19751978

1975 to 1978 was a period of transitional global politics and rapid cultural change amid the late Cold War. The Vietnam War ended in 1975 with the fall of Saigon, marking a turning point in U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. In Europe, the Helsinki Final Act was signed in 1975 as part of détente between East and West, while the death of Francisco Franco in the same year opened Spain’s transition to democracy, culminating in a new constitution in 1978.

African politics were shaped by decolonization and conflict, with Angola and Mozambique gaining independence in 1975 and subsequent civil and regional struggles influenced by external powers. The Soweto uprising in South Africa in 1976 drew international attention to apartheid, and various regional crises tested newly independent governments and borders.

On diplomacy and diplomacy-related frameworks, the Camp David Accords of 1978, negotiated under U.S. mediation, laid groundwork for a future peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. In science and exploration, the Viking missions to Mars (Viking 1 and Viking 2) operated in 1976, and the Voyager program was launched in 1977, sending back data from the outer planets.

Technological and cultural developments included the Apple II computer (released 1977) and the founding of Microsoft (1975), along with the release of Star Wars in 1977 and the birth of Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, in 1978. Global sports events included the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.

Tragic events also occurred, notably the Jonestown mass murder–suicide in 1978, which had a lasting impact on discussions of cults and safety. Taken together, 1975–1978 were years of geopolitical realignments, scientific progress, and cultural shifts that shaped the late 20th century.