19751979

1975–1979 was a period of marked geopolitical upheaval, decolonization, economic strain, and notable scientific progress. The era began with the conclusion of the Vietnam War, as the system of American involvement ended with the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, and the reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule followed. That same year, Portugal’s former colonies in Africa moved toward independence, with Angola and Mozambique both achieving independence in 1975, though their paths soon entered civil conflict and Cold War alignments.

The international order of the time was shaped by efforts at East–West dialogue and human rights commitments. In 1975 the Helsinki Final Act was signed by 35 states, establishing a framework for security, cooperation, and human rights across Europe and North America. In the late 1970s, the strategic landscape also featured arms-control negotiations, notably the SALT II treaty signed in 1979 by the United States and the Soviet Union, though it was not ratified by the U.S. Senate, limiting its formal effectiveness.

Economic and energy issues dominated global concerns, as the late 1970s experienced persistent inflation and energy price volatility. The 1979 energy crisis intensified as the Iranian revolution disrupted oil supplies. In the same year, the United States faced a partial nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, and the Soviet Union began a military intervention in Afghanistan after the December 1979 invasion, events that reverberated through global security dynamics.

Scientific and cultural development continued alongside conflict-driven changes. NASA missions in the period included the Viking program in the mid-1970s and the launch of the Voyager spacecraft in 1977, expanding humanity’s reach into the outer solar system. The late 1970s also witnessed advances in personal computing and popular culture, foreshadowing shifts that would influence the subsequent decade.