70 photos from the ’70s that show how the world was changing

Keystone/Hulton Archive // Getty Images All told, the 1970s were a chaotic decade. At home, the countercultural revolution of the ’60s continued with protests against the Vietnam War and demonstrations in favor of increased women’s rights. Globally, there was also a good amount of political upheaval evidenced by the Iranian Revolution, the conflicts between Egypt and Israel, and the ongoing Cold War. But there was also this unpredicted return to more conservative roots, as seen in the formation of the “silent majority” in the United States and the election of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom. Outside of the political realm, there were major steps made in the sciences with the birth of the first test-tube baby; the increased popularity of home computers; and the various space missions, both manned and unmanned, that provided a more well-rounded understanding of the universe. Pop culture drifted away from family-friendly, wholesome content to racier and more substantial programming like “All in the Family” and “Roots.” Disco took over the nightlife scene and gave people a place to escape the oppression they often faced in the daytime, especially if they were Black or LGBTQ+. There was a lot going on in the ’70s. And that’s just scratching the surface. To better understand one of the nation’s most formative decades, Stacker has compiled a collection of 70 images that show how the ’70s changed the world. From politics to technological developments, pop culture, and major figures of the decade, these images tell quite a story. You may also like: Popular board games released the year you were born Air travel goes mainstream Sidey,Crawshaw&McDonald/Mirrorpix // Getty Images International travel took a huge step forward when the first Boeing 747 Pan Am jet safely made the journey from New York City to London’s Heathrow Airport on Jan. 22, 1970. The wide-bodied aircraft was quick, comfortable, and affordable, making a trip across the pond more accessible for many Americans than it had been in previous years. Apollo 13 arrives home Bettmann // Getty Images In the spring of 1970, the world anxiously followed the progress of Apollo 13 after it suffered an onboard explosion on the second day of its mission. Fortunately, the astronauts operating the spacecraft made it home safely, and a naval ship was on hand to pick up the three American heroes when they dropped into the South Pacific Ocean. The first Earth Day Bettmann // Getty Images New York City crowds pack a closed-to-cars Fifth Avenue on the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. Now observed in 141 countries, the holiday was originally intended to bring awareness to environmental causes and oppose ecological degradation. The Kent State shootings Bettmann // Getty Images On May 4, 1970, four anti-war protesters at Kent State University were shot and killed by members of the Ohio National Guard during a peace rally. Nine other Kent State students were wounded. Here, students flee the scene as tear gas billows around them. The Women’s Strike for Equality Soul Train via Getty Images In October 1971, “Soul Train,” the iconic Black music and dance show, hit the airwaves. Here, Sly and the Family Stone perform on the show to the delight of a packed audience. Jacques-Yves Cousteau Bettmann Archive // Getty Images Jacques-Yves Cousteau, scientist and host of the popular documentary series “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau,” poses on board his ship. The oceanographer established the Cousteau Society in 1973 to help protect marine life. You may also like: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history Nixon visits China Corbis via Getty Images In 1972, President Richard Nixon became the first sitting president to visit mainland China. His seven-day tour of the communist country has often been hailed as “the week that changed the world” thanks to its impact on international politics. Concert for Bangladesh Icon and Image // Getty Images Nowadays, massive benefit concerts are almost commonplace, but they were practically unheard of in the 1970s. George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh is thought to be the first of these celebrity fundraisers. In two sold-out performances, Harrison, fellow musician Ravi Shankar, and other guest performers, including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton, played to sold-out Madison Square Garden audiences, raising money for East Pakistani refugees fleeing the Bangladesh Liberation War. Angela Davis acquitted Bettmann // Getty Images In 1970, activist and professor Angela Davis was arrested for her supposed involvement in the armed seizure of Marin County’s courthouse in California. She spent 16 months behind bars before being released and acquitted in 1972. Her time in prison helped to shape her future as a staunch prison-industrial complex abolitionist. Women enter the Boston Marathon Bettmann // Getty Images Only men were allowed to participate in the Boston Marathon for the first 76 years of its existence. That all changed in 1972 when eight female participants were finally allowed to register. The winner, Nina Kuscik (on the left wearing F2) finished the race in three hours, 10 minutes, and 26 seconds. The SALT I Treaty is signed Dirck Halstead/Liaison // Getty Images In an attempt to tamp down some of the tension brought on by the Cold War, President Richard Nixon (seated on the left) and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev (seated on the right) signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty I in 1972. The pact said that both countries would limit the number of missiles in their arsenals. You may also like: Women’s fashion trends from the past 100 years Burning draft cards Hulton Archive // Getty Images A group of anti-war protestors burned their draft cards in 1972. Though the form of protest was seen as more symbolic than, say, fleeing the country to live in Canada, it was still illegal as determined by the Draft Card Mutilation Act of 1965. The Munich Olympic massacre Russell Mcphedran/The Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media via Getty Images In what would become one of the defining images of the 1972 Munich Olympics, a member of the Black September terrorist group stands on the balcony of the Israeli wrestling team’s dormitory. The Palestinian terrorists, calling for the release of prisoners being held in Israeli jails, took nine members of the country’s Olympic team hostage. After 20 hours, five of the terrorists, 11 Israelis, and one West German police officer would be dead. ‘Blue Marble’ Heritage Space // Heritage Images via Getty Images On Christmas Eve 1972, astronauts aboard the Apollo 17 took this iconic photo of Earth, later dubbed “Blue Marble.” The incredibly detailed image would become a component of the official Earth Day flag. Ziggy Stardust Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images David Bowie’s alter ego, alien rock star Ziggy Stardust, changed the direction of the music industry. The character, who Bowie only performed as in 1972 and 1973, practically invented the glam rock genre, and his songs had huge influences on the melodies and beats used in pop music. The 1973 oil crisis Allan Tannenbaum // Getty Images When member countries of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries placed an oil embargo against nations that supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War, bedlam ensued. Gas was difficult to come by and often rationed, and drivers would occasionally be forced to wait in extraordinarily long lines just to fill their tanks. By the end of the OAPEC embargo, gas prices had risen nearly 400% and have never fully gone back down. You may also like: New words that were born in the ’80s The Watergate scandal Bettmann // Getty Images Hands down the biggest political story in 1970s America was the Watergate scandal. Here, the two journalists who broke the story, Bob Woodward (left) and Carl Bernstein, pose at their Washington Post desks. McDonald’s takes Japan Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images “MASH,” a series that followed the staff of an Army hospital during the Korean War, hit the airwaves in 1972. Hugely popular, the dramedy was nominated for more than 100 Emmy Awards over the course of its 11-season run, and its finale remains the most-watched finale of any TV show. Gloria Steinem speaks out Bettye Lane/Photo Researchers History // Getty Images Famed journalist, activist, and feminist leader, Gloria Steinem became a leading voice in the fight for women’s liberation during the 1970s. During this decade, she founded the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Women’s Action Alliance. You may also like: Popular child stars from the year you were born Marching for equality Spencer Grant // Getty Images Following the Stonewall riots of 1969, the lesbian and gay men movement gained traction in the United States during the 1970s. Marches like this one in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood became frequent occurrences, increasing the visibility of and demanding equality for the formerly ostracized group. Disco dancin’ David Redfern/Redfern’s // Getty Images The disco scene blipped in and out of popularity in the 1970s. Born in New York City, the movement provided a sense of liberation and freedom for the average American, and disco clubs provided a safe place where folks from all walks of life could gather to let loose. The fall of Saigon Bettmann // Getty Images The Vietnam War came to a stunning and final end in 1975 when Saigon fell to communist Northern Vietnamese forces. Here, the CIA helps a stream of Vietnamese evacuees flee via helicopter. ‘Jaws’ premieres