The 1970s

1976 50 years ago

Great American Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

The Great American Revolution is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, United States. Manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf and designed b…

Great American Revolution, the first steel coaster with a vertical loop, opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain, California

1976 50 years ago

The Teton Dam in eastern Idaho, U

The Teton Dam was an earthen dam in the western United States, on the Teton River in eastern Idaho. It was built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, one of eight federal agencies au…

The Teton Dam in eastern Idaho, U

1976 50 years ago

A plane crashed near Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia, killing politicians Fuad Stephens (pictured) and Pet

The Double Six Crash, also known as the Double Six Tragedy, was a crash, involving a GAF N-22B Nomad of Sabah Air, which took place on 6 June 1976 at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, killi…

A plane crashed near Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Malaysia, killing politicians Fuad Stephens (pictured) and Pet

1975

Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder

Sony Group Corporation, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses variou…

Sony introduces the Betamax videocassette recorder

1975

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

Junko Tabei was a Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher. She was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on…

Junko Tabei from Japan becomes the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest

1975

Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, in North Yorkshire, England, kills 33 – the highest ever death toll in a ro

On 27 May 1975, a coach carrying elderly passengers crashed at the bottom of a steep hill at Dibble's Bridge over the River Dibb, near Hebden in North Yorkshire, England. Thirty-th…

Dibbles Bridge coach crash near Grassington, in North Yorkshire, England, kills 33 – the highest ever death toll in a ro

1975

At Brampton Centennial Secondary School, student Michael Slobodian kills two people and injures 13 others before committ

Brampton Centennial Secondary School (BCSS) is a public high school located in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Peel District School Board. In September 2008, BCSS had …

At Brampton Centennial Secondary School, student Michael Slobodian kills two people and injures 13 others before committ

1975

The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins

The Cambodian Civil War was a civil war in Cambodia fought between the Khmer Rouge, supported by North Vietnam and China, against the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and, aft…

The Cambodian Civil War ends and the Cambodian Genocide begins

1975

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area; the most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in…

India's first satellite Aryabhata launched in orbit from Kapustin Yar, Russia

1975

European Space Agency is established

The European Space Agency (ESA), pronounced 'ee-sah', is a 23-member international organisation devoted to space exploration. It has its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around…

European Space Agency is established

1975

Governor of California Jerry Brown signs the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law, the first law in the

The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California Sta…

Governor of California Jerry Brown signs the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law, the first law in the

1975

The Suez Canal opens for the first time since the Six-Day War

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia. It is the bor…

The Suez Canal opens for the first time since the Six-Day War

1975

South Vietnamese forces withdraw from the town of Xuan Loc in the last major battle of the Vietnam War

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam composed the ground forces of the South Vietnamese military from its inception in 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. Its predecessor w…

South Vietnamese forces withdraw from the town of Xuan Loc in the last major battle of the Vietnam War

1975

Vietnam War: President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu flees Saigon, as Xuân Lộc, the last South Vietnamese outpost bl

The Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam and their allies. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Unio…

Vietnam War: President of South Vietnam Nguyễn Văn Thiệu flees Saigon, as Xuân Lộc, the last South Vietnamese outpost bl

1975

General Cao Văn Viên, chief of the South Vietnamese military, departs for the US as the North Vietnamese Army closes in

Cao Văn Viên was a four-star army general in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He rose to the position of Chairman of the South Vietnamese Joint General S…

General Cao Văn Viên, chief of the South Vietnamese military, departs for the US as the North Vietnamese Army closes in

1975

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U

Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the Nort…

Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U

1975

Vietnam War: The North Vietnamese Army completes its capture of all parts of South Vietnam-held Trường Sa Islands

The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) is the national military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the armed wing of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The PAVN …

Vietnam War: The North Vietnamese Army completes its capture of all parts of South Vietnam-held Trường Sa Islands

1975

British referendum results in continued membership of the European Economic Community, with 67% of votes in favour

A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either binding, resulting in the adoption…

British referendum results in continued membership of the European Economic Community, with 67% of votes in favour

1975

Sony launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format

Sony Group Corporation, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered at Sony City in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The Sony Group encompasses variou…

Sony launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format

1975

Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon

Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was captured by North Vietnam on 30 April 1975. This caused the collapse of South Vietnam to communism and the evacuation of thousands of civi…

Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon

1975

The Särkänniemi Amusement Park opens in Tampere, Finland

Särkänniemi is an amusement park in Tampere, Finland, located in the district by the same name. The park features an aquarium, a planetarium, Doghill Fairytale Farm, an art museum …

The Särkänniemi Amusement Park opens in Tampere, Finland

1975

During a lull in fighting, 100,000 Armenians gather in Beirut for the 60th anniversary commemorations of the Armenian ge

On May 6, 1975, a massive gathering took place in the Lebanese capital Beirut, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Some 100,000 people participated in the…

During a lull in fighting, 100,000 Armenians gather in Beirut for the 60th anniversary commemorations of the Armenian ge

1975

Fifteen West African countries sign the Treaty of Lagos, creating the Economic Community of West African States

West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Th…

Fifteen West African countries sign the Treaty of Lagos, creating the Economic Community of West African States

1975

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was founded by Jalal Talabani, Nawshirwan Mustafa, Fuad Masum and others

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is a centre-left regionalist political party active in Kurdistan Region and the disputed territories in Iraq. The PUK describes its goals as self-d…

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan was founded by Jalal Talabani, Nawshirwan Mustafa, Fuad Masum and others