The 1980s ( pronounced "nineteen-eighties", commonly shortened as the "80s" ] was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on January 1, 1980, and ended on December 31, 1989. The decade saw great socioeconomic change due to advances in technology and a worldwide move away from planned economies and towards laisse-faire capitalism. Many economists at the very least agree that the changing global economic trends of the 1980s can be somewhat attributed to the "Reagan Boom", which, in the 1980s was a record setting era that produced more jobs and more economic expansion than any other time in U.S. history.
Video games and personal computers experienced explosive growth. MTV was launched and music videos began to have a larger effect on the record industry. The space shuttle program was progressing smoothly, until the tragic loss of the Challenger (STS-51-L) on January 28, 1986, taking with it seven astronauts, including Christa McAuliffe, who was to have been the first teacher in space.
News
Headlines
1980
President Halts Grain To Russia Following Afghanistan Invasion
Carter Severs Diplomatic Ties To Iran. Khomeini Militants Hold Hostages
US Olympic Committee Votes To Boycott Moscow Summer Games
125,000 Cuban Refugees Released By Castro Arrive In Miami
US Rescue Mission To Iran Fails, 8 Die As Two Aircraft Collide
Washington Volcano Mount Saint Helen Erupts , 22 Die
Iraq Invades Iran
John Lennon Is Shot To Death In New York
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In The News
1980
Andrei Sakhorov Is Exiled to Gorky
Operation "Abscam" indicts 30 officials
Yugoslav leader Marshall Tito, 87 dies
Workers seize shipyards in Gdansk, Polish court recognizes Solidarity as umbrella union
Reagan defeats Charter 43 million to 35 Million
Gold hits 880 dollars per ounce
Inflation rate hits 13.5%, Prime rate hits 21%
Gang of four including Mao's wife go on trial in Beijing
400 cases of "Toxic Shock Syndrome" caused by certain kinds of Tampons
Trial of Elvis Presley's physician reveals Elvis took 10,000 pills in the 20 months prior to his death
Fads, Rubik's Cube, Sony Walkman, Yoda
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Economy
Prices
1980
Cost of a new home: $76,400.00
Cost of a new car: $
Median Household Income: $17,710.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.15
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.25
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.91
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $2.16
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1980
President: James Earl Carter, Jr.
Vice President: Walter F. Mondale
Population: 227,224,681
Life expectancy: 73.7 years
Dow-Jones
High: 1000
Low: 759
Federal spending: $590.95 billion
Federal debt: $909.1 billion
Inflation: 13.5%
Consumer Price Index: 82.4
Unemployment: 5.8%
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80's Sports
Magic Johnson
Florence Griffith-Joyner (Flo Jo)
Sugar Ray Leonard
Football
1980
Superbowl XV : Oakland 27 - PHILADELPHIA 10
Pro MVP: Brian Sipe, Cleveland, QB & Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia, QB
College Football: Georgia
Heisman Trophy: George Rogers, South Carolina, RB
Rose Bowl: Michigan 23, Washington 6
Orange Bowl: Oklahoma 18, Florida St. 17
Cotton Bowl: Alabama 30, Baylor 2
Sugar Bowl: Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10
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Basketball
1980
NBA Championship
Winner: LA Lakers 4-2 (WLWLWW) - Coach: Paul Westhead
Opposing Team: PHILA. 76ERS - Coach: Billy Cunningham
NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LA, C Ave Score: 24.8
NCAA National Champions: Louisville 33-3 - Coach: Denny Crum
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Baseball
1980
World Series
Winner: PHILA. PHILLIES 4-2 (WWLLWW) - Coach: Dallas Green
Opposing Team: Kansas City - Coach: Jim Frey
National League
MVP: Mike Schmidt, Phi - 3B
Rookie of the Year: Steve Howe, LA - P
American League
MVP: George Brett, KC - 3B
Rookie of the Year: Joe Charboneau, Cle - OF-DH
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Video
Sweetness - Walter Payton
Hagler/Hearns - Best First Round Ever!
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