1970s History: Key Events, Politics And Culture

Three-day week, decimalisation, punk, and the winter of discontent.

Below: the key events of the 1970s, the politics of the decade, the culture people still talk about, and what ordinary life looked like.

Written for quizzes, reminiscence sessions, school projects and anyone working out what a relative lived through.

Key events of the 1970s

• Decimal currency arrives on 15 February 1971.
• Britain joins the European Economic Community on 1 January 1973 and confirms it by referendum in 1975.
• The oil crisis and the miners' strike bring the three-day week over the winter of 1973-74.
• The Silver Jubilee street parties in June 1977.
• The Winter of Discontent, 1978-79, with strikes and uncollected rubbish.
• Margaret Thatcher becomes the first woman prime minister in May 1979.

Politics and government

• Edward Heath wins in 1970; two general elections follow in 1974.
• The IMF loan of 1976 defines the Callaghan government.
• The Equal Pay Act (in force 1975) and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
• The Troubles worsen: Bloody Sunday in 1972 and direct rule from Westminster.
• Inflation peaks above 24 per cent in 1975.

Culture and entertainment

• Glam, then punk from 1976 - the Sex Pistols on Bill Grundy's show in December of that year.
• Star Wars (1977) changes what a blockbuster means.
• Fawlty Towers, Porridge, Morecambe and Wise's Christmas shows.
• Disco, reggae and northern soul all-nighters.
• Top of the Pops on Thursday, the charts on Sunday.

Everyday life

• Power cuts, candles and the television closing down early.
• Central heating spreads; so does the phone in the hall and the first home freezer.
• Colour television overtakes black and white licences in 1976.
• Self-service supermarkets replace the counter shop in most towns.

Years covered in the 1970s

• 1970 - England defended the World Cup, the Beatles ended and eighteen-year-olds got the vote. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1970
• 1971 - Decimal Day, the first Glastonbury as we know it and Slade on the way up. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1971
• 1972 - Miners' strikes and power cuts, Ziggy Stardust and a very good year for glam. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1972
• 1973 - Britain joined the EEC, the oil crisis hit and Slade wrote Christmas. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1973
• 1974 - Two general elections, the three-day week and Abba winning Eurovision. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1974
• 1975 - Bohemian Rhapsody, the EEC referendum and Fawlty Towers. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1975
• 1976 - The heatwave, the drought and the first stirrings of punk. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1976
• 1977 - Silver Jubilee street parties, Star Wars and the summer punk went overground. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1977
• 1978 - Grease, the first test-tube baby and the start of the winter of discontent. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1978
• 1979 - The winter of discontent, the first woman Prime Minister and the last year of the seventies. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1979
• That is every 1970s year we have written up so far: 1970 to 1979.

How to use this

• Quiz round: read an event and ask for the year, or read a year and ask for the prime minister.
• Reminiscence: ask where they were for one of the events above. The answers are always better than the facts.
• School project: pair this page with the decade calendar for a year-by-year timeline.
• Anyone born in 1970 turns 50 in 2020, 60 in 2030 and 70 in 2040.

Shop prints and posters

How to write it so it lands

• Pair this with the decade calendar if you need the events in year order.
• For a reminiscence session, read one event and let the conversation go wherever it goes.
• Politics and everyday life rarely moved at the same speed. Both sections are here for that reason.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1970
• Look back to 1971
• Look back to 1972
• Look back to 1973
• Look back to 1974
• Look back to 1975
• Look back to 1976
• Look back to 1977
• Look back to 1978
• Look back to 1979
• 1970s calendar: year by year
• 1970s trivia: fun facts
• 1970s art and artists
• 1970s films and directors
• 1970s music: albums and artists
• 1970s fashion: clothes, hair and accessories
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• Retro gift guide: the 1970s
• 1970s party playlist
• 70s kids' TV shows
• 70s quiz questions
• British Bulldog rules
• Kerby rules
• Sweets that disappeared
• Test card, Ceefax and three channels
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade quiz: test your memory
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Milestone birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What were the most important events of the 1970s?

Decimal currency arrives on 15 February 1971. The full list above covers the events that defined the decade.

What was happening politically in the 1970s?

Edward Heath wins in 1970; two general elections follow in 1974. The politics section above covers the governments, laws and arguments of the decade.

What was life like in the 1970s?

Power cuts, candles and the television closing down early. The everyday life section above covers homes, money, work and shopping.

What was popular culture like in the 1970s?

Glam, then punk from 1976 - the Sex Pistols on Bill Grundy's show in December of that year. There are fuller guides to the decade's music, films, television and fashion linked from this page.

Can I use this for a quiz or a school project?

Yes, freely. Print it, read it out, copy it - no permission needed. We make greeting cards and prints; these pages are free.