mother Homes

34. Drug Abuse
Drugs abuse became more apparent in the 1970s than ever before.
During this time, Drugs became a permanent component of American
life; drug use was generally tolerated.
People began using drugs such as LSD, mushrooms, amphetamines,
cocaine, opiates, heroine, and, of course, marijuana, the most
commonly used recreational drug.
The use of marijuana became less of a radical statement and began to be
viewed as a normal activity.
Drugs were used for both recreational and spiritual reasons.
As time wore on, drugs were used more because of dependency and
addiction than they were for spirituality.

35. Some Figures
In 1975, 45% of high school students admitted to using
drugs within that year.
By 1979, that number increased by 54%
Also in 1979, people between the ages of 18 and 25, almost
70% used illegal substances.
11% of teenagers admitted to using marijuana once a
day, and 17% admitted to using it 2 to 3 times a week.

36. Drugs and Crime
Drug addiction and sales became a major legal issue.
Half of all crimes were committed by people between 10-17
years of age, who were often addicted to drugs, by the end
of the 1970s.

37. Environmental Awareness
People during the 1970s believed in an increased level of
awareness by a communication with nature.
People began to move from urban to rural areas in America.
Hippies widely celebrated nature, being influenced by Native
Americans.
The popularity of Organic food increased
The first earth day occurred on April 22, 1970. Over 2 thousand
colleges and universities participated.

38. The Energy Crisis
Because of the Oil embargo placed by OPEC, America
suffered a major energy crisis.
Americans came to realize how large their consumption of
energy was, as we consumed 30% of the worlds energy, and
were becoming increasingly dependent on oil.
Attention was drawn to environmental issues, and new
sources of energy were considered (wind power, solar
power), as well as new forms of transportation (compact
cars, bikes, walking, public transportation).

39. Cars
In the early 1970s, automobiles were boat-like and large. They
consumed ludicrous amounts of gasoline, and contributed
largely to global warming, producing harmful emissions.
The American Muscle Car (Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, GTO, Dodge,
Chrysler) was introduced to society in the early 70’s, but later on,
more compact, foreign cars gained popularity (Volkswagen and
Toyota)
Due to the downsizing in cars, American automotive sales
decreased by eleven million in 1973 and by seven million more in
1974.

40. The Change in Perspective of Sexual Morality
People began to reject tradition sexual restraints
Sexuality became less taboo
Eroticism, experimentation, and promiscuity were common and encouraged, especially by the younger
generation, due to the increased effectiveness and use of birth control.
Interracial dating, homosexuality, dirty language, increased.
Nudity was considered more casual.
Fashion emphasized sexuality, especially among women.
Sex appeal was widely used in promoting products and movies
Sexual education courses were taught in public schools for the first time.
Sexual themes were present in rock music especially, in addition to profane language.
Pornography became a multibillion dollar industry, earning approximately $4 billion annually.
Some pornography used sexual themes to advance messages about human nature, while most was merely for
viewing pleasure.
Sexual liberation became more of a business than a statement in the 70s.
Sexual themes were also found in literature, and sex manuals were produced for the first time, portraying
sex as a natural human activity.
Sexual promiscuity led to the spread of STDs and an increase in teen pregnancies.

41. Family life
Divorce rates increased dramatically in the 1970s, which lead to a direct increase in single-mother
homes.
The amount of men living alone rose by 4.3%, and the amount of women living alone rose by 5.3%
The amount of people who never married increased by 5.2%
Generally, courts gave custody of children to the mother after divorce.
Divorce and remarriage was generally more accepted
Greater employment rate and economic independence for women also caused many divorces.
No-fault divorce laws were enacted in many states, which allowed couples to divorce due to
“irreconcilable differences” and “incompatibility.”
Empty Nest Syndrome increased, with more and more children leaving their parents when they
reached 18.
The amount of blended families increased when mothers and fathers with children from previous
marriages remarried, like The Brady Bunch.

42. In the 1970’s, the homosexual community began clamoring for “Gay Power” and “Gay
Liberation,” demanding legal reform, access to public services, and an end to discrimination.
In 1973, The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental
disorders.
Gay candidates, such as Barney Frank and Elaine Noble in Massachusetts began running for
public office, spawning both acceptance and hostility toward the gay community.
Harvey Milk, a gay activist and member of the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco until 1978,
was assassinated by Dan White, a former member of the Board. (Dan White plead guilty under
the pretense that Twinkies had caused his momentary mental instability.)
Although great strides were made toward antidiscrimination and acceptance of homosexuality,
the liberation and equality process was and is slow and arduous.

43. Ethnic Awareness
Pride increased for all ethnicities, especially Native Americans, African
Americans, Hispanics and Chicanos, Italians and Irish.
African Americans particularly experienced an increase in pride, adopting the Afro as a
hairstyle instead of straightening hair, and returning to their native culture. African
dresses and prints became popular among black women.
Native Americans, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, began the American Indian
Movement, protesting living conditions for Indians and treaty violations by the U.S.
Government.
Hispanics established huge minority communities in the south west, beginning the
Chicano movement, which included organizations like the Brown Berets, Cesar Chaves
and the United Farm Workers, and La RazaUnida, which championed for
acceptance, equality, and also gave way to a Hispanic Renaissance in art.
Italians began the Italian American Historical Association began to study Italian
contributions to American Society and the Italian American Civil Rights league was also
formed.
Irish Americans responded with sympathy and economic funds for Irish demands for self
determination in Northern Ireland.

44. The Feminist Movement and
Equality for Women
Feminists demanded equal rights and an end to discrimination in the
1970s, and also fought double negatives and gender assumptions, as well as
equal pay and equal work.
Women rejected the tradition suburban housewife role.
Women gained economic equality with court cases like Reed v. Reed (1971) and
Frontierov. Richardson (1973)
Military academies and Ivy League schools began to admit women.
The Equal Rights Amendment was passed in 1973, preventing gender-based
discrimination.
In Roe V. Wade (1973), women gained the right to choose to abort their
pregnancies before the third trimester, according to their right to privacy.
The Feminist movement was highly influential, successful and far reaching.

45. The Generation Gap
The differences between the older generation and the
younger generation were vast, resulting in widespread
misunderstanding, rebellion, and turmoil.
President Nixon noted in his inaugural address that the
“old and young shout across a chasm of misunderstanding.”

46. Culture In General
Music, Television, Movies, Literature, an
d Fashion were all
transformed during the 1970s.

47. The 70s were a
time of monumental
growth in music.
Several new types
of music were born,
including punk,
Disco, classic rock,
progressive rock,
funk, and the very
beginning of hip
hop.

48. Major Punk Bands and Artists:
Patti Smith, The Clash, The
Sex Pistols, The Velvet
Underground, Iggy Pop and
the Stooges, Blondie, and
The Ramones.

49. Disco was also a result of 1970’s
music.
Disco was dance music with a pulsing
rhythm which first gained popularity
Black, Latino, and gay clubs.
Disco was catchy and up-beat, and
included artists such as the Bee Gees,
ABBA, and Donna Summer.

51. The Doors
Cat Stevens
Bob Dylan
Elton John
The Osmonds
Chicago
Simon and Garfunkel
Billy Joel
David Bowie

52. Literature
•The horror genre started and by the end of the decade Stephen king became popular
by writing Carrie, Salem's Lot,; The Shining, The Stand, and The Dead Zone,
•There was also The Exorcist by William B. Platty
•Racism was a recurring topic in books
•Several books dealing with Nixon and Watergate became popular like All the
President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
•Criminal non-fiction also became a popular topic with works such as The Onion Field,
by Joseph Wambaugh, and Helter Skelter, about the Charles Manson killings, by
Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry
•1976 Alex Haley released Roots: The Saga of an American Family, which followed
Haley's ancestry back to the kidnapping of a young black man named KuntaKinte,
who was sold into slavery in the south.
•Tom Wolfe topped the best-seller lists with The Right Stuff, which celebrated the
early NASA test pilots and astronauts.
•Self help books and diet books were best sellers in the decade like I'm OK, You're OK,
by Thomas Anthony Harris, How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years by Howard
J. Ruff, Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution and The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet in 1979.
•Other popular boos were The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles, The World
According to Garp by John Irving, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer; A Bend in the River
- V. S. Naipaul, Burr by Gore Vidal, Jaws by Peter Benchley, Deliverance by James
Dickey, and The End of Summer by RosamundePilcher.

53. TV

54. Movies
Most movies during the 197os were
relevant to the time, had political
messages, or were for sheer
entertainment.
Hollywood also made films that
appealed to the
counterculture, including
antiestablishment films.

55. Movie Stars
of the 1970s

56. Fashion
Long Hair
Polyester
Women: emphasis on sexuality
Bell bottoms
Miniskirts
“hotpants”
Haltertops
Tight clothing