1973 and 1979 Oil Crises (1973–1981)

1. Yom Kippur War triggers immediate supply anxiety

   Oct 6, 1973Labels: Yom Kippur, Egypt, Syria

   • DOE History
   • Britannica

2. OAPEC announces Arab oil embargo

   Oct 17, 1973Labels: OAPEC, Arab states

   • DOE History
   • Britannica

3. Embargo expands with total cutoff to U.S.

   Oct 20, 1973Labels: Saudi Arabia, U S

   • Britannica
   • History com

4. Alaska pipeline authorized to boost U.S. supply

   Nov 16, 1973Labels: Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Alaska North

   • U S Law

5. U.S. adopts emergency petroleum price controls

   Nov 27, 1973Labels: Emergency Petroleum, U S

   • Congress Summary
   • Reagan Library

6. U.S. sets national 55 mph limit to save fuel

   Jan 2, 1974Labels: National Maximum, U S

   • NMSL

7. OAPEC lifts embargo but prices stay high

   Mar 1, 1974Labels: OAPEC lift, Arab producers

   • Britannica
   • History com

8. International Energy Agency created for oil security

   Nov 18, 1974Labels: International Energy, OECD

   • IEA History

9. U.S. creates Strategic Petroleum Reserve and CAFE

   Dec 22, 1975Labels: Strategic Petroleum, CAFE standards

   • Britannica
   • DOE History

10. U.S. Department of Energy begins operations

    Oct 1, 1977Labels: U S, federal reorganization

    • DOE History

11. Iranian oil strikes sharply cut world supply

    Oct 31, 1978Labels: Iranian oil, strikes

    • State Dept FRUS
    • Washington Post

12. Khomeini returns as Iranian Revolution nears victory

    Feb 1, 1979Labels: Ruhollah Khomeini, Iranian Revolution

    • History com
    • Britannica

13. U.S. faces gasoline shortages and long lines

    May 1, 1979Labels: U S, service stations

    • Brookings
    • State Dept FRUS

14. Carter’s energy address frames crisis as national challenge

    Jul 15, 1979Labels: Jimmy Carter, energy address

    • Carter Center
    • Miller Center

15. Volcker becomes Fed chair amid inflation pressures

    Aug 6, 1979Labels: Paul Volcker, Federal Reserve

    • Fed History

16. Iran–Iraq War begins, adding a new oil risk

    Sep 22, 1980Labels: Iran Iraq, Iraq invasion

    • Britannica

17. Reagan ends remaining U.S. oil price controls

    Jan 28, 1981Labels: Ronald Reagan, Executive Order

    • Reagan Library