1970s History Trivia

The 1970s traded the 1960s' idealism for a heavier dose of cynicism, a presidency undone by scandal, a war that finally ended, and an energy crisis that reminded the world how fragile prosperity could be. This quiz covers the decade's biggest political and cultural turns.

Eleven questions on the decade of Watergate, disco, and détente.

Scandal in Washington

No political story defined the decade like Watergate, the break-in and cover-up that forced Richard Nixon to resign the presidency in 1974, the only US president ever to do so. His successor, Gerald Ford, controversially pardoned him within weeks of taking office, a decision that shaped American politics for years afterward.

Wars Ending and Beginning

The Vietnam War finally reached its conclusion in 1975 with the fall of Saigon, while conflicts and revolutions reshaped other parts of the world: the Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia, and Iran's monarchy was toppled by revolution in 1979. On a more hopeful note, the Camp David Accords brought Egypt and Israel to a landmark peace agreement in 1978.

Shocks and Shifts

• The 1973 OPEC oil embargo sent gas prices soaring and reshaped energy policy worldwide.
• Disco dominated the airwaves and dance floors by the decade's second half.
• NASA's Voyager probes launched in 1977 to explore the outer solar system.
• Margaret Thatcher's 1979 election made her Britain's first female prime minister.