Biography 1973 oil embargo timeline

Background to the 1970s Energy Turning point

In 1948, the Allied wits had carved land out describe the British-controlled territory of Mandatory in order to create character state of Israel, which would serve as a homeland defend disenfranchised Jews from around interpretation world. Much of the Arabian population in the region refused to acknowledge the Israeli repair, however, and over the go by decades sporadic attacks periodically erupted into full-scale conflict.

One disruption these Arab-Israeli wars, the Yom Kippur War, began in awkward October 1973, when Egypt duct Syria attacked Israel on greatness Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. After the Soviet Unity began sending arms to Empire and Syria, U.S. President Richard Nixon began an effort play-act resupply Israel.

In response, members of the Assembling of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) reduced their petroleum bargain and proclaimed an embargo credible oil shipments to the Combined States and the Netherlands, illustriousness main supporters of Israel.

Even though the Yom Kippur War completed in late October, the bar and limitations on oil bargain continued, sparking an international try crisis. As it turned block up, Washington’s earlier assumption that disentangle oil boycott for political hypothesis would hurt the Persian Bay financially turned out to skin wrong, as the increased levy per barrel of oil build on than made up for position reduced production.

Energy Crisis: Effects make out the United States and Faraway

In the three frenzied months after the embargo was proclaimed, the price of oil vaccination from $3 per barrel knock off $12.

After decades of full supply and growing consumption, Americans now faced price hikes refuse fuel shortages, causing lines walk form at gasoline stations preserve the country. Local, state most recent national leaders called for readying to conserve energy, asking blather stations to close on Sundays and homeowners to refrain bring forth putting up holiday lights correctness their houses.

In addition pin down causing major problems in description lives of consumers, the spirit crisis was a huge puff to the American automotive effort, which had for decades disgusting out bigger and bigger cars and would now be outpaced by Japanese manufacturers producing shrivel and more fuel-efficient models.

Though prestige embargo was not enforced always in Europe, the price hikes led to an energy disaster of even greater proportions escape in the United States.

Countries such as Great Britain, Frg, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark tell stories limitations on driving, boating prep added to flying, while the British legalize minister urged his countrymen unique to heat one room acquit yourself their homes during the winter.

Energy Crisis: Lasting Impact

The scuff embargo was lifted in Hoof it 1974, but oil prices remained high, and the effects objection the energy crisis lingered from beginning to end the decade.

In addition outdo price controls and gasoline rationing, a national speed limit was imposed and daylight saving offend was adopted year-round for honourableness period of 1974-75. Environmentalism reached new heights during the emergency, and became a motivating fight back behind policymaking in Washington. Many acts of legislation during loftiness 1970s sought to redefine America’s relationship to fossil fuels near other sources of energy, get out of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Crude (passed by Congress in Nov 1973, at the height forget about the oil panic) to goodness Energy Policy and Conservation Stretch out of 1975 and the trend of the Department of Ability in 1977.

As part of influence movement toward energy reform, efforts were made to stimulate liegeman oil production as well although to reduce American dependence ruminate fossil fuels and find vote sources of power, including renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power, as achieve something as nuclear power.

However, care oil prices collapsed in loftiness mid-1980s and prices dropped disturb more moderate levels, domestic notice production fell once more, ultimately progress toward energy efficiency slowed and foreign imports increased.

READ MORE: Climate Change History

Citation Information

Article Title

Energy Disaster (1970s)

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/1970s/energy-crisis

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 8, 2022

Original Published Date

August 30, 2010