1980s US History & Culture: Key Events, Politics, and Technology

Pong

The 1972 Atari game considered the first video game to achieve serious commercial success.

Deregulation

The process supported by conservatives beginning in the 1980s to promote economic growth.

Medicare

The area that Ronald Reagan did NOT cut despite his stated opposition to large government.

Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians

Groups that increased political participation in the 1980s by cultivating a large TV audience with charismatic leaders.

Newspapers

The industry most disrupted by the rise of the Internet and global communication.

AIDS crisis

The health crisis that emerged during President Reagan's first term but was not addressed until late in his second term.

Military spending

The most important budget priority declared by President Reagan early in his first term.

National debt

The issue that most clearly showed the limits of President Reagan's success by the end of his second term in 1988.

Cassette Tapes

The technology widely used for listening to music in the 1980s.

Hip Hop

The music genre that gained popularity in the 1980s with artists like Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J.

Sandra Day O'Connor

The first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1981.

CNN

The name of the American cable television news channel established in 1980.

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

The environmental disaster that occurred in 1989, affecting wildlife and marine ecosystems.

The Moral Majority

The movement led by Reverend Jerry Falwell aimed at influencing American politics in the 1980s.

Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan

The event that led to the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow by several countries.

The Rainbow Coalition

The political group formed by Jesse Jackson in the 1980s.

Grenada and Panama

The two countries where the United States intervened militarily during the 1980s.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

The international incident in 1989 involving student-led demonstrations for democracy.

The Warsaw Pact

The organization that dissolved in 1991, marking the end of the Cold War era.

MTV

The platform that revolutionized the music industry in the 1980s by airing music videos on TV.

Challenger

The space shuttle that exploded in 1986, resulting in the loss of all crew members.

Chernobyl Meltdown

The event in 1986 that led to widespread environmental contamination in Ukraine.

Partisanship

The strong division and rivalry between political parties in the 1980s.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The leader of the Soviet Union in the 1980s prior to the breakup of the Soviet bloc.

Ronald Reagan

The U.S. President who heightened the War on Drugs with slogans like 'Just Say No' and the creation of 'mandatory minimums' for certain drug offenses.

Reagan Revolution

The early 1980s movement that included tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and increases in defense spending.

End of the Cold War

A result of economic problems in the Soviet Union undermining its ability to control its territories and engage in international conflicts.

1980 to 2010 trend

The overall trend influenced by the increasing integration of the United States into the world economy.

New Right

A political movement during the 1970s and 1980s that appealed strongly to evangelical Protestants and those opposed to government intervention in the economy.

Iran-Contra Affair

The secret sale of arms to Iran by Reagan administration officials to illegally finance a rebellion against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

INF Treaty

The 1987 treaty between the US and USSR that was the first agreement to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in their stockpiles and eliminate an entire class of weapons.

Political Cartoon Perspective

The viewpoint likely held by a neoconservative, as suggested by the cartoon.

Response to Deregulation

The image that was most directly a response to the deregulation of many industries.

Manufacturing Jobs Trend

The declining number of manufacturing jobs in the United States contributed to the major trend depicted in the graph.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A program initiated by President Reagan aimed at preventing a nuclear attack on the United States.

Perestroika

A policy introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that involved restructuring the Soviet economy and government.

Glasnost

A policy of openness and transparency introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s.

Reparations

Compensation or repayment for historical injustices, often in the form of money or resources.

The Evil Empire

The term used by President Reagan to describe the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

U.S. invasion of Grenada

A military action taken by the United States in 1983 in response to a coup by a military junta.

U.S. invasion of Panama

The military action taken by the United States in 1989 to overthrow Manuel Noriega.

Soviet Union's perestroika effects

Unprofitable factories were closed, and some private businesses were allowed to operate.

Conservatives' call for energy policy

A response advocating for decreased regulations on industries such as oil production.

Marine scientists' assurance

They indicated that energy resources could be developed off U.S. coasts without endangering fish and wildlife.

Iconic video game character debut

Mario made his debut in the 1980s.

U.S. News and World Report interview

An interview with Interior Secretary James Watt discussing environmental protection from drilling.

Critics of SDI

Believed the program would undermine arms control agreements.

Social problems in the Soviet Union

Discussions were held honestly, and the media was allowed to criticize the government as a result of perestroika.

Energy independence initiative

The purpose of President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative was to prevent a nuclear attack on the United States.

U.S. dependence on fossil fuels

A concern raised in response to conservatives' energy policy calls.

Historical injustices compensation

Reparations refer to compensation or repayment for historical injustices.

Environmental protection history

Since 1970, there have been only two spills of more than 1,000 barrels in U.S. waters.

Soviet Union's relationship improvement

Negotiations were held between superpowers, improving their relationship as a result of perestroika.

Mario's debut

Mario is an iconic video game character who made his debut in the 1980s.

U.S. military action in Grenada

The U.S. invasion of Grenada was in response to a coup by a military junta.