Contemporary
ARPANET (1969): The First Message and Birth of the Internet
The first host-to-host message crossed the ARPANET, the packet-switched network that later developed into the internet.
Region
Americas
Contemporary
Cuyahoga River Fire (1969): Cleveland's Burning River
A short fire on oil-slicked debris became a national symbol of water pollution and helped build support for the Clean Water Act and the EPA.
Contemporary
Santa Barbara Oil Spill (1969): The Blowout That Sparked Change
An estimated 80,000-100,000 barrels of crude oil fouled the coast; public outrage helped produce the National Environmental Policy Act, Earth Day and stronger coastal protection.
Contemporary
Christopher Street Liberation Day (1970): The First Pride March
The march established an annual tradition of June Pride events that spread to cities across the United States and the world.
Contemporary
Women's Strike for Equality (1970): Marching on Fifth Avenue
The largest women's rights demonstration in the US since the suffrage era drew national attention to the new feminist movement.
Contemporary
Kent State Shootings (1970): National Guard Fire on Students
Four students were killed and nine wounded, sparking a nationwide student strike that closed hundreds of colleges.
Contemporary
Apollo 13 (1970): The Successful Failure in Space
The Moon landing was abandoned after an oxygen tank explosion, but all three astronauts returned safely to Earth on 17 April 1970.
Contemporary
Creation of the EPA (1970): America's Environmental Agency
Federal pollution programs were combined into one independent agency, which went on to enforce the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and other major environmental laws.
Contemporary
First Earth Day (1970): Birth of the Environmental Movement
An estimated 20 million Americans took part, building political momentum for the EPA, the Clean Air Act of 1970 and later environmental laws.
Contemporary
Pentagon Papers (1971): The Leak That Exposed Vietnam Policy
The Supreme Court allowed publication to continue on 30 June 1971; charges against Ellsberg were dismissed in 1973 because of government misconduct.
Contemporary
First Network Email (1971): Ray Tomlinson and the @ Sign
Electronic messages could be sent between users on different computers, and the user@host address format became the standard for email.
Contemporary
Intel 4004 (1971): The First Commercial Microprocessor
Intel began selling the first single-chip microprocessor on the open market, launching the industry that would lead to personal computers and smartphones.