The 1980s

By austinkisner
  • Period: to

    The 1980s

  • Attempt to rescuse American hostages in Iran fails

    Air crash in operation kills 8 soldiers and injures 5.
  • Mount Saint Helens erupts

    Mount Saint Helens erupts

    Kills 57 people and causes over $3 billion in damages. Blast have 500x the power of the nuclear bomb used on Hiroshima.
  • John Lennon assasinated

    John Lennon assasinated

    Music icon killed by fan, causing immense sadness as Americans saw a public figure disappear forever.
  • Ronald Reagan Inaugurated

    Ronald Reagan Inaugurated

    Became 40th president of the US

  • Reagan survives assassination attempt

    Was shot in the chest while in Washington, DC.

  • Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first female Supreme Court Justice

    Was approved 99-0 in a unanimous vote to become a Justice.

  • Highest unemployment rate since 1940 reached.

    10.4% of American citizens were unemployed and at the end of November over 11 million people would not have jobs.

  • Astronaut, Sally Ride, travels into space

    Becomes first American woman to travel into space.

  • Ronald Reagan wins second term

    Won the electoral college by a ratio of 525:13

  • First Soviet-US meeting of leaders in 6 years

    Meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan in a 5 hour summit.

  • MLK Day officially observed as a federal holiday in the US

    Was not an official holiday until then
  • Challenger space shuttle explodes

    Challenger space shuttle explodes

    Just 73 seconds into the mission, Challenger exploding killing all onboard passengers, including a teacher and 6 astronauts.

  • Stock Market crash named Black Monday

    Had a record 22.6% drop in one day.

  • George H. W. Bush wins presidency

    Won electoral college by a ratio of 426:11

  • Exxon-Valdez oil tanker crashes

    Releases eleven million gallons of oil extending over 45 miles
  • Berlin Wall falls

    Berlin Wall falls

    Influx of German people dismantle the wall, uniting Germany once again.