1970s Trivia Questions and Answers

The 1970s was a transformative decade in world history, marked by significant events and cultural shifts. From political movements to technological advancements, the '1970s left a lasting impact on society.

If you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the defining moments of this era, you're in for a treat with our 1970s trivia questions and answers.

For more quizzes, see our trivia quiz sitemap.

Table of Contents

1970s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What year did the United States land the first manned mission on the moon?
Answer: 1969.

2. Which American president resigned from office due to the Watergate scandal in 1974?
Answer: Richard Nixon.

3. In what year did the Vietnam War officially end?
Answer: 1975.

4. Which country hosted the Summer Olympics in 1972, which were marred by a terrorist attack?
Answer: West Germany (Munich).

5. Which African-American tennis player won the Wimbledon women's singles championship in 1975?
Answer: Arthur Ashe.

6. Who was the leader of the People's Republic of China during the 1970s?
Answer: Mao Zedong.

7. Which Middle Eastern country experienced a revolution in 1979, leading to the establishment of an Islamic republic?
Answer: Iran.

8. What was the name of the first commercially successful video game, released in 1972?
Answer: Pong.

9. Which U.S. Supreme Court case legalized abortion in 1973?
Answer: Roe v. Wade.

10. Which African-American activist and leader was assassinated in 1968, sparking widespread outrage and protests?
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.

11. What major environmental movement emerged in the 1970s, advocating for the protection of the planet?
Answer: The environmental movement.

12. Which country became the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 1979?
Answer: The Netherlands.

13. Who was the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, serving from 1979 to 1990?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher.

14. Which American city experienced a massive blackout in 1977, resulting in widespread looting and arson?
Answer: New York City.

15. What was the name of the U.S. policy of improving relations with the Soviet Union during the 1970s?
Answer: Détente.

16. Which major conflict between India and Pakistan took place in 1971, resulting in the creation of Bangladesh?
Answer: The Bangladesh Liberation War.

17. Which African-American boxer became the first to win the world heavyweight title three times in 1978?
Answer: Muhammad Ali.

18. What was the name of the oil crisis that occurred in 1973, leading to a worldwide increase in oil prices and fuel shortages?
Answer: The 1973 oil crisis.

19. Which Swedish pop group gained international fame in the 1970s with hits like "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia"?
Answer: ABBA.

20. Which British punk rock band released their debut album "Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" in 1977?
Answer: Sex Pistols.

21. What was the name of the U.S. spacecraft that successfully landed on Mars in 1976?
Answer: Viking 1.

22. Who was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1983?
Answer: Vanessa Williams.

23. What major disaster occurred in 1979 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania?
Answer: A partial meltdown of the reactor.

24. Which American serial killer terrorized women in the 1970s, earning the nickname "The Son of Sam"?
Answer: David Berkowitz.

25. What was the name of the music festival held in upstate New York in 1969, which became synonymous with the counterculture movement of the '70s?
Answer: Woodstock.

26. Which American actress and activist founded the Women's Media Center in 1978?
Answer: Jane Fonda.

27. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978 for brokering peace between Egypt and Israel?
Answer: Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat.

28. What was the name of the popular dance craze that originated in the '70s and featured synchronized line dancing?
Answer: The Electric Slide.

29. Which American serial killer was active in the 1970s and confessed to the murders of at least 30 young women?
Answer: Ted Bundy.

30. What was the name of the scandal that involved the illegal wiretapping and surveillance of political opponents by the U.S. government in the 1970s?
Answer: Watergate.

31. Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971 for his novels, including "One Hundred Years of Solitude"?
Answer: Gabriel García Márquez.

32. What was the name of the British luxury liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1972?
Answer: RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).

33. Which American band released the iconic album "Hotel California" in 1976?
Answer: Eagles.

34. What was the name of the treaty signed in 1972 between the United States and the Soviet Union, limiting the number of strategic nuclear weapons?
Answer: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I).

35. Who won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1977 for the film "Annie Hall"?
Answer: Woody Allen.

36. What was the name of the U.S. space program that sent astronauts to the moon in the '60s and '70s?
Answer: Apollo.

37. Which American serial killer was active in the 1970s and targeted young male hitchhikers?
Answer: The Zodiac Killer.

38. What was the name of the 1970s feminist movement that sought equal rights for women in various aspects of society?
Answer: Women's Liberation Movement.

39. Who became the first African-American woman to serve as a United States senator in 1972?
Answer: Carol Moseley Braun.

40. What was the name of the U.S. policy of withdrawing troops from Vietnam and transferring responsibility to South Vietnamese forces?
Answer: Vietnamization.

41. Which American sitcom, set in the 1950s and '60s, aired from 1970 to 1977 and depicted the lives of the Cunningham family?
Answer: "Happy Days."

42. What was the name of the first successful personal computer, released by IBM in 1975?
Answer: IBM 5100.

43. Who won the Super Bowl in 1972 with their perfect season?
Answer: The Miami Dolphins.

44. What was the name of the 1976 American biographical sports drama film about the life of boxer Rocky Balboa?
Answer: "Rocky."

45. Which African-American politician became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972?
Answer: Shirley Chisholm.

46. What was the name of the U.S. military operation that rescued American hostages held in Iran in 1980?
Answer: Operation Eagle Claw.

47. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for his efforts to negotiate peace in the Middle East?
Answer: Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin.

48. What was the name of the television series that aired from 1972 to 1983 and depicted the lives of a wealthy Denver family?
Answer: "Dynasty."

49. Which iconic American comedian rose to fame in the 1970s with his stand-up routines and television show?
Answer: Richard Pryor.

50. What was the name of the U.S. government program that aimed to provide healthcare for low-income Americans in the 1970s?
Answer: Medicaid.

Conclusion

The 1970s was a decade of significant historical events, social movements, and cultural milestones. From space exploration and political scandals to the rise of feminism and the birth of iconic music and films, this era continues to captivate our imagination. By testing your knowledge with these top trivia questions and answers about the history of the '1970s, you have taken a journey back in time to appreciate the impact and legacy of this remarkable decade. So, how well did you fare in the trivia challenge?

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Nick

I am Nick, one of the co-founder and admin of Trivia Plane, a fun website dedicated to trivia quizzes and getting to know you questions. With a lifelong passion for learning new things and connecting with others, we created Trivia Plane in 2023 as a place for people to challenge their knowledge, discover fascinating facts, and bond over lighthearted questions. As the admin, I am committed to making Trivia Plane a positive, welcoming, and entertaining space for trivia buffs and anyone looking to take a break from the seriousness of life with some friendly competition.

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