1. Retail and Technology Revolutions
Life in the 1980s
Economic Growth
Retail and Technology Revolutions
Social Problems
Rise of Activism

2. Economic Growth Yuppies: Young, urban, professionals
Effect of baby boomers
Graduating college
Entering workforce
Emphasis on getting ahead
Growth benefited upper and middle classes
1967 to 1986: Top 5% of Americans had between 15.6% and 17.5% of all wealth
By mid-1990s, over 21%

3. Retail Revolution Discount retailing
Selling large quantities of goods at very low prices
Attempting to sell goods quickly to turn over inventory
Idea of selling a lot of goods at little profit would make more money than selling fewer products at higher prices

4. The Wal-Mart Effect
System of distribution centers to enhance re-supplying his stores
Computer database to track inventory and sales
Others copied idea of “superstores”

5. Media Revolution Ted Turner creates WTBS in 1975
First superstation that sells low-cost sports/entertainment via satellite to cable companies nationally
Results in creation of ESPN, HBO, CNN (founded by Turner as well), MTV
Robert Johnson creates Black Entertainment Television (BET)
Grew up poor, convinced TV could promotes business and culture for African-Americans
MTV paved way for rise of rap music, which originated in the Bronx and focused on rhythmic beats and African-American inner- city experiences

6. Other Media Changes
Sony Walkman
VCRS
Video Games

7. Social Problems
Despite economic gains, the US had many problems including drug usage, crime, disease, poverty, and homelessness
Drug use spreading to all areas and ages
Effects on crime rates
New Jersey v. T.L.O: school has right to search without a warrant if it had probable cause
Vernonia School District v. Acton: Random drug tests do not violate rights

8. Social Problems (continued)
Drunk driving and drinking
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) founded in 1980 to stop underage drinking
1984: Congress cuts highway funding to any state that does not have a legal drinking age of 21
All states complied within 4 years
Why?

9. AIDS Epidemic
1981: researchers identify AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
Weakened immune system
HIV: Virus that causes aids
Between 1981 and 1988 the CDC identified over 100,000 cases in the US alone

10. Activism Rises
Stonewall Riot marks beginning of the gay activist movement
Police raided Stonewall Inn in NYC due to sexual orientation of the patrons (not uncommon practice for police raids at this time)
Led to creation of Gay Liberation Front and other groups whose primary goal was to increase tolerance
Led protests, marches, etc.

11. 1984: Irish rocker Bob Geldof organized “Band Aid” to help starving people in Ethiopia
Following year evolved into Live Aid
“We Are The World”
Led to Willie Nelson organizing “Farm Aid” to help American farmers and musicians promoting the end of Apartheid in South Africa

12. Senior Citizens in Politics
Medicinal Improvements=Longer Life Expectancy
Declining Birthrate—younger population comparatively smaller
Social Security benefits creating budget pressures
Seniors needed a voice in politics to avoid cuts to Social Security and Medicare, so the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) was founded in 1958.