big hair big money big foreign policy change big groundbreaking technology the
change big groundbreaking technology the
change big groundbreaking technology the 80s saw America become a greater
80s saw America become a greater
80s saw America become a greater superpower with all the spoils that go
superpower with all the spoils that go
superpower with all the spoils that go with it
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 defining moments of 1980s America we
defining moments of 1980s America we
defining moments of 1980s America we must act today in order to preserve
must act today in order to preserve
must act today in order to preserve tomorrow for this list he chosen moments
tomorrow for this list he chosen moments
tomorrow for this list he chosen moments that we felt best represent this
that we felt best represent this
that we felt best represent this essential decade in American history
essential decade in American history
essential decade in American history yeah Pedro
yeah Pedro
yeah Pedro yeah Pedro number 10 the rise of yuppie
yeah Pedro number 10 the rise of yuppie
yeah Pedro number 10 the rise of yuppie culture eggshell with ROM ahlian type
culture eggshell with ROM ahlian type
culture eggshell with ROM ahlian type what do you think as the upper class
what do you think as the upper class
what do you think as the upper class thrived under President Reagan’s
thrived under President Reagan’s
thrived under President Reagan’s economics the world began to take notice
economics the world began to take notice
economics the world began to take notice of yuppies young well-educated
of yuppies young well-educated
of yuppies young well-educated professionals with a penchant to spend
professionals with a penchant to spend
professionals with a penchant to spend and an obsession with image I always use
and an obsession with image I always use
and an obsession with image I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no
an aftershave lotion with little or no
an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol because alcohol dries your face
alcohol because alcohol dries your face
alcohol because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older inspired by
out and makes you look older inspired by
out and makes you look older inspired by moguls like Donald Trump yuppies bought
moguls like Donald Trump yuppies bought
moguls like Donald Trump yuppies bought only the finest brands drove imported
only the finest brands drove imported
only the finest brands drove imported automobiles worked out endlessly and
automobiles worked out endlessly and
automobiles worked out endlessly and invested in copious amounts of cocaine
invested in copious amounts of cocaine
invested in copious amounts of cocaine at least according to the stereotype
at least according to the stereotype
at least according to the stereotype they don’t have a good bathroom to do
they don’t have a good bathroom to do
they don’t have a good bathroom to do cocaine the 1987 Wall Street Crash
cocaine the 1987 Wall Street Crash
cocaine the 1987 Wall Street Crash killed the romanticism of the yuppie but
killed the romanticism of the yuppie but
killed the romanticism of the yuppie but their stylistic influence lived on yeah
their stylistic influence lived on yeah
their stylistic influence lived on yeah yeah yeah yep yep yep yep yep
yeah yeah yep yep yep yep yep
yeah yeah yep yep yep yep yep yuppie drones
yuppie drones
yuppie drones I want my MTV I want my MTV number-9
I want my MTV I want my MTV number-9
I want my MTV I want my MTV number-9 cable goes mainstream on MTV music
cable goes mainstream on MTV music
cable goes mainstream on MTV music television you’ll never look at music
television you’ll never look at music
television you’ll never look at music the same way again early in the decade
the same way again early in the decade
the same way again early in the decade cable television services became an
cable television services became an
cable television services became an affordable option for many Americans a
affordable option for many Americans a
affordable option for many Americans a number of specialty channels premiered
number of specialty channels premiered
number of specialty channels premiered that vastly affected the country this is
that vastly affected the country this is
that vastly affected the country this is it welcome to MTV music television the
it welcome to MTV music television the
it welcome to MTV music television the world’s first 24-hour stereo video music
world’s first 24-hour stereo video music
world’s first 24-hour stereo video music channel MTV not only helped unknown
channel MTV not only helped unknown
channel MTV not only helped unknown artists hit the big time it also
artists hit the big time it also
artists hit the big time it also impacted popular fashion and traditional
impacted popular fashion and traditional
impacted popular fashion and traditional editing styles ESPN led sports towards
editing styles ESPN led sports towards
editing styles ESPN led sports towards years of even greater financial success
years of even greater financial success
years of even greater financial success while CNN kept people in tune with
while CNN kept people in tune with
while CNN kept people in tune with breaking news
breaking news
breaking news the average way of life was forever
the average way of life was forever
the average way of life was forever altered you can depend on us being here
altered you can depend on us being here
altered you can depend on us being here all the time and please pass the word
all the time and please pass the word
all the time and please pass the word number 8 the spread of hiv/aids which
number 8 the spread of hiv/aids which
number 8 the spread of hiv/aids which shows that the lifestyle of some male
shows that the lifestyle of some male
shows that the lifestyle of some male homosexuals has triggered an epidemic of
homosexuals has triggered an epidemic of
homosexuals has triggered an epidemic of a rare form of cancer the HIV AIDS virus
a rare form of cancer the HIV AIDS virus
a rare form of cancer the HIV AIDS virus gained official recognition in 1981
gained official recognition in 1981
gained official recognition in 1981 kicking off a tumultuous time of death
kicking off a tumultuous time of death
kicking off a tumultuous time of death fear and Prejudice and when they started
fear and Prejudice and when they started
fear and Prejudice and when they started running did you know that they were
running did you know that they were
running did you know that they were running from you or because of you yes
running from you or because of you yes
running from you or because of you yes the disease’s early prominence in gay
the disease’s early prominence in gay
the disease’s early prominence in gay male society led to further issues with
male society led to further issues with
male society led to further issues with homophobia without efficient
homophobia without efficient
homophobia without efficient investigation hiv/aids rapidly spread
investigation hiv/aids rapidly spread
investigation hiv/aids rapidly spread throughout the country’s population via
throughout the country’s population via
throughout the country’s population via drug use blood transfusions and
drug use blood transfusions and
drug use blood transfusions and intercourse cases like Ryan White’s
intercourse cases like Ryan White’s
intercourse cases like Ryan White’s raised awareness leading to slow but
raised awareness leading to slow but
raised awareness leading to slow but steady treatment regardless AIDS had
steady treatment regardless AIDS had
steady treatment regardless AIDS had already claimed its largest victim the
already claimed its largest victim the
already claimed its largest victim the sexual revolution was dead it would be
sexual revolution was dead it would be
sexual revolution was dead it would be years later that the revelation he had
years later that the revelation he had
years later that the revelation he had AIDS also exposed his homosexuality
number seven developments in the space
number seven developments in the space program good role program confirmed
program good role program confirmed
program good role program confirmed challenger now heading downrange the 80s
challenger now heading downrange the 80s
challenger now heading downrange the 80s war a tale of two halves for NASA in
war a tale of two halves for NASA in
war a tale of two halves for NASA in 1981 space shuttle Columbia launched
1981 space shuttle Columbia launched
1981 space shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center the flight
from the Kennedy Space Center the flight
from the Kennedy Space Center the flight served as a successful test for NASA’s
served as a successful test for NASA’s
served as a successful test for NASA’s Space Shuttle program allowing for many
Space Shuttle program allowing for many
Space Shuttle program allowing for many complex space missions however things
complex space missions however things
complex space missions however things came to a halt when the Challenger
came to a halt when the Challenger
came to a halt when the Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff in 1986
the most tragic incident ever performing
the most tragic incident ever performing space program at least at this point it
space program at least at this point it
space program at least at this point it seemed that way
seemed that way
seemed that way studies showed significant concerns with
studies showed significant concerns with
studies showed significant concerns with proper safety precautions and the space
proper safety precautions and the space
proper safety precautions and the space shuttle program was temporarily grounded
shuttle program was temporarily grounded
shuttle program was temporarily grounded number six the war on drugs and if
number six the war on drugs and if
number six the war on drugs and if you’ve got to die for something this
you’ve got to die for something this
you’ve got to die for something this sure is elated America faced a dangerous
sure is elated America faced a dangerous
sure is elated America faced a dangerous import as crack made its arrival on city
import as crack made its arrival on city
import as crack made its arrival on city streets and created media hysteria Steve
streets and created media hysteria Steve
streets and created media hysteria Steve Young reports on a new kind of cocaine
Young reports on a new kind of cocaine
Young reports on a new kind of cocaine called crack a more dangerous form of
called crack a more dangerous form of
called crack a more dangerous form of cocaine crack and other illegal
cocaine crack and other illegal
cocaine crack and other illegal substances led President Reagan to
substances led President Reagan to
substances led President Reagan to escalate the war on drugs and when it
escalate the war on drugs and when it
escalate the war on drugs and when it comes to drugs and alcohol
comes to drugs and alcohol
comes to drugs and alcohol just say no laws like the anti-drug
just say no laws like the anti-drug
just say no laws like the anti-drug Abuse Act of 1986 sought to solve the
Abuse Act of 1986 sought to solve the
Abuse Act of 1986 sought to solve the problem while just saying no increased
problem while just saying no increased
problem while just saying no increased drug education it’s easy all you have to
drug education it’s easy all you have to
drug education it’s easy all you have to do is just say no drug arrests escalated
do is just say no drug arrests escalated
do is just say no drug arrests escalated though some questioned the significance
though some questioned the significance
though some questioned the significance in comparison to other crimes as of
in comparison to other crimes as of
in comparison to other crimes as of tonight no funds have been placed in
tonight no funds have been placed in
tonight no funds have been placed in escrow and the Americans Iranians and
escrow and the Americans Iranians and
escrow and the Americans Iranians and Algerians are still talking number five
Algerians are still talking number five
Algerians are still talking number five tense relations with Iran as he put it I
tense relations with Iran as he put it I
tense relations with Iran as he put it I ran quote managed to rub in the dirt the
ran quote managed to rub in the dirt the
ran quote managed to rub in the dirt the nose of the world’s biggest oppressor
nose of the world’s biggest oppressor
nose of the world’s biggest oppressor and superpower
and superpower
and superpower unquote strained us-iranian relations
unquote strained us-iranian relations
unquote strained us-iranian relations had a massive domestic effect when
had a massive domestic effect when
had a massive domestic effect when Iranian revolutionaries took American
Iranian revolutionaries took American
Iranian revolutionaries took American diplomats hostage in late 1979 it ends
diplomats hostage in late 1979 it ends
diplomats hostage in late 1979 it ends with the hostages still in captivity and
with the hostages still in captivity and
with the hostages still in captivity and a world uncertain as to just what is
a world uncertain as to just what is
a world uncertain as to just what is holding up their freedom for at least
holding up their freedom for at least
holding up their freedom for at least another a ghen
another a ghen
another a ghen some day President Jimmy Carter’s
some day President Jimmy Carter’s
some day President Jimmy Carter’s inability to negotiate a release cost
inability to negotiate a release cost
inability to negotiate a release cost him reelection trouble arose later with
him reelection trouble arose later with
him reelection trouble arose later with the iran-contra affair I’ve said on
the iran-contra affair I’ve said on
the iran-contra affair I’ve said on several occasions that I wouldn’t
several occasions that I wouldn’t
several occasions that I wouldn’t comment about the recent congressional
comment about the recent congressional
comment about the recent congressional hearings on the iran-contra matter
hearings on the iran-contra matter
hearings on the iran-contra matter evidence showed that American officials
evidence showed that American officials
evidence showed that American officials had sold Iran weapons the u.s. then used
had sold Iran weapons the u.s. then used
had sold Iran weapons the u.s. then used the proceeds to aid contra fighters in
the proceeds to aid contra fighters in
the proceeds to aid contra fighters in Nicaragua which was previously forbidden
Nicaragua which was previously forbidden
Nicaragua which was previously forbidden by Congress and all the while ways had
by Congress and all the while ways had
by Congress and all the while ways had to be found to contain the us-backed
to be found to contain the us-backed
to be found to contain the us-backed contra invasion Reagan was never proven
contra invasion Reagan was never proven
contra invasion Reagan was never proven to know about the sales but the
to know about the sales but the
to know about the sales but the controversy damaged his reputation once
controversy damaged his reputation once
controversy damaged his reputation once I realized I hadn’t been fully informed
I realized I hadn’t been fully informed
I realized I hadn’t been fully informed I sought to find the answers some of the
I sought to find the answers some of the
I sought to find the answers some of the answers I don’t like number 4 1981 tax
answers I don’t like number 4 1981 tax
answers I don’t like number 4 1981 tax cut and Reaganomics I have come to speak
cut and Reaganomics I have come to speak
cut and Reaganomics I have come to speak to you tonight about our economic
to you tonight about our economic
to you tonight about our economic recovery program and why I believe it’s
recovery program and why I believe it’s
recovery program and why I believe it’s essential that Congress approve this
essential that Congress approve this
essential that Congress approve this package when Ronald Reagan ran for the
package when Ronald Reagan ran for the
package when Ronald Reagan ran for the presidency he advocated reduced
presidency he advocated reduced
presidency he advocated reduced government spending and Taxation he
government spending and Taxation he
government spending and Taxation he stuck to his guns with a 1981 tax cut on
stuck to his guns with a 1981 tax cut on
stuck to his guns with a 1981 tax cut on the upper class hoping that their
the upper class hoping that their
the upper class hoping that their increased finances would trickle down to
increased finances would trickle down to
increased finances would trickle down to lower income citizens those who do work
lower income citizens those who do work
lower income citizens those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor
are denied a fair return for their labor
are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes
by a tax system which penalizes
by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from
successful achievement and keeps us from
successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity the cuts
maintaining full productivity the cuts
maintaining full productivity the cuts set off a large recession but the
set off a large recession but the
set off a large recession but the economy grew strong and weathered a
economy grew strong and weathered a
economy grew strong and weathered a stock market crash however Reagan
stock market crash however Reagan
stock market crash however Reagan actually increased military spending and
actually increased military spending and
actually increased military spending and left a massive troubling budget deficit
left a massive troubling budget deficit
left a massive troubling budget deficit that message was very simple our
that message was very simple our
that message was very simple our government is too big and it spends too
government is too big and it spends too
government is too big and it spends too much
system number three electronic
system number three electronic innovations the personal system to will
innovations the personal system to will
innovations the personal system to will this be a major event in personal
this be a major event in personal
this be a major event in personal computing history or just another new
computing history or just another new
computing history or just another new product introduction the 80s proved a
product introduction the 80s proved a
product introduction the 80s proved a prominent decade for electronics
prominent decade for electronics
prominent decade for electronics development the video game market had
development the video game market had
development the video game market had been left in tatters following a 1983
been left in tatters following a 1983
been left in tatters following a 1983 crash but in 1985 Nintendo introduced
crash but in 1985 Nintendo introduced
crash but in 1985 Nintendo introduced the NES to North America and erased any
the NES to North America and erased any
the NES to North America and erased any memory of it
the consoles quality design and
the consoles quality design and impressive library revitalized video
impressive library revitalized video
impressive library revitalized video gaming in the computer world IBM
gaming in the computer world IBM
gaming in the computer world IBM introduced their first PC in 1981
introduced their first PC in 1981
introduced their first PC in 1981 competitors were blown away and its
competitors were blown away and its
competitors were blown away and its engineering became standard paving the
engineering became standard paving the
engineering became standard paving the way for the dominance of PCs and while
way for the dominance of PCs and while
way for the dominance of PCs and while the rest of the clone makers have been
the rest of the clone makers have been
the rest of the clone makers have been struggling and agonizing over how to
struggling and agonizing over how to
struggling and agonizing over how to move to 32 bits IBM now has done it and
move to 32 bits IBM now has done it and
move to 32 bits IBM now has done it and I think the other people that make
I think the other people that make
I think the other people that make machines in the desktop area are going
machines in the desktop area are going
machines in the desktop area are going to have to follow that number two
to have to follow that number two
to have to follow that number two pollution persists this is by far the
pollution persists this is by far the
pollution persists this is by far the largest oil spill ever recorded in US
largest oil spill ever recorded in US
largest oil spill ever recorded in US waters and get apparently there are
waters and get apparently there are
waters and get apparently there are still more than 40 million gallons of
still more than 40 million gallons of
still more than 40 million gallons of crude oil remaining on the tanker
crude oil remaining on the tanker
crude oil remaining on the tanker despite the environmental movement major
despite the environmental movement major
despite the environmental movement major ecological problems still existed in
ecological problems still existed in
ecological problems still existed in 1989 the Exxon Valdez struck an Alaskan
1989 the Exxon Valdez struck an Alaskan
1989 the Exxon Valdez struck an Alaskan reef and dropped gallons of oil ravaging
reef and dropped gallons of oil ravaging
reef and dropped gallons of oil ravaging wildlife and still we’re having problems
wildlife and still we’re having problems
wildlife and still we’re having problems with birds and we’re having problems
with birds and we’re having problems
with birds and we’re having problems with otters and so if you look at all
with otters and so if you look at all
with otters and so if you look at all these different pieces
these different pieces
these different pieces suddenly the puzzle starts coming into
suddenly the puzzle starts coming into
suddenly the puzzle starts coming into focus and it looks very much like we’re
focus and it looks very much like we’re
focus and it looks very much like we’re having long-term damage Exxon was using
having long-term damage Exxon was using
having long-term damage Exxon was using outdated equipment but ensuing
outdated equipment but ensuing
outdated equipment but ensuing regulations provided hope of avoiding
regulations provided hope of avoiding
regulations provided hope of avoiding future incidents meanwhile the Chernobyl
future incidents meanwhile the Chernobyl
future incidents meanwhile the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident released
nuclear power plant accident released
nuclear power plant accident released radiation across Europe gaming in the
radiation across Europe gaming in the
radiation across Europe gaming in the news today there was an accident at a
news today there was an accident at a
news today there was an accident at a Soviet nuclear plant causing some
Soviet nuclear plant causing some
Soviet nuclear plant causing some casualties the resulting concern was
casualties the resulting concern was
casualties the resulting concern was helpful in encouraging the USSR to
helpful in encouraging the USSR to
helpful in encouraging the USSR to negotiate with America to bring about
negotiate with America to bring about
negotiate with America to bring about our number-one moment before we unveil
our number-one moment before we unveil
our number-one moment before we unveil our top pick here are some honorable
our top pick here are some honorable
our top pick here are some honorable mentions
if you’ve been anywhere near a
if you’ve been anywhere near a television set or a radio these past few
television set or a radio these past few
television set or a radio these past few hours you already know that John Lennon
hours you already know that John Lennon
hours you already know that John Lennon of the Beatles is dead
of the Beatles is dead
of the Beatles is dead specifically we agreed in Geneva that
specifically we agreed in Geneva that
specifically we agreed in Geneva that each side should move to cut offensive
each side should move to cut offensive
each side should move to cut offensive nuclear arms by 50%
nuclear arms by 50%
nuclear arms by 50% number one the cold war ends concern
number one the cold war ends concern
number one the cold war ends concern shifts to China in China the will of the
shifts to China in China the will of the
shifts to China in China the will of the people has been thwarted by the will of
people has been thwarted by the will of
people has been thwarted by the will of the People’s Government when he entered
the People’s Government when he entered
the People’s Government when he entered office President Reagan carried a
office President Reagan carried a
office President Reagan carried a headstrong resolve to end the Cold War
headstrong resolve to end the Cold War
headstrong resolve to end the Cold War he got his opportunity with the Soviet
he got his opportunity with the Soviet
he got his opportunity with the Soviet economy stalling Mikhail Gorbachev
economy stalling Mikhail Gorbachev
economy stalling Mikhail Gorbachev welcomed communications with Americans
welcomed communications with Americans
welcomed communications with Americans he signed a number of weapons treaties
he signed a number of weapons treaties
he signed a number of weapons treaties with Reagan including start one you’ve
with Reagan including start one you’ve
with Reagan including start one you’ve got the two leaders of these two
got the two leaders of these two
got the two leaders of these two powerful countries running way beyond
powerful countries running way beyond
powerful countries running way beyond their arms controllers in their defense
their arms controllers in their defense
their arms controllers in their defense ministries in their state departments
ministries in their state departments
ministries in their state departments and saying let’s get rid of nuclear
and saying let’s get rid of nuclear
and saying let’s get rid of nuclear weapons slowly Soviet governments gave
weapons slowly Soviet governments gave
weapons slowly Soviet governments gave way to elections and the Berlin Wall
way to elections and the Berlin Wall
way to elections and the Berlin Wall fell meanwhile over in China student
fell meanwhile over in China student
fell meanwhile over in China student protesters were killed at Tiananmen
protesters were killed at Tiananmen
protesters were killed at Tiananmen Square for protesting the communist
Square for protesting the communist
Square for protesting the communist government a longtime war was over but
government a longtime war was over but
government a longtime war was over but other threats were alive and well do you
other threats were alive and well do you
other threats were alive and well do you agree with our list which events do you
agree with our list which events do you
agree with our list which events do you think defined 1980s America and beyond
think defined 1980s America and beyond
think defined 1980s America and beyond for more informative top 10s published
for more informative top 10s published
for more informative top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to
every day be sure to subscribe to
every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
”
Be First to Comment