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Presidential Election of 1980
Reagan defeats Carter for presidency. Republican conservatives scored a double victory, winning control of both the White House and the Senate, sparking the resurgence of conservatism. -
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United States aids antileftist forces in Central America
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Reagan is shot
A deranged gunman shot the president as he was leaving a Washington hotel. A .22-caliber bullet penetrated beneath Reagan's left arm and collapsed his left lung. -
"Reaganomics" spending and tax cuts passed
Reaganomics called for widespread tax cuts, decreased social spending, increased military spending, and the deregulation of domestic markets. -
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Recession hits U.S. economy
The economy slid into iuts deepest recession since the 1930s. Unemployment reached nearly 11 percent, business folded, and several bank failures jolted the nation's entire financial system. -
Reagan announces SDI plan (Star Wars)
Reagan announced his intention to pursue a high-technology missile-defence system called the Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars -
U.S. marines killed in Lebanon
A suicide bomber crashed an explosive-laden truck into a U.S. Marine barracks killing more than two hundred marines. Reagan soon thereafter withdrew the remaining American troops. -
U.S. invasion of Grenada
Reagan dispatched a heavy, fire-power invasion force to the island of Grenada, where a military coup had killed the prime minister and brought Marxists to power. Americans captured the island quickly demonstrating Reagan's determination to assert the dominance of the US in the Carribbean. -
Reagan is reelected for a second term
Reagan defeats Walter Mondale in landslide. -
Gorbachev comes to power in Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev, a charismatic new Soviet lead, who was installed as chairman of the Soviet Communist party in 1985. -
First Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting
President Reagan's first meeting with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev at Fleur D'Eau during the Geneva Summit in Switzerland. -
Second Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting
A second summit meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, broke down in a stalemate. -
The Iran-Contra Imbroglio Revealed
American diplomats secretly arranged arms sales to the embattled Iranians in return for Iranian aid in obtaining the release of American hostages held by Middle Eastern terrorists. Aug 20- Mar 4 -
Black Monday
The leading stock-market index plunged 508 points- the largest one-day decline in history -
Third Reagan-Gorbachev Summit
The third summit, in Washington, D.C., Reagan and Gorbachev at last signed the intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) treaty, banning all INF missiles from Europe. -
Bush defeats Dukakis for Presidency
Incumbent Vice President George H. W. Bush won the presidential election. -
Chinese government suppresses prodemocracy movement
Hundreds of thousands of prodemocracy demonstrators thronged through Beijing's Tiananmen Square in the Spring of 1989. Tanks rolled over the crowds, the machine-gunners killed hundreds of protesters. -
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
Court upheld a law from Missouri that prohibited public employees from performing abortions, unless the life of the mother was threatened -
Berlin Wall torn down
The Berlin Wall, a symbol of the divide between the East and West during the Cold War is torn down. -
Iraq Invades Kuwait
The Persian Gulf War began when Iraq invaded Kuwait. This invasion put the Iraqi Army closer to Saudi Arabia and its oil reserves, which supplied much of the world with oil. -
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Persian Gulf War
After Iraq invaded Kuwait, the US invaded Iraq to liberate Kuwait. Iraq set Kuwait's oil fields on fire so the Americans couldn't gain the oil. This conflict caused the US to set military bases in Saudi Arabia; also called Operation: Desert Storm -
Soviet Union dissolves
Republics form Commonweath of Independent States -
27th Amendment ratified
Twenty-seventh Amendment prohibits congressional pay raises from taking effect until an election seats a new session of Congress -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commerical buildings. -
The Election of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton (D) def. President George H. W. Bush (R) and Ross Perot (I). Clinton won 43% of the popular vote, but 370 electoral votes. -
Battle of Mogadishu
President Clinton sent american troops into Somalia on a peacekeeping mission. They were attacked by a terrorist leader whom they did now know was in the country at the time. The event caused national anger. -
NAFTA
This agreement eliminated tariffs on goods exchanged between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This opened up new economic oppurtunities for investors in each country. -
Interwebs
The internet revolutionized the economy and communications infrastructure. -
OKC bombing
A some crazy people bombed a federal office building in Oklahoma City. This act of violence (amoung others) helped to spark a movement to limit access of guns and other weaponry to normal citizens. -
Death of Jerry Garcia
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Balanced federal budget
Congress passed in 1998 a balanced federal budget for FY99 for the first time in decades. This event shows the economic prosperity of the nineties. -
Clinton Impeachment Trial
Clinton was impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Congress voted along party lines, and Clinton was not removed from office. -
Columbine massacre
Using assault weapons, two high school students killed thirteen people at Columbine High School. This event contributed to the growing gun control debate in the U.S. -
U.S.-China Relations Act
This bill normalized economic relations between the United States and China, and allowed China to be the U.S.;s main trade partner. -
Election of George W. Bush
Good ol' W. won in a landslide. -
9/11
Never forget. -
USAPATRIOT act
In response to 9/11, Congress passed a law allowing law enforcement to use invasive surveillance techniques to stop terrorism. This became a divisive issue in the country. The following year, congress approaved the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. -
Invasion of Iraq
A "U.S.-led coalition" invaded Iraq and overthrew the Iraqi government. U.S. forces stayed until 2011 (thanks Obama) to help the country rebuild and to train a new Iraqi military.
