Social Issues In The 1980s

630 Words3 Pages

In the 1980s, many things where taking place. There was an AIDS breakout, the president was shot and injured, and a hole in the ozone was discovered. People didn’t know what to do there was a threat of AIDS, poor air quality from a hole in the ozone, and the president being shot at. All of these things would help us in the future to become a stronger country.
Ronald Reagan was, the 40th president of the United States, elected on January 20, 1981 (Back in Time: President of the United States). AIDS made its first appearance in the 1980s and shocked the world. Many social problems started to take place from cocaine usage to child abuse (The 1980s: Lifestyles and Social Trends). In the 1980s environmental problems stated to show up and harm the …show more content…

The President remained in the hospital until mid-June in recovery from the shot to the chest. Reagan being shot shocked the country because of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. John W. Hinckley, the shooter, was arrested for murder of the president. “Hinckley made two suicide attempts while in custody.” (Back in Time: President of the United States). AIDS broke out in the 1980s and was a huge epidemic, killing 20,000 people. The nickname for AIDS in the 1980s was “the gay cancer” because it was found commonly among gay men. Even though they couldn’t find a cure, they found a way to combat the AIDS disease. Many economic problems where arising “In 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker crashed in Prince Williams Sound, Alaska, releasing 260,000 to 750,000 barrels of oil into the sea.” The oil spill devastated the environment around the coast of Alaska. In 1985 scientist discovered a hole in the ozone layer that could affect the air quality on Earth (The 1980s). In the 1980s cocaine was expensive and abused by the high class of people. Many people lost their jobs and lives because of the drug, which led to an increase in homelessness. People where strung out and lost everything which led to them beating their kids. “As with cocaine abuse and homelessness, society’s attempts to address child abuse were inadequate.” (The 1980s: Lifestyles and Social