The decade beginning on January 1, 1980, and ending on December 31, 1989, was known as the 1980s. In English-speaking nations, this decade is commonly referred to as the “greed decade.” For the first time since the ’60s and ’70s, “young urban professionals” – young people who live in cities and acquire decent professions – were referred to as “yuppies” instead. During this time, conservative governments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada rose to power, with Ronald Reagan as president, Margaret Thatcher as prime minister, and Brian Mulroney as prime minister.
A war that seemed interminable in Afghanistan, civil conflict in Ethiopia, and the demise of Communism in Eastern Europe all occurred in this decade as well. Punk music, funk, and “big hair” were all popular fashion trends throughout the “eighties.” When rap music initially became popular in the 1980s, it was commonly paired with breakdancing.
These were also the years when computers made significant advancements, and video games became increasingly popular. In the world of sports, the FIFA World Cup was won by Italy and Argentina, respectively. Among the teams that made it to the World Series were the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers.
This year’s Super Bowl winners included the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Raiders, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants. Los Angeles Lakers dominated NBA play, with only the Houston Rockets earning a title. We also witnessed the demise of communism and the end of the Cold War in the 1980s.
Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the United States ushered in a new era of conservatism in politics and culture in the 1980s. In addition, what were some of the most notable events of the 1980s? As the Berlin Wall fell, new computer technologies appeared, and blockbuster movies and MTV changed pop culture, conservative politics and Reaganomics gained power in the 1980s.
It was by the time Jimmy Carter stepped down as president that the lofty hopes of the 1960s had begun to fade. The actions of President Ronald Reagan sparked a new conservatism in social, economic, and political life in the United States throughout the 1980s.
