What Happened in 1977?
It’s 1977, and that can mean only one thing: bell-bottoms everywhere. But, believe it or not, 1977 was a huge year for the entire world! From big discoveries to major political movements, there’s a reason why ‘77 is looked back on by historians – and people who were there – with fondness and intrigue.
Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable events of 1977, month by month.
In this year
January
The US swore in a new President as of January 20th, 1977, with Jimmy Carter taking over on behalf of the Democrats, ending Gerald Ford’s time in the top job. Carter would remain in charge for a single term, with the Republican Party resuming charge via Ronald Reagan.
February
On February 2nd, 1977, Indira Gandhi’s Congress Party of India officially split from senior leaders – among them, Jagjivan Ram. This bold move would lead to the formation of the Congress for Democracy, which in itself would eventually join up with the Janata Party.
March
The rings of Uranus were finally discovered as of March 10th, 1977 – revealing that there is, in fact, a dust ring surrounding the planet. Uranus remains one of the absolute most mysterious planets in our solar system, and as the second farthest away from Earth, it's unlikely we'll ever visit it. But we're still researching the planet, even now!
April
Legendary racehorse Red Rum broke records at the Grand National exhibition on April 2nd, 1977, as he claimed a third victory at the annual festival. Even now, Red Rum is regarded as perhaps the most successful racehorse of all time – at least, he’s up against some stiff competition!
May
Major health history was made on May 23rd, 1977, as scientists revealed they were able to create insulin through the splicing of genes – and by using bacteria – in lab conditions. This was an incredible moment in our continued research into diabetes and how to treat the condition.
June
On June 15th, 1977, Spain held its first democratic elections after 41 years of rule under the dictator Francisco Franco. What’s more, the country would vote through referendum in 1978 to bring in a new constitution – effectively ending the military state imposed through Franco’s reign.
July
Feeling hot, hot, hot! Greece witnessed record temperatures on July 10th, 1977, as heat reportedly reached a staggering 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 48 degrees Celsius, in the full sun. This was a new record for temperatures achieved on continental Europe!
August
Just a year ahead of Spain, Uruguay confirmed it would return from military to civilian rule via the next round of general elections. This would lead to a full election for a democratic President and seated Congress in 1981. It’s all change at the top!
September
A major technological breakthrough took place on September 15th, 1977, over in Turin, Italy. It was on this day that telephones were connected by optical fiber for the first time. This would help lead the way for voice and data transmission for decades to come. It wasn’t quite the birth of the internet, but it was a bold step in the right direction!
October
The once-deadly disease, smallpox, is said to have been contracted for the very last time on October 26th, 1977. The case was traced to Merca in Somalia. Both the CDC and the WHO believe this to be the end of natural smallpox contraction – therefore making vaccination against the disease a resounding success.
November
Remember what we said about the internet? As it so happens, a successful TCP/IP network test took place on November 22nd, 1977. This event, believe it or not, was a sign of the internet to come – who knew it dated this far back?
December
The United Nations officially welcomed two new member states as of December 20th, 1977, with both Vietnam and Djibouti officially taking seats for the first time.
1977 was the year of the…
…Snake!
Like 1941, 1953, 1965, 1989, 2001, and 2013, 1977 celebrated Snakes everywhere, within the guidelines of the Chinese Zodiac. People born in Snake years tend to be very intuitive. They are very intelligent and sensitive, and they pick up on things others don’t. They’re also passionate, funny, creative, and generally kind. The next Snake year won't be until 2025.
This page was last modified on September 30, 2024. Suggest an edit
Celebrity Births in 1977
Orlando Bloom, British actor, born January 13th, 1977
Chris Martin, British singer and songwriter, born March 2nd, 1977
Jessica Chastain, American actor and film producer, born March 24th, 1977
Sarah Michelle Gellar, American actor, born April 14th, 1977
John Cena, American actor, born April 23rd, 1977
Famous People We Lost in 1977
Groucho Marx, American comedian, and actor, died aged 86
Bing Crosby, American actor, and singer, died aged 74
Elvis Presley, American singer, died aged 42
Joan Crawford, American actor, died aged 69-73
Maria Callas, American-Greek singer, died aged 53
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