The world in
What happened in 1975?
25 events across 9 world regions, each with its sources.
Europe
Cold WarAfter World War II, the Western Bloc led by the United States and the Eastern Bloc led by the Soviet Union engaged in a nearly half-century-long political, economic, and military confrontation. Although the two superpowers never fought directly, they competed globally through proxy wars, an arms race, and the Space Race. The Cold War began in the late 1940s and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: U.S. Army photo Photo Credit: USAMHI / Public domain ↗
Signing of the Treaty on the Creation of the USSROn December 30, 1922, the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR was signed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, officially establishing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Plenipotentiary delegates from the Russian, Transcaucasian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian Soviet republics signed the treaty, along with a declaration serving as its preamble. The treaty legally formalized the political union of the Soviet republics that had existed since 1919, creating a new federal government with centralized functions in Moscow. Legislative power was vested in the Congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee, while executive power lay with the Council of People's Commissars.
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Signing of the Helsinki AccordsFrom 30 July to 1 August 1975, at the closing meeting of the CSCE’s third phase in Helsinki, Finland, the Helsinki Final Act (Helsinki Accords) was adopted and signed. It embodied political commitments rather than a treaty and therefore had no legally binding force.
Old Town of Lviv designated a State Historic-Architectural ReserveIn 1975, the historic centre of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, known as the Old Town, was designated a State Historic-Architectural Reserve in Ukraine. The area was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. In 2023, due to the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the site was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Juanedc / CC BY 2.0 ↗
Signing of the Treaty of OsimoOn 10 November 1975, Italy and Yugoslavia signed the Treaty of Osimo in Osimo, Italy, definitively dividing the Free Territory of Trieste: Italy received the city of Trieste with a narrow coastal strip to the north-west, while Yugoslavia gained a portion of the north-western Istrian peninsula. The treaty entered into force on 11 October 1977.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Unknown author Unknown author / Public domain ↗
Signing of the Madrid AccordsOn 14 November 1975, Spain, Morocco, and Mauritania signed the Madrid Accords in Madrid, ending the Spanish presence in Western Sahara and arranging a temporary administration by Morocco and Mauritania.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Tiris_al-Gharbiyya_Location.png : Н.Сидоров. Original uploader was Nicolay Sidorov at ru.wikipedia . derivative work: Sp / Public domain ↗
Inauguration of KyrkbronKyrkbron opened on 26 September 1975 in Umeå, Sweden, becoming the third bridge over the Ume River. Construction started in 1973, after a decade-long debate over its location. An unknown burial ground was uncovered during construction, triggering archaeological excavations.
Establishment of Scandola Nature ReserveIn 1975, France established the Scandola Nature Reserve on the west coast of Corsica, covering over 1,600 hectares of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The reserve aims to protect unique geological formations and rich biodiversity, and was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
West Asia
- Signing of the Algiers Agreement
In 1975, Iran and Iraq, mediated by Algeria, signed the Algiers Agreement to settle border disputes, notably over the Shatt al-Arab and Khuzestan. Following Iraq's defeat in the 1974–1975 Shatt al-Arab conflict, the deal also aimed to end Iranian support for the Kurdish rebellion in Iraq. The agreement formed the basis for subsequent treaties but was abrogated by Iraq in 1980, contributing to the outbreak of the Iran–Iraq War.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
- Dhofar Rebellion
The Dhofar Rebellion was an armed conflict in Oman's Dhofar Governorate from 1962 to 1976, led by the Marxist-Leninist Dhofar Liberation Front against Sultan Said bin Taimur and British influence. The Omani government, backed by Britain and Iran, fought the rebels, who received support from South Yemen, the Soviet Union, and China, making it a Cold War proxy war. The rebellion ended in July 1976 with the Sultan's forces regaining full control.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
1970s energy crisisBetween 1973 and 1980, the Western world experienced a severe energy crisis characterized by petroleum shortages and soaring prices. The crisis was triggered by two major events: the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, both causing interruptions in Middle Eastern oil exports.
- Launch of Iran's White Revolution
On 26 January 1963, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran launched a series of far-reaching reforms known as the White Revolution. The program included land reform, women's enfranchisement, industrial growth, and public health improvements, aiming to modernize the country. The reform era ended with the Shah's overthrow in 1979.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Central & South America
Nicaraguan RevolutionThe Nicaraguan Revolution was a revolutionary movement in Nicaragua from 1961 to 1990, led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front, aiming to overthrow the Somoza family dictatorship and, after its success in 1979, to carry out social and economic reforms.
Establishment of Huascarán National ParkPeru established Huascarán National Park in 1975, located in the Cordillera Blanca in the Ancash region, encompassing the country's highest peak, Huascarán.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: daniel_sandoval / Public domain ↗
Establishment of Morne Trois Pitons National ParkIn 1975, the government of Dominica established the country's first national park, Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The park is named after its highest mountain, Morne Trois Pitons, and is located in an area of significant volcanic activity. It features unique geothermal landscapes such as the Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation.
SourcesUNESCO World Heritage listing ↗Wikipedia ↗Image: Nelro ( talk ) / Public domain ↗
Establishment of Chirripó National ParkChirripó National Park was established in 1975 in Costa Rica, encompassing parts of the San José, Limón, and Cartago provinces. Located in the central Talamanca Mountain Range, it protects the area around Costa Rica's highest peak, Cerro Chirripó, and safeguards significant Pacific-slope ecosystems. It is part of the Talamanca Range-La Amistad Reserves/La Amistad National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its unique environment and biodiversity.
South Asia
- Fall of Saigon
On 30 April 1975, North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government and the end of the Vietnam War. The event prompted mass evacuations and was followed by a transition period under a provisional government until reunification in 1976.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Outbreak of the Vietnam WarIn 1955, armed conflict erupted between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), marking the start of the Vietnam War. This war was simultaneously a civil war, a Cold War proxy war, and a postcolonial independence conflict, with North Vietnam backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Vietnam supported by the United States and other anti-communist nations. The fighting later spread to Laos and Cambodia, ending with all three countries under communist rule in 1975.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps. James K. F. Dung, SFC, Photographer Ronald L. Haeberle / Public domain ↗
Sub-Saharan Africa
Beginning of the South African Border WarIn 1966, the South African Border War broke out across Namibia, Zambia, and Angola. It was fought between the South African Defence Force and the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, the armed wing of SWAPO. The conflict, closely tied to the Angolan Civil War, became one of Africa's largest wars since World War II.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: No machine-readable author provided. Ceresnet assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5 ↗
Establishment of Mana Pools National ParkIn 1975, Mana Pools National Park was established in the lower Zambezi region of northern Zimbabwe. The area is known for its floodplains that turn into lakes after the rainy season, attracting large numbers of wild animals during the dry season. It was later inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1984.
North America
- Emergence of the Personal Computer Concept
In the late 1970s, a new computer concept took shape. The personal computer, designed for individual use and direct operation by an end user, stood in contrast to mainframes and time-sharing systems. Its advent contributed to the Digital Revolution, significantly affecting people's lives and work.
SourcesWikipedia ↗
Caesars Superdome OpensIn 1975, the Caesars Superdome, a domed multi-purpose stadium with approximately 72,000 seats, opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, and became the home venue of the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
SourcesWikipedia ↗Image: Infrogmation of New Orleans / CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
East Asia
Start of the Great Proletarian Cultural RevolutionIn 1966, CCP Chairman Mao Zedong launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Marked by the issuance of the May 16 Notification, the movement aimed to preserve communism by purging capitalist and traditional remnants. This nationwide sociopolitical movement lasted a decade and profoundly impacted Chinese society.
North Africa
Outbreak of the Western Sahara WarIn 1975, after Spain withdrew from Western Sahara, Morocco and Mauritania took over administration under the Madrid Accords, leading to armed conflict with the Polisario Front. Morocco organized the Green March, with tens of thousands of citizens and around 20,000 troops entering Western Sahara, meeting resistance from the Polisario Front. Fighting was minor at first but evolved into a prolonged guerrilla war. The Polisario Front fought both Morocco and Mauritania, seeking independence. Mauritania withdrew in 1979, but the war persisted until a 1991 ceasefire.
Oceania
Werrikimbe National Park establishedIn 1975, Werrikimbe National Park was established in New South Wales, Australia. Located in the Upper Hastings River catchment, the park covers approximately 33,309 hectares and is part of a protected area on the eastern escarpment of the Great Dividing Range.
Around 1975
These are known only to the century, not to the year. They are listed separately so a rough date is never mistaken for an exact one.
- Beginning of the Digital Revolution
- Completion of the Taipei Grand Mosque
- Establishment of Women's Suffrage Worldwide
- Establishment of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
- Construction of Grimeton Longwave Radio Station
- Construction of the Trans-Iranian Railway begins
- Construction of the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright Begins
- Construction of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in 'The Centre of Heaven and Earth'