I The ‘80s

HISTORY

The era begins with an assassination…

John Lennon, former singer of The Beatles and peace activist, is shot and killed in 1980.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan becomes our 40th president.

Reagan’s presidency marks an era of renewed conservatism.

Reagan pushes for a return to old-fashioned “family values.”

Reagan develops “Star Wars”- a nuclear defense program to protect the US from the USSR.

Reagan’s controversial economic policies are referred to as “Reaganomics.”

The economy resurges, and the ‘80s becomes known as the “ME generation” and the “Flaunting it” era.

Wall Street, home of the New York Stock Exchange, becomes a hotbed of young entrepreneurs .

The dark side of wealth: Cocaine becomes the drug of choice…

Meanwhile, on the streets, highly addictive crack cocaine use skyrockets.

First lady Nancy Reagan fights the “War on Drugs” with a “Just Say No Campaign.”

As a result, D.A.R.E. is born.

In 1986, the Iran-Contra Affair rocks the country.

Reagan claims to be innocent. Colonel Oliver North is found guilty of selling arms to Iran and using the money to fund Contra revolutionaries in Nicaragua… Reagan claims to be innocent.

In 1986, Americans view the live launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger ; on board is Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space.

Sadly, due to technical malfunction, the Challenger disintegrates over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven crew members.

In 1986, a nuclear reactor accidentally explodes in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

The tremendous radioactive fallout causes an estimated 10,000 cases of cancer.