1971 This could well be the year that marked
the start of the digital age when the Microprocessor was invented. We
also saw the use of more and more of the transistor technology in use
in things like hand held calculators which although are still very expensive
over time will drop in price and increase in function to where we are
today. It is also the first year North Sea Oil production begins in Norway.
One other major change is the change to Decimalization in the UK and Ireland.
The birth of Greenpeace signals a need to question how we manage the resources
entrusted to us and a means of organized questioning of governments around
the world.
Cost of Living 1971
How Much things cost in 1971
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 4.3%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 890
Average Cost of new house $25,250.00
Average Income per year $10,600.00
Average Monthly Rent $150.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents
Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00
United States postage Stamp 8 cents
Ladies 2 piece knit suits $9.98
Movie Ticket $1.50
What Events Happened in 1971
China
is admitted to the United Nations UN
Ibrox disaster in Scotland when 66 die in
stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match
A new stock market index called the Nasdaq
debuts
Border battles between India and Pakistan
erupt into full-scale war when India invades East Pakistan ( Now Bangladesh
) in support of the independence movement
Sylmar earthquake hits the San Fernando
Valley area of California.
Peru Earthquake results in the destruction
of the town of Chungar, Peru, and the death of most of the towns people
Decimalization in United Kingdom and Ireland
both switch to decimal currency.
Education Secretary Margaret Thatcher's (
"Thatcher The Milk Snatcher". ) ends free school milk for
children over the age of seven in the UK
The Voting Age in the United States
is lowered to 18 yrs old
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds School Busing
Women are granted the right to vote in Switzerland
Amtrak created to provide US inter
city passenger train services.
Mount Etna erupts
Tsunami 85 m high rises over Ryukyu Islands
in Japan
Harris public opinion poll claims that 60%
of Americans are against the war in Vietnam
Tsunami in the Bay of Bengal in Orissa State
in India kills 10,000.
The Walt Disney World Resort opens
in Florida
The US table tennis team visits to the People's
Republic of China (PRC) known as "Ping Pong Diplomacy"
Greenpeace formally comes into existence.
Federal Express is started by Fred Smith
Thousands protest against the British government's
new industrial relations Bill.
Cigarette Advertising Ended on Television
in USA
A fatal stampede at Glasgow Soccer Game
Major General Idi Amin takes control
of Uganda soon to become one of the worst and most notorious dictators
of modern times
Following Public Concern Over Immigration
the UK A new Immigration Bill stops Commonwealth citizens automatic
entry
The New York Times begins to publish sections
of the Pentagon Papers showing the US Government had been lying to the
American People.
Qatar Gains Independence From Great Britain
Sierra Leone Gains Independence From Great
Britain
Charles Manson and three of his followers
receive the death penalty
Popular Culture 1971
Led Zeppelin releases their untitled fourth
album
Popular Films
Love Story
Summer of '42
Ryan's Daughter
The Owl and the Pussycat
The Aristocats
Carnal Knowledge
The Andromeda Strain
The French Connection
Popular Musicians
James Taylor
The Doors
Bob Dylan
Tony Orlando and Dawn with " Knock
Three Times "
Janis Joplin with " Me and Bobby Mcgee
"
The Who
Mungo Jerry
John Lennon
The Jackson 5
Ike and Tina Turner
Marvin Gaye
Rod Stewart with " Maggie Mae "
The Osmonds
Michael Jackson
The Rolling Stones with " Brown
Sugar "
Popular TV Programs
All My Children
Mary Tyler Moore
McCloud
The Odd Couple
The Partridge Family
Technology 1971
Oil Production
from the North Sea begins in Norway
Intel releases world's first microprocessor,
the 4004.
Texas Instruments releases the first pocket
calculator
The First Internet Chat rooms appear
The First Cat Scanner Produced by EMI
BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the
UK.
The Aswan Dam is completed in Egypt
The Worlds Largest Tanker 372,400 tons Nisseki
Maru is launched
Apollo 14 lands on the Moon.
Apollo 15 astronauts become the first to ride
in a lunar rover a day after landing on the surface.
First Soft Contact Lens became available commercially
in the USA
Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country
( or attributed to First Use )