1970s in World History
In 1970s trends that arose during 1960s continued expanding. They were increasing population’s political awareness, rising movements for liberty and equality, technological and scientific progress and of course continuing conflicts between the USA and the USSR (“Cold war”) as well as confrontation in the Near East and Southern-East Asian countries (Vietnam).
In 1972 the US president Nixon made the historically important visit to China where he met with Mao Zedong. It was a historical meeting as the US was always perceived by Chinese people as enemies, but at that time the first step was taken to formally normalize the relations between the countries. As Nixon said, "This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge." In 1974 Nixon was forced to resign. The event was caused by Watergate scandal when in June 17, 1972 5 burglars broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. That was the first and the only resignation of the US president.
In October 1973, the Yom Kippur war occurred. It was originated by Arab-Israeli conflicts that were aggravated by the Six-Day war. Factually, it was the confrontation between Egypt and Syria and Israel, but practically these countries were supported by two great nuclear powers – the USSR and the USA respectively. Even though the United Nations was able to settle the war, the final armistice was reached only after the signature of the Camp David Accords by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1978. Furthermore, the subscribers were awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.
One of the key events of the decade was the Fall of Saigon that marked the end of 20-year
In 1972 the US president Nixon made the historically important visit to China where he met with Mao Zedong. It was a historical meeting as the US was always perceived by Chinese people as enemies, but at that time the first step was taken to formally normalize the relations between the countries. As Nixon said, "This was the week that changed the world, as what we have said in that Communique is not nearly as important as what we will do in the years ahead to build a bridge across 16,000 miles and 22 years of hostilities which have divided us in the past. And what we have said today is that we shall build that bridge." In 1974 Nixon was forced to resign. The event was caused by Watergate scandal when in June 17, 1972 5 burglars broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. That was the first and the only resignation of the US president.
In October 1973, the Yom Kippur war occurred. It was originated by Arab-Israeli conflicts that were aggravated by the Six-Day war. Factually, it was the confrontation between Egypt and Syria and Israel, but practically these countries were supported by two great nuclear powers – the USSR and the USA respectively. Even though the United Nations was able to settle the war, the final armistice was reached only after the signature of the Camp David Accords by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1978. Furthermore, the subscribers were awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.
One of the key events of the decade was the Fall of Saigon that marked the end of 20-year