What issues were affecting the United States in 1980?

Question

What issues were affecting the United States in 1980? Please, I really need help!

Answer 1

The Cold War with the Soviet Union and the War on Drugs were big issues in the 1980's.

Answer 2

The main things I remember were that we still had hostages in Iran and that Ronald Reagan was elected president. They were released as soon as he took office in Jan 81. Until he came into office it seemed like we were still suffering from the effects of Veitnam and Watergate. I remember that he was described once as a "cheerleader President" because he was always trying to boost our morale. I also remember 1980 being a big year for people moving from the "rust belt" to the South. A lot of factories closed in the midwest and northern states. Micheal Moore's first movie was about the GM plant in Flint, Michigan closing. I lived in a small town in East Texas and remember seeing cars piled with belongings in a steady stream as people moved to Houston. And, heard of the book "1984"? People were getting afraid the year 1984 because some thought the world would end, or that the stuff in the book about "Big Brother" would come true. Some people were afraid of computers taking over as well. Wasn't as bad as the Y2K mania, though. Good luck!

Answer 3

Look up the Cold War. In the 80's, we were all afraid that we would be nuked at any second. The Cold War started much earlier, but in the 80's we were all really afraid that it was going to come to an end with the end of the world. And, unlike in the 50's, we knew their is no way to protect yourself from a nuclear blast; hiding under your desk does not work.

Answer 4

The Mariel Boat Lift from Cuba to US
The Iran Hostage Crisis
Inflation
20% Prime Rate
Energy Crisis
Unemployment

Answer 5

Unemployment was running high, we were in the midst of a recession, interest rates to borrow money was nearing record highs, American made products were not being exported, but we were being flooded by import products...mainly Japanese cars.

President Reagan slapped a $2,000 tariff on all imported cars. This persuaded many people to buy American made cars at competitive prices. The only way for import car manufacturers to get around this high tariff was to build factories in the US, hence Honda, Toyota, Isuzu, Mazda, etc built factories here and employed American workers. Now much of the money was staying right here in the US via income and taxes.

Answer 6

52 were held hostage in the Iranian embassy in Tehran (led to the fall of President Carter). Reagan became President and formed close links with UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. 125,000 Cubans fled to Florida. Mount St Helens erupted in Washington and in-line skates were invented.

hope this helps!