The Eighties to the Twenty-first Century 1980-2001

Grain Embargo

Jan 4, 1980

President Jimmy Carter announces the embargo on sale of grain and high technology to the Soviet Union due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.uswheat.org/wheatletter/effects-of-1980-grain-embargo-echo-through-the-years/

Operation Eagle Claw

Apr 24, 1980

The attempt to rescue the American hostages held captive in the U.S. Embassy in Iran fails with eight Americans killed and five wounded in Operation Eagle Claw when a mid-air collision occurs.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Source: https://english.khamenei.ir/news/2167/Operation-Eagle-Claw-a-Plot-Foiled-by-God

Mt. St. Helens Erupts

May 18, 1980

The Mt. St. Helens volcano, in Washington State, erupts, killing fifty-seven people and economic devastation to the area with losses near $3 billion. The blast was estimated to have the power five hundred times greater than the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.oregonlive.com/projects/mount-st-helens/

Ronald Reagan

Nov 4, 1980

Ronald Reagan, the former Republican governor of California and American actor wins the 40th Presidential Election of the United States.
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/ronald-reagan/

Hostages Released

Jan 20, 1981

Soon as Reagan became President of the United States, the American Hostages being held in Iran were released.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://diplomacy.state.gov/u-s-diplomacy-stories/yellow-ribbon-hostages/

Assassination Failed

Mar 30, 1981

President Ronald Reagan withstands an assassination attempt, shot in the chest while walking to his limousine in Washington, D.C.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Source: https://www.pressreader.com/australia/new-idea/20210329/282059099780552

Space Shuttle Columbia

Apr 12, 1981

The first launch of the Space Shuttle from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center occurs as Columbia begins its STS-1 mission. The Space Shuttle is the first reusable spacecraft to be flown into orbit, and it returned to earth for a traditional touch down landing two days later.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://scitechdaily.com/40th-anniversary-of-first-space-shuttle-mission-something-just-short-of-a-miracle/

Tax Cut Legislation

Jul 29, 1981

Tax cut legislation proposed by President Ronald Reagan, the largest in history, is passed by both houses of the U.S. Congress. It would reduce taxes by $750 billion over the next five years.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Source: https://pastdaily.com/2016/07/26/reagan-july-26-1981-reference-room/

First Female Supreme Court Justice

Sep 21, 1981

Sandra Day O'Connor is approved unanimously, 99-0, by the United States Senate to become the first female Supreme Court associate justice in history.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Source: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/justice-sandra-day-oconnor-40th-anniversary-historic-first

Bus Racial Integration

Mar 2, 1982

The Senate passes a bill that virtually eliminated the practice of busing to achieve racial integration.
Source Desc:https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc:https://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/april-20-1971-supreme-court-rules-that-busing-can-be-used-to-integrate-schools/

Unemployment Hits All Time High

Nov 5, 1982

The highest unemployment rate since 1940 is recorded at 10.4%. By the end of November, over eleven million people would be unemployed.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.statista.com/chart/21660/unemployment-rate-in-the-us/

Star Wars Program

Mar 23, 1983

The initial proposal to develop technology to intercept incoming missiles, the Strategic Defense Initiative Program, or Star Wars, is made by President Ronald Reagan.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/laser-quest-the-story-behind-ronald-reagan-s-star-wars-1311697

First Women in Space

Jun 18, 1983

Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman to travel into space.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/sally-ride

Troops Bombed in Lebanon

Oct 23, 1983

A terrorist truck bomb kills two hundred and forty-one United States peacekeeping troops in Lebanon at Beirut International Airport. A second bomb destroyed a French barracks two miles away, killing forty there.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.state.gov/dss-physical-security-specialist-recalls-the-1983-bombing-of-the-u-s-marine-corps-barracks-in-beirut/

Astronauts Fly Free In Orbit

Feb 7, 1984

Navy Captain Bruce McCandless and Army Lt. Colonel Robert Stewart become the first astronauts to fly free of a spacecraft in orbit during a space shuttle flight.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/23/obituaries/bruce-mccandless-dead-astronaut.html

The Golden Girls

Sep 14, 1985

In 1985, one of America's most beloved TV series called "The Golden Girls" begins, including the beloved Betty White.
Source Desc: https://goldengirls.fandom.com/wiki/The_Golden_Girls
Image Desc:https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_golden_girls/s04

Soviet Union and US Meet

Nov 19, 1985

The first meeting in six years between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States occurs when Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan engage in a five hour summit conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html

Martin Luther King Day

Jan 20, 1986

Martin Luther King Day is officially observed for the first time as a federal holiday in the United States.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.wncw.org/2022-01-14/monday-martin-luther-king-jr-day

The Challenger Space Shuttle Explodes

Jan 28, 1986

The Challenger Space Shuttle explodes after lift off at Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing seven people.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/challenger-explodes

Fight Hunger and Homelessness

May 25, 1986

In an effort to fight hunger and homelessness five million people make a human chain across the United States in the Hands.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/05/hands-across-america-in-1986-raised-money-for-the-homeless-and-hungry.html

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Jun 12, 1987

On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood just 100 yards away from the concrete barrier dividing East and West Berlin and uttered some of the most unforgettable words of his presidency: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
Source Desc: https://www.history.com/news/ronald-reagan-tear-down-this-wall-speech-berlin-gorbachev
Image Desc: https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/06/tear-down-this-wall-the-power-of-reagans-1987-speech-endures/

Black Monday

Oct 19, 1987

The stock market crash known as Black Monday occurs on the New York Stock Exchange, recording a record 22.6% drop in one day. Stock markets around the world would mirror the crash with drops of their own.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/trading-investing/black-monday/

Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Dec 8, 1987

The United States and the Soviet Union sign an agreement, the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, to dismantle all 1,752 U.S. and 859 Soviet missiles in the 300-3,400 mile range.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.rferl.org/a/missiles-banned-by-the-inf-treaty-/29557616.html

George H. W. Bush

Nov 8, 1988

In 1988, George H. W. Bush won the presidential election becoming the 41st president of the United States, his goal was the make the United States a "kinder and gentler nation."
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/george-h-w-bush/

Berlin Wall Comes Down

Nov 9, 1989

The Berlin Wall, after thirty-eight years of restricting traffic between the East and West German sides of the city, begins to crumble when German citizens are allowed to travel freely between East and West Germany for the first time.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1980.html
Image Desc: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-were-you-when-the-berlin-wall-came-down-zn6qmbrph

The Hubble Telescope

Apr 24, 1990

The Hubble Telescope is placed into orbit by the United States Space Shuttle Discovery. One month later, the telescope becomes operational.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/hubble-telescope-remains-inoperative-due-to-mystery-problem

Iraq Invades Kuwait

Aug 2, 1990

Iraq invades its neighbor, Kuwait- this would lead to the involvement of the United States getting involved in the Gulf War.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Source: https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/in-pictures-the-gulf-war-30-years-on-38580

Operation Desert Storm

Jan 12, 1991

U.S. Congress passes a resolution authorizing the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Operation Desert Storm begins four days later with air strikes against Iraq. Iraq responds by sending eight Scud missiles into Israel.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.britannica.com/story/25th-anniversary-of-operation-desert-storm

Gulf War Over

Feb 27, 1991

The Gulf War ends one day after Iraq withdraws its forces from Kuwait and sets the oil fields on fire.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2018/4/vfw-salutes-americas-gulf-war-veterans

The 27th Amendment

May 7, 1992

The 27th Amendment to the Constitution is passed after originally being proposed by James Madison in 1789 and would have been in the Bill of Rights. It bars the United States Congress from giving itself a midterm or retroactive pay raise.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.lifeofthelaw.org/2013/01/heard-of-the-27th-amendment-congress-just-violated-it-again/

William (Bill) J. Clinton

Nov 3, 1992

Bill Clinton, former governor of Arkansas, becomes the 42nd president of the United States. He was also the first Baby Boomer to ever become president.
Source & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/william-j-clinton/

Islamic Terrorist Bomb World Trade Center

Feb 26, 1993

The World Trade Center is bombed by Islamic terrorists when a van parked below the North Tower of the structure explodes. Six people are killed and over one thousand are injured.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2008/february/tradebom_022608

Missile Strike

Jun 27, 1993

President Bill Clinton orders a cruise missile attack on the Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, responding to the attempted assassination attempt cultivated by the Iraq Secret Service on former U.S. President George H.W. Bush during his visit to Kuwait two months before.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.theguardian.com/pictures/image/0,8543,-10204118338,00.html

Brady Handgun Act

Nov 30, 1993

The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act is signed into law by President Bill Clinton. It was signed into law requiring
Federal Firearms Licensees (FFL) to request background checks
on prospective firearm transferees.
Source Desc: https://ucr.fbi.gov/nics/general-information/nics-overview-brochure
Image Source: https://my.lwv.org/illinois/central-kane-county/event/preventing-gun-violence-issues-and-legislation-resource-update-and-video

NAFTA

Jan 1, 1994

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect, creating a free trade zone between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.agweb.com/news/policy/nafta-20-timeline-murky

O.J. Simpson

Jun 12, 1994

The bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are found outside her home in Los Angeles, California. Five days later, her husband, former football star O.J. Simpson is arrested for the crime, but is later acquitted on October 3, 1995. The Simpson case was one of the highest profile murder cases in the nation's history.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Source: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/oj-simpson

Republicans Gain House and Senate

Nov 8, 1994

When the midterm elections came up in 1994, the Republicans gained the House and the Senate for the first time in forty years.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://press.coldcaseact.com/Cold-Case-Act-Passes-House

World Trade Organization

Jan 1, 1995

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is created, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) formed from a series of post-war treaties on trade.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Source: https://citytoday.news/wto-sets-up-dispute-panel-over-indias-duty-hike-on-28-american-goods/

Oklahoma Bombing

Apr 19, 1995

Anarchists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols explode a bomb outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing one hundred and sixty-eight people in a domestic terrorism attack.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.kwch.com/2021/04/19/garland-returns-to-oklahoma-city-for-bombing-memorial/

Atlantis and Mir Dock in Space

Jun 29, 1995

For the first time, the Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/StarChild/space_level2/atlantis_mir_big.gif

Khobar Tower Bombing

Jun 25, 1996

The Khobar Towers bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia by Islamic terrorists, kills nineteen U.S. military personnel. Their intent was to drive the US away from Saudi Arabia.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2015/aug/27/suspect-held-in-1996-towers-blast-20150/

Cloning Barred

Mar 4, 1997

Federal funding for any research into human cloning is barred by President Bill Clinton.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://slideplayer.com/slide/12711679/

NATO Expands

Jul 8, 1997

The NATO alliance expands into eastern Europe when it extends an invitation to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join the alliance in 1999.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://medium.com/center-for-strategic-and-international-studies/nato-enlargement-a-case-study-c380545dd38d

Clinton Affair

Jan 26, 1998

The Impeachment of President Clinton began when he was accused of having an affair with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://time.com/5120561/bill-clinton-monica-lewinsky-timeline/

US Embassy Attacked

Aug 7, 1998

Attacks on two United States embassies in Africa, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya kills two hundred and twenty-four and injures four thousand five hundred. The attacks are linked to Osama Bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda organization.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/east-african-embassy-bombings

Bill Clinton is Acquitted

Feb 12, 1999

President Bill Clinton is acquitted by the U.S. Senate in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. The vote was 55-45 not guilty.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html
Image Desc: https://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/575048

Tornado in Okalhoma

May 3, 1999

• A series of tornadoes strikes Oklahoma, including an F5 category storm that slams Oklahoma City, killing thirty-eight. The fastest wind speed ever recorded on earth is measured by scientists at 509 km (318 mph) during this tornado. Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline1990.html Image Desc: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Oklahoma_tornado_outbreak

Hillary Clinton Wins Senate Seat

Nov 1, 2000

Hillary Rodham Clinton wins a seat for the United States Senate from New York. It is the first time a former First Lady wins public office.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline2000.html
Image Desc: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/photos/hillary-clinton-years-17555279/image-26199273

George Bush

Nov 7, 2000

In the 2000 Presidential Election, George Bush becomes the 43rd president of the United States.
Source Desc & Image Desc: https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/george-w-bush/

US Plane Collides with Chinese Jet

Apr 1, 2001

An American spy plane collides with a fighter plane of China and makes an emergency landing in Hainan, China. The U.S. crew is detained for ten days.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline2000.html
Image Desc: https://www.economist.com/china/2022/01/15/america-and-china-are-one-military-accident-away-from-disaster

9/11

Sep 11, 2001

Islamic fundamentalist terrorists hijack four U.S. airliners and crash them into the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York City, and, Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was believed the fourth plane was headed for the White House but was stopped by the passengers. The plot was Al-Qaeda organization led by Osama Bin Laden.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline2000.html
Image Desc: https://news.virginia.edu/content/what-911-changed-reflecting-cultural-legacy-attacks-20-years

Death by Letters

Sep 18, 2001

Anthrax attacks by mail from Princeton, New Jersey against news and government targets begin. Federal officials announce the first case on October 4.
Source Desc: https://americasbesthistory.com/abhtimeline2000.html
Image Desc: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/new-report-casts-doubt-on-fbi-anthrax-investigation/