Timeline by Alaira McKinley

Ronald Reagan's election 1980

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 18:42:22 UTC

Ronald Reagan's election was the most significant news story of 1980. But the hostages in Iran had the greatest "headline impact" during the year.

In 1981, notable event included

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 18:55:42 UTC

President Reagan was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. outside a Washington, D.C. hotel.

1982

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 18:59:02 UTC

Today, the USPP family remembers the tragic events of the Air Florida Flight 90 crash that occurred on January 13, 1982

1983

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:00:30 UTC

the Soviet Union downing a Korean Airlines flight, the US invasion of Grenada, and the first US woman in space.

1984

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:03:17 UTC

Chuck Hull invented the 3D printer.

1985

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:05:21 UTC

A dormant volcano erupted in Colombia, engulfing the town of Armero and killing more than 20,000 people.

1986

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:08:13 UTC

On January 28, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch, killing all seven crew members.

1987

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:09:08 UTC

The US Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring creation science to be taught in public schools whenever evolution is taught was unconstitutional.

1988

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:11:18 UTC

The Piper Alpha oil platform exploded and collapsed in the North Sea, killing 165 workers.

1989

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:12:38 UTC

On November 9th, the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War division, was opened, allowing free movement between East and West Germany.

1990

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:13:45 UTC

August 10 - The Magellan spacecraft began mapping the surface of Venus using radar equipment.
August 24 - The Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the Hubble Space Telescope.

1991

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:14:59 UTC

The Persian Gulf War, which began in 1990, concluded in February 1991 with a UN-led coalition victory, forcing Iraqi forces to withdraw from Kuwait.

1992

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:15:51 UTC

Hurricane Andrew caused widespread devastation in South Florida.

1993

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:18:35 UTC

February 26 – 1993 World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a van bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing six and injuring over 1,000.

1994

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:20:01 UTC

The Seohae ferry capsized and sank in South Korea, resulting in the deaths of many people

1995

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:20:11 UTC

On April 19th, a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more.

1996

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:23:08 UTC

The first flip mobile phone went on sale, with over 60 million units sold.

1997

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:24:38 UTC

the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Heaven's Gate cult's mass suicide, and the first balanced US federal budget since 1969.

1998

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:25:54 UTC

On August 7, 1998, truck bombs exploded at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing more than 200 people and wounding over 4,000. The attacks were later linked to the terrorist group al-Qaeda.

1999

alairamckinley — 2025-03-18 19:26:54 UTC

the introduction of the Euro currency, the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, the Columbine High School massacre, and the start of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

2000

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:35:12 UTC

Hillary Clinton became the first First Lady to win public office, being elected to the United States Senate.

2001

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:36:35 UTC

On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the fourth into a field in Pennsylvania.

2002

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:39:34 UTC

President Bush and President Vladimir Putin of Russia sign an agreement to reduce each country's nuclear arsenal to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads

2003

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:42:53 UTC

The United States, along with a coalition of allies, invaded Iraq in March, leading to the ousting of Saddam Hussein and the start of the Iraq War, a conflict that would last for years.

2004

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:45:26 UTC

A massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered a devastating tsunami that killed over 227,000 people across several countries.

2005

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:46:34 UTC

Hurricane Katrina: This powerful hurricane caused widespread devastation along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with New Orleans suffering catastrophic flooding due to breached levees.
Hurricane Rita: Another major hurricane that impacted the Gulf Coast region in September.

2006

alairamckinley — 2025-03-19 18:49:16 UTC

Operation Summer Rains: An Israeli helicopter gunship attacked the office of the Prime Minister of Palestine Ismail Haniyeh.