Cultural and Historical Moments That Defined the ’70s

Like many decades before it and after, the 1970s had significant changes and challenges. Inflation was on the rise, there was political unrest in the United States and on a global scale and societal norms began to change. It was also a major turning point in pop culture, the dawn of the commercial video game era with the release of the first arcade video game in 1971 and blockbuster movie hits were released, crowd pleasers like "Jaws," and "Star Wars".

Architectural landscapes began to change as well. Technology reached a point where people wanted to make skyscrapers bigger and taller. With the construction of the Twin Towers in New York City, the state had the tallest buildings in the world (if only for a few years, surpassed by the Sears Tower in Chicago in 1974). The buildings became an iconic symbol of the city, popular with people around the globe, and were visited daily. However, the towers came down during the September 11 attacks.

To compile this list of iconic '70s moments that defined a decade, 24/7 Tempo consulted historical sources. For more 1970s content, click here to read about the best sci-fi films of the decade.

Television was exploding in popularity during the 1970s. Different channels popped up that had various themes. One thing kids in the '70s won't forget is waking up early on Saturday morning to rush and watch their favorite cartoons. TVs showed programs in color. It was only a few years prior that everything on televisions was in black and white. Saturday morning cartoons are when some of the most memorable shows came on.

"Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner" and "Scooby-Doo Where Are You!" are two of the most-watched programs in history. In fact, kids in 2024 still put the shows on when they're looking for entertainment. Saturday morning cartoons gave inspiration to some of the most amazing looking lunch pales for kids growing up. If you had a lunch box from a hit television show, everyone wanted to be your friend.

There's an argument that "Star Wars" is the most beloved movie franchise in the world. Fans escaped to a galaxy far away when the first movie "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope" was released in theaters. Nobody, not even George Lucas, could have predicted what was in store for the franchise in the future. Fans lined up to see Luke Skywalker learn about his past and try to defeat the evil empire.

As time has progressed, the Star Wars franchise continues to pump out new shows and movies. There's even an unofficial holiday to acknowledge "Star Wars." There's no telling where the world would be without the franchise in 2024. Countless people have talked about how amazing it feels to escape the realities of Earth. Kids grew up pretending to play with lightsabers and use the force on their friends. "Star Wars" isn't slowing down in popularity.

In 1972, people figured Richard Nixon would run away with the election. Folks were happy with how great of a job he did during his first term as leader of the United States. It wasn't shocking to hear he won the election. However, what followed Nixon made people in the United States gasp for air. As it turned out, Nixon allegedly ordered men to break into the Democratic National Headquarters and wiretap the facility.

When these allegations came out, Nixon staunchly denied them. He claimed the men did it on their own accord and he played no role. Nixon assured Americans he would stay in office and continue leading the United States. As time went on, there was a deeper investigation. That led to the beginning of Nixon being impeached as president. Rather than be impeached, Nixon stepped down from his role as president.

Baseball is widely considered America's pastime. There's something about catching a game in the warmth of summer with a hot dog and peanuts. Many sports historians claim Babe Ruth is the greatest player in the history of the sport. His home run record was thought to be unreachable by anyone. Hank Aaron had other ideas during his career. There was hope that Aaron would break the record in 1973, but he came up just short.

At the start of the year in 1974, fans from around the world flocked to Atlanta Braves games with the hope of seeing Aaron officially take down the Bambino. Aaron officially passed Ruth as the leader on April 8. The amazing irony of the situation was captured perfectly by Vin Scully. He proclaimed how amazing it was for an African-American to be celebrated the way Aaron was for breaking a white man's record in baseball. It was even more amazing considering the game was played in the deep south.

The evolution of technology continued in the '70s. People were envisioning what they could do with television sets as they continued to get better. One of the wildest ideas was playing games on screen. Some thought the idea was preposterous. However, the popularity of video games rose in the decade. Games like "Death Race" and "Speed Wars" were what people were playing. Folks playing then had no idea how amazing the graphics would become over time.

What's even more impressive to consider is how balanced life still was for everyone in the '70s. Video games didn't dominate anyone's life like they do in 2024. While folks loved the challenge of beating a game, the consoles were only used for a few hours per week. Today, consoles are used for a few hours per day by most avid players. There's no telling where video games will go in the future.

There's always a risk when adventuring far into the galaxy. In 19770, NASA announced plans for a new Apollo mission to take form. Folks were pumped up to see what was going to come from the Apollo 13 expedition. Excitement turned to fear at the drop of a hat. During the mission, an oxygen tank exploded and forced the crew to return to Earth. The crew was far away from the planet when the tank exploded.

They didn't panic and instead made proper use of everything they had on board. The crew worked day and night until they successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean. The only physical ailment anyone from the flight had was a UTI from a lack of water. Everyone else was healthy and released after being observed in Hawaii. President Nixon awarded the crew the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their efforts and courageous actions.

Few shows in history have had the same level of impact on society as "Saturday Night Live." Unlike a lot of programs, "Saturday Night Live" is filmed in front of a live audience. This means the actors don't get chances to have a do-over if they screw up a line. The cast is forced to hold their faces and not smile during each comedic sketch. However, some of the best moments in each episode are when cast members break and start laughing.

Each episode is filled with laughs and music. The goal of the show is to have hit artists come on and preform their trending songs. For many actors and singers, appearing on "Saturday Night Live" as a host or performer is what they aspire to. Some folks double up as both the host and singer when they showcase their talents on the program. "Saturday Night Live" is still producing side-splitting content each season.

It's challenging to find someone who's looked up to more worldwide than the Pope. He's the leader of the Catholic Church, which is one of the largest religious groups. During the '70s, Pope John Paul II was elected to replace Pope John Paul I. Pope John Paul I only served for about one month. Once he became the leader, Pope John Paul II expanded the Catholic Church to places it had never been before. African and Latin American countries were practicing Catholicism more.

Unlike some in the past, Pope John Paul II played an important role in politics. He's looked at as one of the focal reasons the Soviet Union broke apart. As time has progressed, Catholics have spoken highly about what Pope John Paul II did for the Catholic Church. He wasn't perfect, as he didn't react as quickly to some of the scandals that surfaced about the church as many people would have liked. However, Pope John Paul II is beloved still by the Catholic community.

Folks who work in architecture are constantly pushing the limit to how high humans can go. In the '70s, the plans to construct two towers in New York City of the same height were released. Once fully completed, the towers would be the two tallest in the world. It's where people who worked in finance would report everyday. The Twin Towers officially opened for use in 1973. They were instantly recognizable among the New York skyline.

People from around the world made the pilgrimage to the Big Apple to lay their eyes on what humans could accomplish. Americans were proud to call the Twin Towers theirs. However, the towers became a focal point for attacks. There were numerous attempts to bring the towers down. Nobody succeeded until September 11, 2oo1. The attack started a war that lasted for multiple years. Today, the One World Trade Center building stands in place of where the original towers were.

People around the world became familiar with Muhammad Ali during the '60s. He wasn't afraid to voice his opinions and get underneath the skin of his opponents. Ali was a proud Muslim who didn't believe in violence. When the Vietnam War was going on, Ali was drafted into the military. He famously declined and was sentenced to jail. During his time in prison, Ali lost the title of Heavyweight Champion of the world.

Ali was released and continued to train to regain his title. The man who stood in his way was George Foreman. Nobody knew how in shape Ali still was. It had been years since he fought for the title. The two men battled it out in Zaire, Africa. Foreman came into the fight as a heavy favorite. However, Ali upset Foreman and got his title back. It seemed as though Hollywood wrote the script for Ali's life and boxing career.

Presidential elections are vital when it comes to the trajectory of the United States. Following the Watergate Scandal, the people of the United States were looking for someone trustworthy to take over as leader. Jimmy Carter was once a peanut farmer from Georgia. He was a proponent of continuing the Civil Rights Movement. Carter also ensured people who dodged the Vietnam War that they'd be released from their time behind bars.

Gerald Ford had taken over for Nixon after he resigned as the leader of the United States. Many folks projected Ford would run away with the vote. Carter had a late start in politics. However, the people spoke their minds and sided with Carter. He only served one term as President of the United States. During that time, Carter accomplished a lot. Today, he's talked about as one of the best presidents the United States has ever had.

Part of '70s culture was the presence of serial killers. One of the most infamous is the Son of Sam. He tormented the city of New York between 1976 and 1977. Young couples who were in their cars were who David Berkowitz targeted during his spree. Berkowitz thought he was smarter than law enforcement. Part of what made him so noteworthy was the way he taunted the police. He sent letters to the media proclaiming his brain power.

Berkowitz evaded capture until August, 1977. The streets of New York had been emptier than usual, as many people were too afraid to be out at night. In total, Berkowitz was charged for the murder of six people and injuring countless others. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. As of June, 2024, Berkowitz is still being held in New York State. His last parole hearing took place in May, 2024, which was unsurprisingly denied.

Arguably the most infamous serial killer in history is Ted Bundy. When most people think of serial killers, they think of someone who's standing in a dark robe. They imagine someone ugly who can't hold a conversation with anyone. Bundy broke through all of these ideas. He was handsome and could charm his way into anyone's heart. Bundy's first crimes took place in the pacific northwest. He then made is way to Utah and Colorado.

After being held in Aspen for crimes, Bundy escaped and made his way to Florida. It was there that Bundy broke into a sorority house at Florida State University and murdered multiple women. After being captured, Bundy was sentenced to death in Florida. His trial seemed as though it was out of a movie. While in prison, Bundy helped the FBI learn about what serial killers look for in victims. Bundy's expertise enabled the FBI to find killers quicker than before.

The presence of cults has been around for decades. One of the most well-known groups was located in Guyana. Jim Jones was a charismatic individual who used religion to draw various people in. For a long while, few people knew about the existence of Jonestown. As time progressed, the knowledge about the group living in South America spread. Jones felt like he was being unfairly scrutinized by the media for his staunch beliefs.

In 1978, Jones ordered a mass suicide for those who followed him to Guyana. There were numerous people who didn't want to take the cyanide poisoning that was provided to them. Rather than listen to his followers, Jones ordered anyone who was against the suicide to be injected by the poison. in total, more than 900 people died in Jonestown. Few outsiders were ever allowed in by Jones, as he felt they would return to the United States and continue to unfairly portray him.

Elvis Presley is arguably the most famous musician to live. He reinvented music and was dubbed the King of Rock and Roll. Presley's deep voice and dancing ability made him a hit to see live. However, Presley struggled with a large heart. He died from cardiac arrest in 1977. Thousands of fans lined the streets to honor him with signs proclaiming their love for him. His death didn't come without some conspiracy, though.

Some folks throughout the world think Presley faked his death. He struggled with recording songs, which makes some think he continued to spend his days in his Memphis home of Graceland. There have been no confirmations that this is the truth. Some people will keep banging the drum that Presley lived longer than some think. For more 1970s content, click here to read about the best movies from the decade that won't ever get old.