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Politics, World Events, Culture, & Sports. 1980-1990 Overview. US Politics . Presidential Election of 1980 Jimmy Carter v. Ronald Reagan Reagan ran a campaign focused on lowering taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference, state’s rights, and stronger national defense.
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Politics, World Events, Culture, & Sports 1980-1990 Overview
US Politics • Presidential Election of 1980 • Jimmy Carter v. Ronald Reagan • Reagan ran a campaign focused on lowering taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference, state’s rights, and stronger national defense. • Reagan won the 1980 election 489 electoral votes to Carter’s 49 • Reagan was 69 years old when he took office • In his inaugural address he said, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.
Assassination Attempt • 69 days into Reagan’s first term there was an assassination attempt by John Hinckley outside the Washington Hilton Hotel and Reagan, his press secretary and a Washington police officer were all shot. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6CNRlQG0mg • Reagan was close to death but was stabilized at the hospital and had surgery. • He was released 12 days later • His approval ratings went up to 73% • His assassin was charged not guilty by reason of insanity • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Jid5uRFo4
Reaganomics • Unemployment rate went from 7.5% down to 5.4% • GDP growth of almost 8% • Inflation was 12.5 when Reagan took office and when he left it was 4.4% • He supported a free-market system • Cut taxes to help stimulate the economy-”trickle down” theory • He froze min. wage, cut govt. assistance programs, and cut rent subsidies in half.
Reagan cont. • Built up US armed forces • Appointed the first female Supreme Court justice • Cold War-predicted Communism would collapse • Korean Air Lines Flight 007 • Reagan Doctrine • Strategic Defense Initiative • Election of 1984 v. Walter Mondale • Reagan won 49 of the 50 states • Immigration-Immigration Reform and Control Act • War on Drugs
George H.W. Bush • Election of 1988 • George H.W. Bush v. Michael Dukakis • Bush won 426 to 111 • Berlin Wall and collapse of Soviet Union • Debt problem • Panama • (we’ll talk more about him in the next section)
Foreign Affairs • Lebanese Civil War 1983 • Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada) 1983 • Challenger Explosion • Libya bombing • Iran-Contra affair • Berlin Wall torn down 1989-end of Cold War • Panama
Technology • Arcade games and video games growing in popularity • Nintendo • Personal computers-Windows • Walkman and Boomboxes • VHS
Entertainment • 80s film • E.T., The Breakfast Club, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, The Terminator, Rambo, Top Gun • TV • Cable tv became much more popular • Talk shows gained popularity (The Tonight Show) • Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Star Trek, Saved by the Bell, The Simpsons
Music • MTV launched and music videos took off • Popular Artists of the 80s • Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Madonna, Queen, Guns N’Roses, AC/DC • Rock and Heavy Metal Popular • Techno dance music took off • Hip Hop emerged • Run DMC, LL Cool J, The Fresh Prince, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy etc. • Musical Deaths • John Lennon assassinated in 1980 • Marvin Gaye shot • Bon Scott (AC/DC) alcohol poisoning • Bob Marley from Melanoma
Fashion • Fashion trends • teased hair, perms, flat tops, and mullets • ripped jeans, neon clothes, shoulder pads, jumpsuits, jean jackets, leg warmers, off the shoulder shirts etc. • Headbands, Aviators, slap bracelets
Sports • 1984 Olympics in L.A. were boycotted by the Soviet Union • Michael Jordan enters the NBA scene • Mike Tyson became the youngest boxing heavyweight champion at 20 • San Francisco 49s won the Super Bowl 4 times in the 80s led by Joe Montana • Pete Rose breaks record for most career hits in MLB but in 1989 is banned from baseball for gambling • Magic Johnson and Larry Bird
Other Events • Mt. St. Helen’s erupted killing 57 people • Earthquake struck San Francisco Bay during the World Series 65 killed • Titanic was discovered on the bottom of the North Atlantic floor