Historic Millennial Events
Overview (1980 - 1996)
If America values freedom, stable principles, traditional families, truth, justice, law and order, mercy and grace, and equal rights, it must protect against anything undermining these values. While Christ's message is the answer, the Church must play a significant role in addressing and overcoming these struggles.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5 is what the American Church didn't do, nor did they protest or raise the alarm about what the government was doing. Many Christians couldn't be bothered to even vote in national elections. Consequentially, according to the Barna Group, nearly a quarter of Millennials who were once involved in a church believe that church is no longer interesting to them.
As the first generation to grow up with digital technology, Millennials have witnessed a profound transition from cassette tapes to CDs, VHS to DVDs, and the emergence of smartphones. This technological revolution has significantly shaped their worldview and experiences.
During this time, two presidents served in office: Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Significant events during the Reagan years included enacting a Missile Treaty between the U.S. and the USSR, which improved relations and contributed to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Gulf War came to an end, but veterans filed lawsuits against the government concerning the adverse effects of Agent Orange. These events shaped the political landscape and influenced the church's role in addressing societal issues and engaging with Millennials.
Under Bill Clinton, NAFTA became law, the European Union expanded, and Nintendo was launched, drawing people to spend more time in front of screens. The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion shocked the nation, particularly because it carried Christa McAuliffe, a school teacher, along with seven other astronauts. The first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in 1986. You can learn more details using the Year Selector above.
1980 - Regan Elected
Conservative politics gained prominence when President Ronald Reagan's economic policies, known as "Reaganomics," shaped the nation's financial landscape. The Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War division between East and West, began to crumble in the early 1980s during his Presidency.
There was a rise in personal computers and technological innovations. Companies like Apple and Microsoft played pivotal roles in shaping the digital revolution, so that Google, and others could emerge. The AIDS pandemic emerged during this decade, affecting the United States significantly. The disease disproportionately impacted the gay male community and led to widespread awareness and activism, and sowed the seeds of the LGBTQ movement. Molech and Isthar (also known as Ashtoreth), the female goddess of sex and gender confusion, became worshipped in America. Sixty-six million babies would be laid on Molech's altar as a consequence of American women's "Right to Choose," disproportionately reducing the Black population. It was Eugenics against Black Americans in disguise, embraced by Black Women.
In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed Proclamation 4771, requiring 19 and 20-year-old males to register for a peacetime draft.
1981 - Regan Brings Hostages Home
On January 20, Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th U.S. president, and George H. W. Bush became the 43rd vice president. Minutes later, Iran released the 52 Americans who had been held hostage for 444 days, ending the Iran Hostage Crisis that President Carter had not been able to resolve.
Reagan nominated Judge Sandra Day O'Connor, 51, of Arizona, as the first woman on the US Supreme Court. On March 30, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley Jr. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded. Regan's wounds were non-fatal.
1982 Soviets Steal Classified Documents
A landmark decision by the Supreme Court ruled that states could not constitutionally deny illegal alien students a free public education based on their immigration status. The case originated in 1977 when four immigrant families sued the Tyler, Texas, school district after their children were expelled and required to pay tuition for reentry.
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The CIA discovered that the Soviet Union had been stealing classified government documents. In retaliation, the CIA planted a Trojan horse within the stolen pipeline software, causing a massive explosion in the Trans-Siberian gas pipeline. The blast was so enormous that balls of fire could be seen from space.
A series of cyanide poisonings occurred in the Chicago area, beginning with the death of 12-year-old Mary Ann Kellerman on September 29, 1982. Seven people died in total, all of whom had taken Extra-Strength Tylenol prior to becoming ill. Although the culprit was never apprehended, the tragic event led to widespread recalls and the development of new tamper-proof medicine containers.
The Equal Rights Amendment, which guaranteed equal rights regardless of sex, failed to be ratified by the required number of states. Political, ideological, and social factors contributed to the ERA’s failure to achieve the necessary ratification.
1983 - Space Defense Proposed & Rejected
President Ronald Reagan signed the Strategic Defense Initiative, a program to develop missile defense systems to protect against nuclear attacks. The US deployed the first Pershing Intermediate-range Ballistic Missile in West Germany. The Pershing was developed and deployed in response to the Soviet intermediate missile previously targeted at Western Europe. The Soviets opposed US deployments, and peace groups throughout Europe demonstrated against them. On the day the deployments took place, the Soviets walked out of the disarmament talks taking place in Geneva in protest.
The United States invaded Grenada, a Caribbean island nation, in a controversial military operation. The United States feared Grenada would become another Cuba because Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard were both avowed Marxists.
1984 - Regan Reelected over Mondale
President Ronald Reagan announced in his State of the Union Address that the U.S. would begin developing a permanently crewed space station, inviting international space agencies to collaborate. This concept eventually evolved into the International Space Station.
The United States and the Vatican re-established full diplomatic relations after a long period of separation. Ronald Reagan defeated Walter F. Mondale with 59% of the popular vote, the highest since Richard Nixon's 61% victory in 1972. Reagan carried 49 states in the electoral college; Mondale won only his home state of Minnesota by a mere 3,761 vote margin and the District of Columbia.
In February, U.S. Marines pulled out of Beirut Lebanon, following a devastating bombing that killed 241 American service members in October of 1983. Crack cocaine, a smokable form of the drug, became widely used in the Los Angeles area and soon spread across the United States in what became known as the Crack Epidemic.
1985 - Softening In US - Russia Relations
On January 20, President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush were privately sworn in for their second office term. Regan softened policy towards Russia (Gorbachev) to pave the way for the Berlin Wall to fall in 1989, which would reunite Germany. Reagan also approved arms sales to Iran, as Iran was involved in the Iraq-Iran War. The CIA took a more active role in relations with Islamic countries.
The iconic charity single “We Are the World” was recorded by the US for Africa, featuring high-profile performers like Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, and Diana Ross. The proceeds raised helped combat the ongoing famine in Ethiopia.
On September 22, 1985 the first Farm Aid concert was held in Champaign Illinois. Organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young, the event aimed to raise awareness about the struggles faced by American family farmers. It featured performances by top musicians and raised funds for farm-related causes.
On July 13, 1985, the historic Live Aid benefit Concert took place simultaneously in London and Philadelphia. The event, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, featured iconic performances by artists like Queen, U2, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin. The goal was to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, and it remains one of the most memorable music events of the decade.
1986 - First MLK Day Occurs
The first federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed, honoring the civil rights leader.
The Voyager 2 space probe made its first encounter with Uranus.
On January 28, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch, tragically killing all seven astronauts on board, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.
Jonathan Pollard Espionage Case: Jonathan Pollard pleaded guilty to espionage for selling top-secret U.S. military intelligence to Israel.
Public hearings began regarding the secret arms sales to Iran and the diversion of funds to Contra rebels in Nicaragua, implicating high-ranking U.S. officials.
A series of poisonings occurred due to tampered Excedrin capsules, leading to deaths and injuries.
Events 1987 - U.S. Strengthens Relationship With Israel
President Ronald Reagan took full responsibility for the Iran-Contra affair, addressing the nation and acknowledging the arms-for-hostages deal. Israel was granted major Non-NATO ally of US status in this year, strengthening the ties and weapons sales between the two nations, but did not block anti-Israel resolutions in the United Nations related to the bombing of Lebanon, Iraq and Tunisia. In 1987 there was a Palestinian uprising that raised concerns about U.S. relations with Israel, yet military weapons sales to Israel continued strong.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal the Fairness Doctrine, impacting media regulation. US communications policy (1949–87) formulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required licensed radio and television broadcasters to present fair and balanced coverage of controversial issues of interest to their communities, including granting equal airtime to opposing candidates for public office. This was one of the reasons why media became so biased in views currently.
Unabomber Bombing: A second Unabomber bomb exploded at a computer store in Salt Lake City, injuring the owner. The U.S. military detonated an atomic weapon at the Nevada Test Site.
1988 - Missile Treaty Between USA & Russia
The US Senate ratified the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union in May with a vote of 93-5. Formal talks began in 1981, stalled in 1983, and did not resume until 1985. The treaty was negotiated between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev and eventually signed by the leaders in December 1987. The treaty mandated that the USSR and the United States eliminate all short-range and intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles.
NASA resumed the Space Shuttle program in September 1988 with the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-26 mission. The program had been halted after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster for about two and a half years. The STS-26 mission became known as the “Return to Flight” mission and was an important factor in whether or not and in what capacity the Space Shuttle program would resume.
In March 1988, Oliver North, John Poindexter, Richard Secord, and Albert Hakim were indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States government for their involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. The Iran-Contra Affair was a scandal that involved the illegal sales of arms to Iran in exchange for U.S. hostages being held in Lebanon by Iranian terrorists. The money from the Iranian arms sales was then used to fund and aid the Contras illegally, a Nicaraguan rebel group by the CIA.
1989 - Berlin Wall Falls, Germany Reunifies
Inauguration of George H. W. Bush: On January 20, George Herbert Walker Bush became the 41st U.S. president, marking a new era in American leadership.
United States President George Bush and Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev met on December 2nd and 3rd 1989, to discuss the end of the Cold War. They held their Summit in Malta not long after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Soviet Union was beginning its breakdown at the time of the meeting, signaling an easing of tensions between the two world powers. Bush and Gorbachev declared an end to the Cold War principles and a continued commitment to reducing arms and cooperating.
Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement: This landmark trade agreement came into effect on January 1, fostering economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
On August 9, Army General Colin R. Powell became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, breaking barriers in the military hierarchy. On May 4, Oliver North, a key figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, was convicted by a U.S. jury.
1990 - US Denies Agent Orange was a Chemical Weapon
The 1990s began with relative peace and prosperity. Bill Clinton became the first Baby Boomer president, and the economy experienced growth. The official demolition of the Berlin Wall began in June of 1990. The wall had been built in 1961 by the Communist-run East Germany to prevent defectors from traveling over the border to capitalist-run West Germany.
President George Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed a historic agreement to end the production of chemical weapons. Agent Orange was not considered a chemical weapon by the USA, lest its previous use in Vietnam be considered a war crime.
The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991, and Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991 and came to a close with the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.
1991 - Gulf War Ends and Disabled Vets Sue
The Gulf War, waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force led by the US and the United Kingdom against Iraq, ended in 1991.
The World Wide Web publicly debuted as an Internet service, revolutionizing communication and information sharing. The dissolution of the USSR marked the end of the Cold War, leaving the United States as the sole superpower in the world.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 3,000 for the first time, but economic uncertainties persisted. Professor Anita Hill accused Judge Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during stormy Senate hearings, but Thomas was still confirmed to the US Supreme Court.
The Veterans Administration was sued for permanent disabilities caused by the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam. The case ultimately settled and damages and treatment payments made 31 years later.
1992 - Clinton Elected
Bill Clinton was elected as the 42nd US President, bringing fresh leadership to the nation and sexual compromise to the Oval Office, including affairs with a female White House Intern.
General Manuel Noriega, former leader of Panama, was convicted in US court (April 9) and sentenced to 40 years on drug charges. Four officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, leading to violent riots in Los Angeles. Caspar W. Weinberger was indicted in the Iran-Contra affair.
The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the right to abortion.
1993 - Intel and NAFTA
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed into law by US President Bill Clinton. Intel Pentium Chips: On March 22, the Intel Corporation shipped the first Pentium chips, marking a milestone in computing technology.
In August, NASA lost contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft, ending the mission. The Mars Observer spacecraft was a robotic space probe launched in September of the previous year to study the surface of the red planet, its atmosphere, climate, and the surrounding magnetic field. Contact with the probe was lost just before it entered Mars's orbit, so the mission failed. On March 29, five individuals were arrested (and a sixth sought) in connection with the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. The men were all Islamic fundamentalists.
The Branch Davidians standoff near Waco, Texas, resulted in the deaths of 81 people, including their leader, David Koresh.
1994 - EU Growing
NAFTA Establishment: On January 1, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted, promoting economic cooperation between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The full version of Netscape Navigator was released in December 1994 and was considered the first commercially successful web browser. It quickly became the leading web browser in the market and was offered for free to non-commercial users such as schools and non-profit organizations.
Citizens in both Sweden and Norway voted on whether or not to join the European Union in November of 1994. The two Scandinavian countries held public referendums on the issue only one month after their neighbor Finland did the same. In Sweden, the vote came out to fifty-two percent in favor of joining the EU, with an eighty-three percent voter turnout. In Norway, fifty-two percent of voters stated they were against joining the EU, with an eighty-nine percent voter turnout.
Former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones accused President Clinton of sexual harassment.
1995 - Space Shuttle
On January 26, the House of Representatives passed a Balanced Budget amendment to the US Constitution by a vote of 300-132.
Launched in 1989, NASA's Galileo Spacecraft released a probe into Jupiter’s atmosphere which was able to transmit about an hour of data before it stopped functioning. Space Shuttle mission launched on June 27th of 1995. The mission of STS-71 was to dock the Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Russian Mir Space Station. This was the first time that a space shuttle attempted to dock with the Mir space Station and it marked an important accomplishment and moment in space travel. It was also symbolically important in recognizing the cooperation between Russia and the United States only a few years after the end of the Cold War.
President Clinton invoked emergency powers to extend a $20 billion loan to help Mexico avert financial collapse. On April 19, 168 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil when a bomb exploded at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Timothy McVeigh was arrested, found guilty in 1997 and executed in 2001. Hacker Arrest: Kevin Mitnick, a notorious hacker, was arrested by the FBI for breaking into secure computer systems.
1996 - Clinton Reelected and Nintendo Launched
Bill Clinton was reelected for a second term as U.S. president, defeating former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and Ross Perot, the Reform Party nominee. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 6,000 for the first time, reflecting economic growth and investor confidence. NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) on November 7 News Events. The Mars Global Surveyor was a robotic spacecraft with the mission objective to take high resolution photos of Mars while while mapping the planet from orbit. The MGS arrived at Mars and entered its orbit in September of 1997.
The Nintendo 64 gaming console was first released in Japan during June of 1996. Also known as the N64, Nintendo’s new gaming system was praised by critics as one of the best home gaming consoles to have ever been released. The N64 proved to be popular with consumers as well with retailers seeing a high demand for the product within the first year of its release. At the time of its release it had some of the best graphics of any comparable gaming console.
U.S. Nail Bomb Centennial Olympic Park. The Nail Bomb Exploded on July 27th in Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta. 30 Black churches in Mississippi were burned to the ground over an 18 month period.