From Protests to Scandals, the ‘70s Were Wild

The 1970s were an exciting era. There were protests, controversial politicians, and some big pop culture touchstones. It's a decade worth remembering, studying, and waxing nostalgically about. Here are the 20 most memorable events from the '70s.

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1. NASA's Apollo 13 Mission

In 1970, Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise manned a space mission that proved disastrous and kept the nation on the edge of its seat. En route to the moon, their ship suffered an explosion, leading to the iconic expression, "Houston, we have a problem". A tense four days ensued, but the astronauts returned home safely.

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2. The Beatles Break-Up

In April 1970, Paul McCartney did the unthinkable and announced that he was quitting The Beatles. This marked the end of the most popular, iconic, and important rock band in music history. Creative differences and tensions had been simmering for years, but it was in the early days of the '70s when The Beatles officially ended their run. 

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3.  The First Microprocessor Hits the Market

A huge milestone of the '70s is Intel launching the 4004 microprocessor. It could perform up to 60,000 operations per second and made the home computer cheaper, smaller, and more functional. The microprocessor opened the door for the potential of a computer to be in every home in the world. 

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4. The Attica Riot

In 1971, a historic prison riot took place in New York. Inmates at the Attica Correctional Facility took control of the prison, demanding improved living conditions and rights. When negotiations failed, state troopers seized the prison and 33 prisoners and 10 hostages were killed. This fuelled the ongoing debate about prison reform.

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5. Watergate

Watergate was arguably the biggest political scandal in U.S. history, and would see the word "gate" added to the end of most subsequent controversies. In 1972, five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The investigation exposed illegal espionage and forced President Nixon to resign in disgrace. 

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6. Munich Olympics Massacre

The 1972 Munich Olympics were meant to be a symbol of hope as Jews returned to Germany only a few decades after the Holocaust. Unfortunately, it became a massacre as a Palestinian terror group, Black September, took 11 Isreali athletes hostage. All hostages were killed after a failed rescue attempt. 

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7. Nixon Travels to China

Months before his resignation, Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit the People's Republic of China. He meet with Mao Zedong, and this diplomatic excursion proved to be a major shift in Cold War diplomacy, opening economic relations between the two powerful nations.

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8. U.S. Withdraws from Vietnam

The Paris Peace Accords in 1973 ended the U.S. military campaign in Vietnam, and marked the beginning of the end to the controversial war. The U.S. military continued operations in Vietnam until 1975 until all the troops were withdrawn from the region. This was a turning point in the nation's Cold War policy. 

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9. Roe V. Wade

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the constitution must protect a woman's right to an abortion. This became one of the most controversial decisions in the history of the Supreme Court, and still galvanizes activists on both sides of the argument. 

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10. The Oil Embargo

To oppose the U.S.'s support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War, members of OPEC severed oil exports to the U.S., resulting in a dramatic fuel shortage. Whatever fuel was available was at an overinflated price, and Americans were forced to conserve gas. This lead to tensions at the pumps and protests. 

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11. Patty Hearst Kidnapping

Heiress, Patty Hearst, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army only to eventually join their cause. She was captured in 1975 and pardoned, but her story was a powder keg for debate about coercion and brainwashing. 

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12. ABBA Crowned Eurovision Winners

Iconic Swedish band, ABBA, used their song "Waterloo" to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. This moment launched them to international stardom, and they became an enduring musical act whose work would inspire a Broadway musical, films, and many imitators. 

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13. The Rubik's Cube is Invented

Ernő Rubik was a Hungarian architect who wanted to create an object as a teaching tool for 3-D geometry. He did just that by creating the Magic Cube, which would eventually be known as the Rubik's Cube, and go on to become the highest-selling puzzle of all time. 

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14. The Birth of Microsoft

In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen launched Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the goal of develop software specfically for the personal computer market. The work they did in the 1970s laid the foundation for their company's decades-long dominance.

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15. Saturday Night Live Premieres

Hosted by George Carlin, the first episode of Saturday Night Live debuted, and it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. A mix of sketch comedy, music, and satire, the series would go onto become a television instiution that would launch the careers of cast members, such as Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, GIlda Radner, and hundreds of other comedians. 

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16. The Death of Francisco Franco

The death of Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, in 1975 ushered in the end of his authoritarian reign. King Juan Carlos I succeeded him and transitioned Spain into a democracy with a far different political structure and future. 

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17. Apple Opens Shop in a Garage

In an ordinary garage, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne launched their computer company, Apple. They started by selling the Apple I, and their vision for the personal computer would transform the way we work, listen to music, and, essentially, our daily lives. 

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18. The Ramones Release Debut Album

Upon launching their self-titled debut album, The Ramones spearheaded a punk rock movement. Their tunes were quick and raw, and helped influence countless bands while reshaping the landscape of punk music. 

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19. Star Wars Opens in Theaters

George Lucas' Star Wars opened in theaters in May 1977. It would introduce the concept of a blockbuster film and its groundbreaking effects revolutionized filmmaking. Not to mention, its merchandising would reach all corners of the world, and it launched the careers of Harrison Ford, Carrie FIsher, and Mark Hamill.

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20. The Death of Elvis Presley

At the age of 42, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll", Elvis Presley, was found dead in his home. His death shocked his global legion of fans and cemented his legacy as the most influential  and beloved musician of all time. 

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