The 1970s Interactive Timeline

The 1970s A year-by-year look at major events from the decade.

1970 The first Earth Day is celebrated Floppy disks for computers introduced Kent State shootings Beatles break up

1971 Voting age lowered from 21 to 18 VCRs introduced Ban on cigarette ads on television goes into affect in U.S.

1972 President Richard M. Nixon visits China Terrorist hostage crisis at Munich Olympic Games Mark Spitz wins 7 gold medals at Games Watergate scandal surfaces M*A*S*H premieres on TV

1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizes abortion U.S. pulls troops out of Vietnam Arab oil embargo creates energy crisis in U.S. Secretariat wins the Triple Crown

1974 President Nixon resigns Patty Hearst is kidnapped

1975 Microsoft is founded Arthur Ashe becomes first black to win Wimbledon Mitchell, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman found guilty in Watergate coverup

1976 U.S. celebrates Bicentennial 7.8-magnitude earthquake kills 240,000 in Tangshan, China Nadia Comaneci scores seven perfect 10s at Montreal Olympics North and South Vietnam merge to form Socialist Republic of Vietnam

1977 15 nations sign nuclear-proliferation pact MRI is invented Elvis Presley found dead Star Wars debuts in theaters Roots miniseries airs

1978 Camp David Peace Agreement is signed John Paul II becomes pope Jonestown massacre in Guyana First "test-tube baby" born

1979 Iranian students take Americans hostage at Tehran embassy Margaret Thatcher becomes first woman prime minister of Great Britain Mother Theresa wins Nobel Peace Prize Three Mile Island nuclear accident Sony introduces the Walkman

Credits: CBS/AP