Year by year · 20th century

1973

1973 in world history: 23 events, 17 deaths, 2 states founded and 3 that came to an end. 223 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 15 January

    Nixon suspends offensive action against North Vietnam

    Citing progress in the Paris peace talks, Richard Nixon halted US bombing and mining of North Vietnam. The Paris Peace Accords, signed twelve days later, ended direct American involvement in the war.

    Paris

  2. 22 January

    US Supreme Court decides Roe v. Wade

    By seven votes to two, the Court ruled that the constitutional right to privacy protected a woman's decision to have an abortion. The ruling was overturned in 2022.

  3. 29 March

    Last US combat troops leave South Vietnam

    The final American combat units departed under the Paris Peace Accords, and the last prisoners of war were released. Some 58,000 Americans and millions of Vietnamese had died in the war.

    Paris

  4. 8 April

    Pablo Picasso dies at Mougins aged 91

    Pablo Picasso died at his home in the south of France. Co-founder of Cubism and creator of Guernica, he had reshaped modern art over a career lasting more than seventy years.

    Pablo Picasso

  5. 14 May

    NASA launches Skylab, America's first space station

    Skylab was launched on the last Saturn V flown. Damaged on ascent, it was repaired by its first crew, and three crews lived aboard for a total of 171 days.

  6. 17 May

    Senate Watergate hearings open on television

    The Senate committee began televised hearings into the Watergate break-in and cover-up. Testimony revealed the White House taping system, which led to Nixon's resignation in August 1974.

  7. 9 June

    Secretariat wins the Belmont by 31 lengths

    Secretariat set a world record for the distance and became the first US Triple Crown winner in 25 years. His Belmont time still stands as the race record.

  8. 11 September

    Military coup overthrows Chile's President Allende

    Armed forces led by General Augusto Pinochet bombed the presidential palace, and Salvador Allende died inside. The US had worked to undermine Allende; Pinochet's dictatorship killed and disappeared thousands.

    Salvador

  9. 20 September

    Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the 'Battle of the Sexes'

    Before some 30,000 spectators in Houston and a huge TV audience, Billie Jean King beat former champion Bobby Riggs in straight sets. The match became a landmark for women's sport.

  10. 6 October

    Egypt and Syria attack Israel on Yom Kippur

    Egyptian and Syrian forces launched surprise attacks on Israeli positions in Sinai and the Golan Heights on the holiest day of the Jewish year. The war ended in Israeli counter-offensives and reshaped Middle Eastern diplomacy.

  11. 17 November

    Greek troops crush the Athens Polytechnic uprising

    A tank broke through the gates of the Athens Polytechnic, ending a student occupation against the military junta. Dozens were killed, and the junta fell the following summer.

    Athens

  12. Treaty · Peace

    Paris Peace Accords

    The Paris Peace Accords were signed on 27 January 1973 by the United States, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the Viet Cong's Provisional Revolutionary Government, after years of negotiation.

  13. Event

    Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala

    Kesavananda Bharati v.

  14. War

    Yom Kippur War

    The Yom Kippur War was the surprise offensive of October 1973 in which Egypt and Syria sought to recover the lands lost in 1967, crossing the Suez Canal and storming the Golan Heights on the Day of Atonement.

ProfileState219 states with a known seat in 1973Open the atlas at 1973 →

In the profiles

  • Republic of ChileAugusto Pinochet’s coup overthrows Salvador Allende on 11 September
  • New ZealandBritain joins the EEC, ending New Zealand's secure British market
  • Kingdom of GreeceThe junta abolishes the monarchy
  • United KingdomThe UK joins the European Economic Community
  • Swazi KingdomSobhuza II repeals the constitution and bans political parties
  • TanzaniaDodoma is designated the future capital
  • ArabicArabic becomes an official language of the United Nations
  • Norse religionIceland recognises the modern Ásatrú fellowship as a religion

Wars and longer events

Died in 1973 17

States founded 2

States that came to an end 3

All years → The 20th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1973. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1973
MLA
“1973.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1973. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1973.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1973.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1973’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1973 (Accessed: ).