Massive inflation swept the globe in the 1970s, much of it fueled by the Middle East's oil crisis. Digital technology, like the first calculator, made its debut in consumer goods, and as technology progressed, the range and functionality of home appliances increased. The Vietnam War comes to an end, and the Cold War becomes much colder. The 1970s were a turbulent decade. The decade was, in several ways, a continuation of the 1960s. Women, African Americans, Native Americans, gays, homosexuals, and other oppressed people continued to struggle for equality, and many Americans joined the anti-Vietnam war demonstrations. However, in several respects, the decade was a rebuke to the 1960s. The actions of President Richard Nixon shattered many people's confidence in the federal government's good intentions, and a "New Right" mobilized in defense of political conservatism and traditional family roles. These divisions and disappointments had set a tone for public life by the end of the decade, which many might say is still present today.
