mid1970s

Mid-1970s refers to the middle portion of the 1970s decade, commonly dated from 1974 to 1976. The period was defined by continued economic disruption from the 1973 oil crisis, with inflation, debt, and unemployment high in many economies, and by significant political changes around the world.

In the United States, the Watergate scandal led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974 and the succession of Gerald Ford; the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, and the run-up to the Carter administration in 1977 shaped domestic policy and foreign affairs. In Europe, economies struggled under energy shortages and inflation, while Britain faced an IMF loan program in 1976 and political shifts that culminated in further reforms. In Asia, India implemented a state of emergency in 1975, a move that constrained civil liberties but lasted until 1977.

Culturally, the mid-1970s saw the rise of disco and the beginnings of punk rock, along with the early growth of the video and mass media industries. Technological developments included the founding of Microsoft (1975) and Apple (1976), and space exploration continued with NASA's Viking 1 landing on Mars in 1976. The period also included the end of the Vietnam War and the 1976 United States Bicentennial celebration.

Overall, the mid-1970s were characterized by economic adjustment, ongoing Cold War dynamics, and evolving cultural trends that set the stage for later shifts in the decade.