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Aids Crisis
The aids epidemic began to receive public attention in the early 80's. By '93, over 2.5 million cases of HIV/AIDS had been confirmed worldwide. By '95, AIDS was the leading cause of death for Americans age 25 - 44. Cases of AIDS were stacking up in Russia, Ukraine, and other parts of Eastern Europe. Vietnam, Cambodia and China also reported increases in cases. The UN estimated that in '96, 3 million new infections were recorded in patients under age 25. The epidemic didn't slow until '97. -
Space Shuttle Columbia
In April of 1981, NASA launched the very first Space Shuttle mission. The Space Shuttle Columbia successfully carried two astronauts, Robert Crippen and John Young, into space to complete the inaugural flight of the Space Shuttle program. The purpose of the mission was to test the stability of the new spacecraft and to safely launch the vehicle into space and return it to Earth so that the craft was reusable. -
First Woman on Supreme Court
Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court. Her votes and opinions while on the court cast her as a moderate conservative. Having already served in the three branches of state government, O’Connor was about to make an even more profound mark on history. -
United States - E.T. Film Debuts
The popular science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” debuts during June. The story revolves around a young boy named Elliott and his younger sister and their quest to help a lost alien (E.T.) return to its home planet. At the time of its release it was an immediate hit, surpassing Star Wars as the highest-grossing film of all-time, a title which it held until 1993. The film was considered one of the most popular of the decade and won 4 of its 9 Academy Award nominations. -
Ethiopia Famine
A widespread famine affected Ethiopia from 1983 to 1985. The worst famine to hit the country in a century, it affected 7.75 million people (out of Ethiopia's 38–40 million) and left approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million dead. 2.5 million people were internally displaced whereas 400,000 refugees left Ethiopia. -
Blood Sisters
Groups of lesbians banded together to support and tend the men dying from Aids. In early stages, doctors were too scared to treat patients with aids. In '83, queer men were banned from giving blood across America in an effort to prevent HIV being spread through blood transfusions. When the Blood Sisters held their first blood drive, they hoped there would be 50 or so donating; close to 200 women gave their blood. These women would even hold hands with the victims in hospital as the passed. -
First Mobile Phones is Introduced to the Public
The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X commercial portable cellular phone received approval from the U.S. FCC on September 21, 1983. A full charge took roughly 10 hours, and it offered 30 minutes of talk time. -
Michael Jordan is "Rookie of the Year"
Michael Jordan averaged 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 82 games in his rookie season in 1984-85. He was selected to play in his first All-Star game, and won the Rookie of the Year award. -
Indian Prime minister Indira Gandhi assassinated
In 1984, two of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh, shot her with their service weapons in the garden of the prime minister's residence, allegedly in revenge for Operation Blue Star. The 1984 Operation Blue Star was the biggest internal security mission ever undertaken by the Indian Army. -
Mad Cow Disease
The first case of BSE, more commonly known as Mad Cow Disease, is found in 1985. The outbreak infected over 150,000 cows in Britain. Symptoms of BSE included a progressive deterioration of behavior and neurological functions, like an increase in aggression and an unsteady gait, leading to death. BSE was also linked to a disease in humans who had consumed infected meat. Millions of cattle were culled to stop the epidemic. -
World - Live Aid Concerts
The 16-hour “superconcert” was globally linked by satellite to more than a billion viewers in 110 nations. In a triumph of technology and good will, the event raised more than $125 million in famine relief for Africa. -
Soviet Nuclear Reactor at Chernobyl Explodes
The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. Two Chernobyl plant workers died due to the explosion on the night of the accident, and a further 28 people died within a few weeks as a result of acute radiation syndrome. Some 350,000 people were evacuated as a result of the accident. In 2005 the UN predicted a further 4,000 people might eventually die as a result of radiation exposure from Chernobyl -
Hands Across America
The large public charity event “Hands Across America” is held during May of 1986. The publicity campaign asked Americans to join hands in a human chain across the country. Those who participated were asked for a ten dollar donation to get a place in the line. Approximately six and a half million people participated. The money raised from the donations was used to help people in poverty through local charities. The event was held by the same group of people that made USA for Africa. -
Popularity of Crack Increases
U.S. Crack A new drug Crack appears ( A derivative of Cocaine ) and is increasingly found in US Cities. By 1988, crack was reported to be available in all but four states in the United States. Since then, use of the drug has continued to spread throughout North and South America and into Europe and the rest of the world. -
The first GPS satellite went into orbit.
The first of 24 satellites that will make up the global positioning system is put into orbit. This satellite system is so valuable, aside from navigation, GPS has applications in mapmaking, land-surveying and the accurate telling of time. Even though it was developed and is maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, it's been available since 1993 without charge to anyone, anywhere on Earth. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
In July, the U.S. Congress enacts the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA is one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life. -
Cold War Ends
After 30 years the Cold War between East and West ends following the Malta conference and the Berlin Wall comes down. In 1989 and 1990, the Berlin Wall came down, borders opened, and free elections ousted Communist regimes everywhere in eastern Europe. In late 1991 the Soviet Union itself dissolved into its component republics. With stunning speed, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the Cold War came to an end. -
Waco Siege
The Waco Siege began in early 1993, when a government raid on a compound in Axtell, Texas, led to a 51-day standoff between federal agents and members of a millennial Christian sect called the Branch Davidians. The siege ended dramatically on April 19, 1993, when fires consumed the compound, leaving some 75 people dead, including 25 children. -
The O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson trial, criminal trial of former college and professional gridiron football star O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted in 1995 of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. It was one of the most notorious criminal trials in American history. -
The Macarena
The song and dance were impossible to escape. Although the song originally had pushback from radio station managers due to its Spanish roots, the Macarena flourished.The New York Yankees set a record for the largest mass performance of the Macarena dance, with 50,000 people dancing in unison. The Macarena even found its way into that year's presidential election, as the Democratic National Convention was interrupted so participants could perform the dance live on C-SPAN. -
Princess Diana Dies
Princess Diana is killed in a car crash on August 31 News Events in Paris, France. The princess was traveling with her friend Dodi Al Fayed who was also killed in the crash, as well as the drive of the vehicle. The vehicle hit a wall after the driver lost control when trying to evade the paparazzi hat was following them. After the crash it was determined that the driver, Henri Paul, was at fault when drugs and alcohol were found in blood tests taken afterwards. -
President Clinton impeached
After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton, the second president in American history to be impeached, vowed to finish his term.