1. 1980’s

2.  Status symbols such as yachts, expensive watches, and luxury cars became important  The economy went from recession to booming in 1983  Period of excess…known as the Me, Me, Me decade

3.  Young Urban Professionals  Rewarded themselves with expensive items  Top 5% of Americans earned 21% of the nation’s income

4.  Discount Stores  Wal-Mart!  K-Mart  Target  Home Depot  Best Buy

5.  Many homes bought their first microwaves  CNN: First all news network founded by Ted Turner in 1980  BET: 1980  1981: MTV….back when it actually played music!

6.  AIDS  MADD  “Just Say NO”  ”Live Aid”…We are the World  http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=D9ZKy YFyiFA http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=D9ZKy YFyiFA

7.  Columbia was the first shuttle…reusable spacecraft. 1981  Sally Ride: First female American in Space  Challenger Disaster: January 1986. 7 Astronauts were killed, including a teacher Christa McAuliff  http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=j4JOjcDFt BE http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=j4JOjcDFt BE

8.  Population: 226,546,000 Unemployed in 1980: National Debt: 1980 - $914,000,000,000 National Debt: 1986 - $2,000,000,000,000 Average salary: $15,757 Life Expectancy: Male 69.9 Female 77.6 Minimum Wage: $3.10 BMW was $12,000; Mercedes 280 E was $14,800 Attendance: Movies 20 million/week

9.  Big Hair  Skater hair and flat tops and Punk  Painter hats and pierced ears.  Michael Jackson Thriller coat  OP, Izod, Argyle- Hawaiian and Rugby Shirts.  Parachute pants.  Converse Hightops  Pegged jeans  Zubaz and spandex  Valley Girl  Michael Jackson glove and Miami Vice look  Swatch watches  Rubiks cube  Pacman, Nintendo, and Gameboy  Smurf, ET, and Cabbage Patch Dolls  Sneakers

10.  John Lennon was shot and killed in New York. The gunman, Mark Chapman, apparently shouted 'I am the Catcher in the Rye' just before dropping to the ground and firing the weapon.

11.  Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR, The US boycotts due to Russians invading Afghanistan

12.  Mount Saint Helen Erupts in 1980  Kills 60 People

13.  US hockey team beat Russia for the gold in the Winter Olympics.

14.  Pete Rose is banned from baseball for betting on games, August 24, 1989

15.  Yearly Inflation Rate USA 13.58% Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 963 Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 21.50% Average Cost of new house $68,700.00 Average Income per year $19,500.00 Average Monthly Rent $300.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.19 Average cost new car $7,200.00 Mens Casual Shirt $14.00

17.  Bruce Springsteen  Madonna  Culture Club (bad)  Milli Vanilli (bad)  Poison  Just to name a few…