Chapter 34
Section 4
Life in the 1970s
Pages 1032-1037
Objectives
• 1. Describe how the American population and
family structure changed during the 1970s.
• 2. Explain why Americans were said to be selfabsorbed.
• 3. List forms of entertainment that were
popular in the 1970s.
• 4. Analyze how new technologies affected
Americans’ lives.
Opener
• On a piece of paper compile a list of clothing
styles, movies, music, and slang words of
popular culture that you believe originated
during the 1970s.
1970s Activity
• 1. Pick a partner to work with on this project.
• 2. Create a poster or powerpoints depicting
forms of entertainment that were popular in
the 1970s.
• 3. Posters or powerpoints should depict
movies, particularly blockbuster movies; and
music; rock music, disco, and punk.
• 4. Be prepared to discuss and show posters or
powerpoints in class
A Changing Population
• Immigration: a large flux of immigrants coming into
the country from Asia and Latin America. When
people came to the U.S. they were frustrated because
of language barriers and discrimination.
• Voting Rights Act of 1975: large communities with
non-English speaking immigrants to print voting
materials in various languages.
• Bilingual Education Act: 1974, establishing funding to
Public Schools to provide instruction for students in
their main language.
• The United States: was becoming a multicultural
society.
Rise of the Sunbelt
• As I told you people were becoming more mobile
in the 1970s. People moved to the southern and
western states for various reasons:
• A. National politics and influence to the south
and the west.
• B. The civil rights movement made the South a
more pleasant place to move.
• C. Economic growth and more job opportunities.
• D. Warmer climate and the suburban lifestyles.
• E. Spacious land area without being crowded.
Family Life
• 1970s: more people lived in single households
and waited to get married later.
• Divorce was on the rise and easier to obtain in
society.
• Remarriage was on the rise, which changed
the concept of the traditional family. Families
were defined in many different ways.
American Attitudes
• A large movement in the 1970s was self-improvement
and self-actualization. Yoga, mediation, and self-help
books.
• New Age Beliefs: During the 1970s many Americans
became interested in the various spiritual beliefs
known as the New Age movement. Influenced by
Asian religions , a desire to improve the self, and health
practices such as massage therapy and acupuncture,
New Agers held a wide variety of beliefs. Some were
interested in health and environmental issues, while
others pursued spiritual advancement through
practices such as the use of crystals.
Fitness and Food
• Self-improvement spread into physical fitness.
People started to join health and tennis clubs.
Tobacco use began to decline in American
society. People were beginning to become
concerned about heart disease, alcohol use,
and the influence of fast food on diets.
Entertainment
• Movies: Director, Steven Spielberg created
blockbusters of the 1970s. His creations were
Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.
Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, and
Schindler’s List
• Music: Disco was a financial and commercial
success.
Technological Advances
• Technological Development: The space
program (Apollo missions and Skylabs) Neil
Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin.
• Personal computers
• Video games, VCRs, telephone answering
machines.
• Short-Term Impact: boosted national pride,
improved relations with Soviet Union,
changed view of universe.
• Success of Apple Computer increased
availability of computers ( 1976, Steven Jobs
and Stephen Wozniak)
• Added conveniences, changed habits and
leisure activities
• Long-Term Impact: development of
sophisticated space equipment, advancement
of a global point of view
• Revolutionized computer industry, made
information revolution and Internet possible
• Potential negative impact of video games on
children’s social skills and health. [ 1975, Atari]