1970s

The 1970s was a reactionary time. On the one hand, it was a continuation of the sweeping changes brought about by the previous decade. On the other, the 1970s was a decade of backlash against the 1960s. The Cold War (1947–1991) still loomed over America during this time, but much of the nation's sweeping social and political changes were focused inward.

As with the previous decade, liberalism remained a powerful force during the 1970s. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which started with a focus on Black rights, was continuing to expand to encompass a wider range of historically disenfranchised populations.

Gender and sexuality politics became more of a focus. Advocates for women's rights lobbied for the...