The Eighties (1980-1989) * In the 1980’s an economic boom, aided in part by Reaganomics, lead to a generation of materialism. This era saw the fall of communism, America’s rising position as the world police, and the increasing popularity of big hair, day glow fabrics, and MC Hammer.*

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1980 • Mount St. Helens erupts, killing 60 people • U.S. Hockey team beat Russia for the Gold                    Medal • 1980-1984 – Ronald W. Reagan elected

1981 • 52 captives of Iran released • March 30 -- Assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan by John                Hinkley

1982 • Recession hits the U.S. economy

1983 • Reagan announces SDI plan (star wars) • U.S. Invasion of Grenada

1984 • 1984-1988 – Ronald W. Reagan re-elected

1985 • Gorbachev comes into power in the Soviet Union • First Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting in            Geneva

1986 • January 28 -- Challenger explodes - 7 deaths • Iran-Contra scandal revealed • Second                      Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting, in Reykjavik, Iceland

1987 • New York stock exchange suffers huge drop on Black Monday • Third Reagan-Gorbachev                   summit meeting in Washington D.C.

1988 • Fourth Reagan-Gorbachev summit meeting in Moscow • 1988-1992 – George Bush elected 1989 • November 9th, the fall of the Berlin Wall • Pete Rose is banned from baseball for betting on               games.