Historical Dictionary of the 1970s

This text presents an encyclopaedic overview of the 1970s, including entries on the prominent people, significant events, issues and controversies of the decade, and entries on the film, music and culture of an era that challenged the core of traditional American convictions. The 1970s were difficult years for the United States, a time when long held convictions were challenged and the nation experienced a collective identity crisis. Women and minorities called into question the belief that Freedom and equality are the birthright of all Americans. The civil rights movements of the 1970s argued that American history is full of racism and violence against women and people of colour. Watergate and related scandals of the Nixon administration damaged the country’s faith in politicians and the political system. The Arab oil boycott, the energy crisis, the environmental movement and years of stagflation raised doubts about the future of the nations ecenomy, and in the jungles of Vietnam, many Americans began to doubt their ability to police the world.