The 1980s

1981 45 years ago

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (pictured) was assassinated while attending a parade in Cairo to mark the eighth…

Muhammad Anwar es-Sadat was an Egyptian politician and military officer who was the third president of Egypt from 1970 until his assassination in 1981. A former member of the Free …

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (pictured) was assassinated while attending a parade in Cairo to mark the eighth…

1980

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana t…

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

1980

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

Elmore City is a town in Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. This town is 58 miles south of Oklahoma City. The population was 738 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 697 at…

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

1980

Eight U

Operation Eagle Claw was a failed United States Department of Defense attempt to rescue 53 embassy staff held captive by Revolutionary Iran on 24 April 1980. It was ordered by U.S.…

Eight U

1980

One hundred forty-six people are killed when Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes near Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Isl

Dan-Air Flight 1008 was a fatal accident involving a Boeing 727-46 jet aircraft operated by Dan Air Services Limited on an chartered international passenger service from Manchester…

One hundred forty-six people are killed when Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes near Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Isl

1980

Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands following the abdication of Juliana

Beatrix is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013.

Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands following the abdication of Juliana

1980

The Iranian Embassy siege begins in London

The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy on Prince's Gate in South Kensington, London.

The Iranian Embassy siege begins in London

1980

Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege

The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy on Prince's Gate in South Kensington, London.

Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege

1980

In a referendum in Quebec, the population rejects, with 60% of the vote, a government proposal to move towards independe

The 1980 Quebec independence referendum was the first referendum in Quebec on the place of Quebec within Canada and whether Quebec should pursue a path toward sovereignty. The refe…

In a referendum in Quebec, the population rejects, with 60% of the vote, a government proposal to move towards independe

1980

Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting

Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN) is an American multinational news media company and the flagship namesake property of CNN Worldwide, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Foun…

Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting

1980

The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is head…

The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox

1980

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay,

Florida is a state in the Southeastern and South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia to the north, t…

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay,

1980

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out

Norco is a city in northwestern Riverside County, California, United States. Located roughly 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean, Norco is known as "Horsetown, USA" and …

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out

1980

An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan

The Fujita scale, or Fujita–Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation. The of…

An F3 tornado hits Kalamazoo County, Michigan

1980

"O Canada" officially becomes the national anthem of Canada.

"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony…

"O Canada" officially becomes the national anthem of Canada.

1980

During the Lebanese Civil War, 83 Tiger militants are killed during what will be known as the Safra massacre.

The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one milli…

During the Lebanese Civil War, 83 Tiger militants are killed during what will be known as the Safra massacre.

1980

Phạm Tuân becomes the first Vietnamese citizen and the first Asian in space when he flies aboard the Soyuz 37 mission…

Phạm Tuân is a retired Vietnamese Air Force fighter pilot and cosmonaut. He became the first Vietnamese cosmonaut, and the first person of Asian origin to be in space when he was l…

Phạm Tuân becomes the first Vietnamese citizen and the first Asian in space when he flies aboard the Soyuz 37 mission…

1980

Iran adopts a new "holy" flag after the Islamic Revolution.

The national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a tricolour of equal horizontal bands of green, white, and red, featuring the Islamic emblem in red centred on the white band, …

Iran adopts a new "holy" flag after the Islamic Revolution.

1980

Salvadoran Civil War: the Sumpul River massacre occurs in Chalatenango, El Salvador

The Salvadoran Civil War was a twelve-year civil war in El Salvador that was fought between the government of El Salvador, backed by the United States, and the Farabundo Martí Nati…

Salvadoran Civil War: the Sumpul River massacre occurs in Chalatenango, El Salvador

1980

General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress stud

Chun Doo-hwan was a South Korean army general who served as the fifth president of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. A member of the Democratic Justice Party, he ruled the country as …

General Chun Doo-hwan of South Korea seizes control of the government and declares martial law in order to suppress stud

1980

On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town

Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realise a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial…

On the eve of presidential elections, Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path attacks a polling location in Chuschi (a town

1980

Rioting breaks out in downtown Miami, following the acquittal of four white police officers in the killing of Arthur McD

The 1980 Miami riots were race riots that occurred in Miami, Florida, United States, starting in earnest on May 18, 1980, following an all-White male jury acquitting five white Dad…

Rioting breaks out in downtown Miami, following the acquittal of four white police officers in the killing of Arthur McD

1980

Mount St

Mount St. Helens is an active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It lies 52 miles (83 km) northeast of Port…

Mount St

1980

Vanuatu gains independence.

Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an archipelagic country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is 1,750 km (…

Vanuatu gains independence.