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Iran Releases Hostages
US citizens were held hostage for 444 days from Nov. 4 1979 - Jan. 20 1981 after the US embassy was taken over by Islamic students and militants. -
Mt Saint Helen's Eruption
An earthquake followed by the eruption of Mt St Helen's kills 57 people in Washington. There was over $ 1 billion in damage and the eruption caused the land to be wasteland. -
1980 Summer Olympics Boycott
US boycotts 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest against 1979 invasion of Afgahnastan. -
MTV Signs On
MTV was the first 24 hour cable TV station dedicated to music videos. The people that changed the songs were called VJ's -
Sandra Day O'Conner Joins US Supreme Court
She is the first female member of the Supreme Court. -
1983 Beirut barracks bombing
Marked the end of peacekeeping operations in Lebanon. -
Chrysler Unveils Mini-Vans
The Dodge Caravan and the Plymoth voager are released to the public as 1984 models. -
Presidental Election 1984
Reagan won 525-13 taking all but one state, MN. -
We Are The World
World awareness of poverty in third world countries sparked celebrities to sing the song We Are the World by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. -
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Iran-Contra Affair
Reagan administration officials secretly sold arms to Iran. -
Ninendo Entertainment System Released
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Challenger Crash
On Jan. 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded during lift off, killing all on board including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. -
FOX Signs On
First major network to host nightly programming. FOX is still around today. -
Tax Reform Act of 1986 Passed
Simplified the tax code and broadened the tax base. It was referred to as "Reagan tax cuts". -
Tear down this wall
a visit to Europe Ronald Reagan tells Gorbachev to tear the Berlin Wall. -
1988 Presidental Election
George HW Bush wins 426-111 taking 40 states. -
Bush declares "War on Drugs"
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1989 San Francisco Earthquake
63 people were killed and thousands were left homeless. -
Cold War Ends
George HW Bush declare the Cold War to be over at the Malta Summit. -
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gulf war
Gulf war begins when Iraq invades Kuwait. US gets involved to protect oil resources. -
USSR Is Dissolved
The Cold War officially ends when the USSR is dissolved. -
27th Amendment is Ratified
Prohibits changes in Congressional salaries to take effect until after the next election cycle. It was first proposed in 1789. -
1992 Presidental Election
Clinton defeats George HW Bush 370-168 taking 32 states plus DC. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Act which prohibits homosexual people from serving in the US armed forces. -
NAFTA Goes Into Effect
Allows for free trade between the US, Mexico, and Canada. -
Oklahoma City Bombing
The Oklahoma City Bombing was an attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. 168 people were killed including 19 children under the age of 6. It was the worst tragedy on US soil before 9/11. -
Lewinsky Scandal
Scandal that alleged that Bill Clinton had sexual contact with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. -
Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
The bombing occurred during the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta. 2 people were killed and 111 were injured. -
Columbine Massacre
Fourth deadliest school shooting in US history. 15 people killed total including the shooters. -
Y2K Computer Problem
A conspiracy that the world would end on this date because of a "glitch" in the computer system -
2000 Presidential Election
The outcome was delayed due to unknown winner in FL. Also known as the "Hanging Chads". -
9/11 Terrorist Attacks
On September 11, 2001, four airplanes were hijacked and two destroyed the twin towers in NYC, one crashed into the Pentagon, and the fourth was crashed in a field in PA after the passengers on board took over the aircraft. -
Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing
Also known as the Lockerbie bombing. All 270 people on board the aircraft were killed.