1980-2001

  • Tensions are high between Soviet Union and US due to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan

  • Mt. St. Helen erupts

  • Carter pulls American Athletes out of the Olympic sports in Moscow

  • Reagan becomes President

  • Attempted assassination of Reagan

  • First US space shuttle launch

  • Knoxville World's Fair opens on the topic of energy

  • Highest unemployment rate since 1940

  • Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space

  • US astronauts become first to free fly in orbit

  • Los Angeles Olympic Games begin

  • Reagan reelected

  • Challenger explodes, killing all 7 crew

  • Reagan and Gorbachev sign INF treaty

  • George W. Bush becomes President

  • Iraq troops invade Kuwait leading to the Persian Gulf War

  • US begins Operation Desert Storm and ends the Persian Gulf War

  • U.S. and Soviet Union sign START I treaty, agreeing to further reduce strategic nuclear arms

  • Soviet Union is broken

  • Bush and Yeltsin officially end the Cold War

  • Bill Cinton becomes President

  • North American Free Trade Agreement passes

  • Lawsuit against President Clinton for sexual harassment

  • Budget disagreement results in partial US government shutdown

  • Clinton reelected

  • More sexual harassment alegations on Clinton

  • House votes to impeach Clinton

  • Columbine High School shooting

  • Al Gore and W Bush election too close to call

  • Bush is declared President

  • Two hijackers successfull crash planes into the World Trade Center

  • War on Terrorism begins