1980’sThe 198o’s was a period of world-wide economic ups and downs. In America it was considered a relatively peaceful time with periods of prosperity.

Major Events of the 1980’sEvents that shaped the current culture of America

Major Events of the 1980’s

• The Iran Hostage Crisis*• Reagan elected• AIDS*• The Iran-Contra Scandal •Video Games, Personal Computers*• Chernobyl Accident in Russia• Fall of the Berlin Wall*

Iranian Hostage(人质 ) Crisis•The Iran hostage crisis

was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States. 52 US citizens were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamists took over the Embassy of the United States in support of the Iranian Revolution.

Iranian Hostage Crisis•After 444 days, the 2 countries made an

agreement and the hostages were released.

• In the agreement, the US agreed not to intervene politically or militarily in Iranian internal affairs

•Iran agreed to pay all debts to the US.

Ronald Reagan was president from 1981-1989. He is famous

for his support of a supply-side economics, which later was called “Reaganomics.”

This economic system promotes the production of

goods.

1980’s Economics• 1980’s saw the movement of industry to

developing nations.• Many developing nations accepted loans

from international banks (IMF, World Bank) because of an international debt crisis.

• In America, increased Laissez-faire economics.

AIDS•AIDS was first officially reported June 5,

1981 in five homosexual men in Los Angeles.

The Fall of the Berlin WallRegarding American culture, the fall of the Berlin Wall is perhaps the most significant event of the 1980’s, as it marked the end of the Cold War.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall• East Germans had several peaceful protests

about the East German political leadership.

•Many neighboring countries allowed East German refugees to enter their countries.

• Finally East Germany opened its borders• November 9, 1989 is the day the Berlin Wall

fell

The Ending of the Cold War• Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms:

▫Perestroika (restructuring) brought private business into Russia

▫Glasnost (openness) gave media more freedom and made government more open

• Failed coup d'état▫There was an attempt to overthrow Gorbachev

by some who were unhappy with his liberal changes. The citizens protested coup.

•End of the Soviet Union

The Cold War EndsDecember 25, 1991: US President George H. W. Bush, delivers a Christmas Day speech officially acknowledging the end of the Cold War

1990’s

Major Events of the 1990s• Internet, Silicon Valley• Gulf War• Oklahoma City Bombing*• 1992 Los Angeles Riots*• Dolly the Sheep (cloning)*• Human Genome Project• Columbine High School Shooting*

Bill Clinton became President at the end of the Cold War. Americans generally view this time as relatively peaceful and prosperous.

1992 Los Angeles Riots video footage showed LA police officers beating Rodney King with their batons while other officers stood by watching, without any action to stop the brutal beating. A portion of this footage was aired by news agencies around the world, causing public outrage

1992 Los Angeles Riots• A court found the Policemen guilty of

using “excessive force,” but then a second trial acquitted ( 宣告无罪 ) the police officers. After this, many of the people in LA began to riot.

•Continuing problems of racism.

LA Riots

• Businesses and homes looted• Thousands of people injured, more than 50

killed. • Thousands of fires• Thousands of buildings destroyed.

Cloning, Dolly the Sheep

Oklahoma City Bombing•The Oklahoma City bombing was a bomb

attack on a downtown Oklahoma City building on April 19, 1995.

•Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols built the bombs. It was the most destructive act of terrorism in America until the September 11, 2001 attacks.

•The Oklahoma blast killed 168, including 19 children under the age of 6, and injured more than 680 people

The Columbine High School ShootingsTuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School 2 young students came to school with guns.

The Columbine shooting•Two senior students, Eric Harris and

Dylan Klebold, went to their high school and killed 12 students and one teacher, injuring 21 other students. After the shootings they killed themselves.

•Columbine High School•Littleton, Colorado

The Columbine Shootings•Many people wanted to know what was to

blame for the school violence? •Some blamed violent movies, music, and

video games.•Some worried about goth culture, social

outcasts, and America’s gun culture

• The shooting also resulted in an increased emphasis on school security.

The Columbine Shootings•Eric Harris and Dylan

Klebold also built many bombs, but none of them successfully exploded.

•The boys had planned the attack for over a year and had hoped to kill the whole school, including friends.

Bowling for Columbine

In the movie Bowling for Columbine, the director Michael Moore explores different factors that contribute to such violence. He examines different aspects of culture, politics and history (focusing on America) that shape the psychological problems that lead to acts of violence like Columbine, Oklahoma City, 9-11 etc.