Hi,
Thanks for the question. It was a nostalgic look for me to relive some
of the events of those years, which saw major changes in the world
politics. Probably the most significant political events during that
time were the Gulf War and the Iran-Contra scandal, along with the
legacy of the Reagan presidency that continues to have its effects.
Socially, perhaps the biggest development was the increasing awareness
of AIDS; technology also was having its impact in various areas, such
as the use of CDs and desktop publishing. The winning of the Gulf War
also had an effect on the American self-image.
Here is a list of major events and developments:
Jan. 20, 1985 -- Ronald Reagan begins second term of office.
December 1985 -- Congress passes bill to balance U.S. budget.
1985 -- Rock Hudson dies of AIDS, the first major entertainment figure
to do so.
1985 -- Madonna launches her first road show.
1985 -- Major bands perform major benefit shows to benefit hunger
victims.
1985 -- Desktop publishing becomes much more common, thanks to
technological advances and lower prices.
1985 -- First major report of ozone hole.
1985 -- Coca-Cola unsuccessfully changes its flavor.
Jan. 14, 1986 -- Supreme Court bans racial bias in jury selection.
Jan. 28, 1986 -- Space shuttle explodes, killing astronauts.
Early 1986 -- U.S. steps up anti-terrorism actions against Libya.
April 16, 1986 -- Chernobyl accident increases awareness of U.S.
nuclear issues.
June 27, 1986 -- World Court rules against U.S. in case of Nicaragua.
Aug. 29, 1986 -- Three major Lutheran denominations merge.
Sept. 18, 1986 -- William Rehnquist approved by Senate to be U.S.
Supreme Court chief justice.
Late 1986 -- Iran-Contra scandal deepens with various revelations.
1986 -- Fox TV network created.
1986 -- Oprah Winfrey starts national TV show.
1986 -- American Academic Encyclopedia becomes first major reference
work published on CD-ROM.
May 4, 1987 -- Supreme Court rules Rotary Clubs must admit women.
May 1987 -- Iraqi missiles kill U.S. soldiers; President Hussein
apologizes.
1987 -- More Iran-Contra events, including nationally televised
testimony of Oliver North. President Reagan says he accepts
responsibility for the scandal.
October 1987 -- Senate rejects Robert Bork for Supreme Court.
1987 -- "World music" has its debut.
1987 -- Prozac makes its debut.
1987 -- AZT (AIDS medicine) makes its debut.
Jan. 2, 1988 -- U.S. and Canada reach agreement on NAFTA.
July 3, 1988 -- U.S. forces shoot down Iranian jetliner.
November 1988 -- Bush and Quayle handily defeat Dukakis and Bentsen in
presidential election. Republicans have major victories.
Dec. 21, 1988 -- Terrorism becomes more on the minds of Americans
after explosion of 747 over Lockerbie.
1988 -- For the first time, more CDs than vinyl records are sold.
1988 -- Ted Turner launches TNT network and buys MGM film library.
1988 -- Abortion debate steps up with approval in other countries of
RU-486.
Jan. 4, 1989 -- U.S. shoots down Libyan planes.
Jan. 20, 1989 -- George H.W. Bush becomes president.
March 24, 1989 -- Exxon Valdez spills oil in Alaska.
May 4, 1989 -- Oliver North is convicted in Iran-Contra case (the
conviction is later overturned).
April - June, 1989 -- U.S. watches as events as democracy advocates
rally in China and get killed in Tienanmen Square.
Aug. 9, 1989 -- Colin Powell heads Joint Chiefs of Staff.
November 1989 -- U.S. proclaims a victory of sorts as Berlin Wall
falls.
December 1989 -- U.S. invades Panama to get Manuel Noriega (he
surrenders Jan. 3, 1990)
1989 -- Lucille Ball dies.
1989 -- Europeans develop first World Wide Web server.
1990 -- Soviet Union collapses as U.S. wins the Cold War.
Feb. 11, 1990 -- Anti-apartheid efforts pay off as Nelson Mandela is
freed.
April 1990 -- Hubble space telescope launched.
June 1, 1990 -- U.S.and Russia reach arms agreement.
June 11, 1990 -- Supreme Court rejects ban on flag burning.
1990 -- Gulf War.
November 1990 -- Republicans stumble in elections.
1990 -- Simpsons and Seinfeld TV shows debut.
1990 -- President Bush signs Clean Air Act.
I hope this has given you the information you needed.
Best wishes,
mvguy
Search strategy:
I gleaned these events from the following two sources.
Infoplease Year by Year, 1900-2001
http://www.infoplease.com/millennium1.html
1000-2000 World History
http://www.factmonster.com/main/1000to2000.html |
