I didn't live in the 70s and am not a historian but I have long had an intense interest in history so I guess I'll see what I can recall from classes and documentaries.

I generally associate the hippie movement with the mid 60s rather than the 70s. There was a lot of optimism about the potential in throwing off outdated elements of culture for something more peaceful and egalitarian. But a lot of that optimism soured towards the end of the 60s. By then the Vietnam war was was near it's peak. MLK, so known for his inspirational message and advocacy for nonviolence, was assassinated in 68 and there were riots all across the US in response. Peaceful protests weren't producing the results that activists desired and sometimes turned violent such as at the 68 Democratic National Convention and the Kent State shootings.

In response a lot of activism in the late 60s and 70s became more militant and violent. Some such as the weather underground went as far as resorting to terrorism, which became quite prominent globally in the 70s. The increasing violence and seeming futility of protest replaced the one time optimism with growing cynicism and disillusionment. The Watergate scandal around 72 to 74 greatly amplified this disillusionment and diminished faith in the government.

By the mid 70s a lot of pop culture moved away from social activism and focused more inwards towards personal indulgence and glamor. A lot of this cultural trend can be seen in the aesthetics of disco, the club scene with Studio 54 as an icon, and the increased popularity of cocaine. The glitz and glamor of disco eventually burnt out and created a backlash towards the end of the 70s that I think is best exemplified by the insanity of Disco Demolition Night. Some have also identified strong racial overtones in the rise and fall of disco as it had far greater representation of Black artists that Rock of the era.

In terms of protests, Vietnam protests would have been just the very beginning of the decade. Nixon, first elected in 68, had been vocal about his plans to get America out of the conflict. He escalated tactics such as intensified bombing campaigns that proved quite controversial, but by the start of the decade troops were being drawn down dramatically. Another `thing to consider about Vietnam was that those participating in protests represented a minority American opinion. "squares" vastly outnumbered "doves" throughout the war. A less visible opposition to the war also existed though in the form of those who opposed the limited nature of the war and felt that unilateral withdrawal was preferable to fighting a war without a clear path to total victory.

Other types of protest emerged instead though with Women's activism being a major feature of the decade. Women began entering the workforce in significantly greater numbers and culture began shifting around women's place in society. Culture often reflected how Americans were trying to come to grips with rapidly changing social norms around race but especially around gender equity. Another social movement that was active but not yet as prominent as the Women's movement was the Gay Liberation Movement which was largely sparked by the Stonewall riots of 69. Altogether, the 70s showed significant shifts in opinion that older generations in particular often struggled to grapple with.

Another form of media that I think illustrates the general state of culture in the 70s is cinema. Popular movies of the 70s generally seem to show grittier themes and aesthetics than the 50s and 60s. This illustrates the increased disillusionment of the era and lack of faith in traditional institutions. Grittier films, antiheros, and morally gray themes gave a better impression of authenticity to how people felt at the time. Another factor was the prevalence of the new hollywood movement at the time where a new generation of directors entered the industry who had grown up appreciating film and understanding how to utilize the language of film. They were given a far greater degree of authorial control to bring their visions to fruition. This came with a lot of risk but also created a lot of films with enduring cultural impact.

Another factor that had a big impact on everyday life in the 70s and impacted the general perceptions of society was the economy which struggled a great deal through the 70s. This was amplified after the OPEC oil embargo. High oil prices further devastated the economy and gas shortages became a major problem in everyday life. This was particularly important given the car centric American culture and how so much of our infrastructure is based around driving for transportation and just everyday life. Long lines at gas stations and stations with no gas at all are enduring memories of the time. By the end of the decade the country was experiencing stagflation which mixed economic stagnation with high inflation and seriously impacted the financial heath of most Americans.

Hopefully my recollections haven't butchered the history too much. Two other places come to mind where you might get a bit of a feel for the times. One is a documentary series I saw a number of years ago simply called "The Seventies". I think it was made by CNN and I remember finding it somewhat interesting. Also, there's a youtube channel called "recollection road". I think I've seen some of their videos and they cover some of the simpler and more nostalgic elements of the past that perhaps can give a bit of flavor that high level documentaries may miss.