Decade Timeline, 1980's

By asullivann1

  • The Crack Epidemic

    The Crack Epidemic
    The Crack epidemic was the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the United States during the early 1980s. The crack epidemic specifically affected African American neighborhoods. Hundreds of thousands of African-Americans across the country ended up with prison records because of minor drug violations.

  • Falkland War

    Falkland War
    Also called the also called Falklands War, Malvinas War, or South Atlantic War, a brief undeclared war fought between Argentina and Great Britain in 1982 over control of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and associated island dependencies. (April 4, 1982 - June 14, 1982)

  • Chuck D

    Chuck D
    Public Enemy, American rap group whose dense, layered sound and radical political message made them among the most popular, controversial, and influential hip-hop artists of the late 1980s and early ’90s. Chuck D helped create politically and socially conscious hip hop music in the mid-1980s.Chuck D became famous for his politically-conscious lyrics and his promotion of activism through music.

  • Farm Aid

    Farm Aid
    Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization that supports family farms in the United States. It was founded in 1985 by musicians Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp. The first Farm Aid concert was held in Champaign, Illinois, attracting 80,000 people and raising more than $9 million. A second concert, Farm Aid II, was held the next year in Austin, Texas, and Farm Aid III was held in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1987.

  • Challenger Disaster

    Challenger Disaster
    Challenger disaster, explosion of the U.S. space shuttle orbiter Challenger, shortly after its launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida which claimed the lives of seven astronauts. The space shuttle broke 73 seconds after lift off.

  • Chernobyl Disaster

    Chernobyl Disaster
    A nuclear reactor in the town of Chernobyl (in the Ukraine, then a member state of the Soviet Union) exploded, collapsing the building in which it was located and releasing a radioactive plume that deposited material over much of Europe and Scandinavia.The plume left in the air after the disaster left many people very sick and some had more long term affects like cancer.

  • Dan Quayle

    Dan Quayle
    Dan Quayle was the 44th vice president of the United States (1989–93) in the Republican administration of President George H.W. Bush. During a a debate in 1988 he compared himself to Jack Kennedy in which Bensten, Texas Senator replied, “I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mind. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” This debate was broadcasted to 50 million people. https://youtu.be/yHtlbZpZUSs

  • Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

    Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
    The Exxon Valdez oil spill was a man made disaster that occurred when Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker owned by the Exxon Shipping Company, spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. It was the worst oil spill in U.S. history until the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. It took a great toll on the wildlife and it was estimated to have 250,000 sea birds, 3,000 otters, 300 seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales.Mar