What Happened in 1983 Important News and Events, Key Technology and Popular Culture

What happened in 1983 Major News Stories include IBM releases the IBM PC XT, Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Proposed, Harrods Bombing, Space Shuttle Challenger is launched Maiden Flight, . The worlds most popular word processing programme is launched Microsoft Word. Following on from the start of the recession in the US Unemployment Rises to 12 million. In Ethiopia following the worst drought in history the death toll reaches a staggering 4 million. The US starts deploying Cruise Missiles and Pershing Missiles in Europe at the Greenham Common Air Force Base in England and West Germany amid mass protest







Cost of Living 1983

Yearly Inflation Rate USA3.22%

Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 1258

Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 11.00%

Average Cost of new house $82,600

Median Price Of and Existing Home $70,300

Average Income per year $21,070.00

Average Monthly Rent $335.00

Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling

Average House Price 34,795

Gallon of Petrol 1.25

Yearly Inflation Rate UK 4.6%

Interest Rates Year End Bank of England 9.06%

More Prices From 1983

Dodge RAM 50 Truck $5665.00

Volkswagen Rabbit $6,994.00

Ford Mustang $6,572.00

Timex Sinclair Color Computer $179.99

Milk 2% Gallon $1.35

Kraft Singles Cheese (12) $1.49

Mens Leather Shoes $39.99



Chicago, Illinois

Townhouse 2 bed 1 bath $47,000



How Much things cost in 1983Yearly Inflation Rate3.22%Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 1258Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 11.00%Average Cost of new houseMedian Price Of and Existing HomeAverage Income per yearAverage Monthly Rent





Hurricane Alicia Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast, killing 21. More Information for Hurricane Alicia.

Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast during August of 1983 causing billions of dollars worth of damage to the region. The category 3 storm directly hit Galveston and Houston on the Gulf Coast and was the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in 3 years. Hurricane Alicia had wind gusts of up to 127 mph and storm surges of up to 12 feet in height ravaged coastal neighborhoods. As a result of the storm 21 people were killed and about 3,000 homes were severely damaged.



Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast during August of 1983 causing billions of dollars worth of damage to the region. The category 3 storm directly hit Galveston and Houston on the Gulf Coast and was the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in 3 years. Hurricane Alicia had wind gusts of up to 127 mph and storm surges of up to 12 feet in height ravaged coastal neighborhoods. As a result of the storm 21 people were killed and about 3,000 homes were severely damaged.





United States invades Grenada More Information and Timeline for the U.S. invasion of Grenada

1. The United States invades Grenada on October 25th of 1983.

2. Over 5,000 Marines were sent to the island after the government was overthrown in a bloody coup by a Cuban trained military force.

3. At the time, there were about 1,000 United States civilians in the country, most of them medical students.

4. President Reagan ordered the invasion citing the need to protect the American citizens in the country but also using it as an excuse to stem the tide of Communism in the Caribbean.

5. Overall, the U.S. invasion was a success despite encountering resistance. The U.S. civilians were rescued, the Cuban troops surrendered, and there were only 19 U.S. troop casualties in total.



1. The United States invades Grenada on October 25th of 1983.2. Over 5,000 Marines were sent to the island after the government was overthrown in a bloody coup by a Cuban trained military force.3. At the time, there were about 1,000 United States civilians in the country, most of them medical students.4. President Reagan ordered the invasion citing the need to protect the American citizens in the country but also using it as an excuse to stem the tide of Communism in the Caribbean.5. Overall, the U.S. invasion was a success despite encountering resistance. The U.S. civilians were rescued, the Cuban troops surrendered, and there were only 19 U.S. troop casualties in total.









Space -- NASA's STS-7 Mission NASA’s STS-7 mission was completed successfully during

NASA’s STS-7 mission was completed successfully during June . The mission carried five astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on a 6 day flight. The crew carried out several experiments and deployed two satellites. This mission was notable in that it was Sally Ride’s first space flight, making her the first American woman in space. Twenty years earlier, the Soviet Union had already sent the first woman to space with Valentina Tereshkova aboard Vostok 6 in 1963





Strategic Defense Initiative SDI President Ronald Reagan proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). More Information for the Strategic Defense Initiative

1. U.S. President Ronald Reagan publicly proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) during a televised address in March of 1983.

2. The proposed defense system was a highly advanced system that would rely on technology that had not yet been developed to intercept and prevent a nuclear missile attack on the U.S. by the Soviet Union.

3. The plan was called “Star Wars” by many critics who thought it impossible to create with the restrictions of the current capabilities of technology during the decade.

4. SDI began development in the following year under the Department of Defense but its funding ended after the Cold War ended and before anything could be completed.

1. U.S. President Ronald Reagan publicly proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) during a televised address in March of 1983.2. The proposed defense system was a highly advanced system that would rely on technology that had not yet been developed to intercept and prevent a nuclear missile attack on the U.S. by the Soviet Union.3. The plan was called “Star Wars” by many critics who thought it impossible to create with the restrictions of the current capabilities of technology during the decade.4. SDI began development in the following year under the Department of Defense but its funding ended after the Cold War ended and before anything could be completed.





Mario Bros. Game Debuts The video game Mario Bros. was first released as a Nintendo arcade game in Japan during



The video game Mario Bros. was first released as a Nintendo arcade game in Japan during July . The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto (who also designed the Legend of Zelda and Donkey Kong) and Gunpei Yokoi (who also created Metroid and the Game Boy) and was a platform style game with phases. The Mario Bros. game featured the now iconic characters of Mario and his brother Luigi, two plumbers who battled sewer creatures in New York. The game was not initially successful as at the time of its release the video game industry was going through a crash, but it became a successful series of games after the release of Super Mario Bros. in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) gaming console.





NASA’s STS-8 Mission NASA’s STS-8 mission comes to an end during



NASA’s STS-8 mission comes to an end during September . The Space Shuttle Challenger launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying a crew of five including Guion Bluford who became the first African-American astronaut to fly in space. The mission’s objectives focused on studying the physiological effects of space on the human body, specifically Space Adaptation Syndrome (space sickness). STS-8 successfully returned to Earth after six days and landed at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.





Fraggle Rock The children's show "Fraggle Rock" debuts on HBO as one of the premium cable network's first original programs. More Information and Timeline for Fraggle Rock.

1. Fraggle Rock premieres during January of 1983 on HBO.

2. The show was one of HBO’s first original programs and was created and produced by Jim Henson.

3. Fraggle Rock focused on the interactions between a group of muppets called Fraggles and other groups within their world.

4. Many of the episodes featured stories that revolved around conflicts between the Fraggles and the other groups despite the fact that they all depended on each other to survive.

5. Fraggle Rock had a total of 96 episodes and ran until 1987.

6. The show’s creators had hoped it would promote concepts of world peace and it was shown around the world, in nearly one hundred different countries.

1. Fraggle Rock premieres during January of 1983 on HBO.2. The show was one of HBO’s first original programs and was created and produced by Jim Henson.3. Fraggle Rock focused on the interactions between a group of muppets called Fraggles and other groups within their world.4. Many of the episodes featured stories that revolved around conflicts between the Fraggles and the other groups despite the fact that they all depended on each other to survive.5. Fraggle Rock had a total of 96 episodes and ran until 1987.6. The show’s creators had hoped it would promote concepts of world peace and it was shown around the world, in nearly one hundred different countries.









More News and Key Events From 1983

Population The Worlds Population is estimated at 4.72 billion China's Population reaches 1 billion





Rhodesia / Zimbabwe Civil War breaks out in Zimbabwe





Earthquake New York A 5.2 earthquake hits Central New York





Richard Noble land speed record Richard Noble sets a new land speed record of 633.468 mph, driving Thrust 2 at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.





Cruise Missiles The US deploys Cruise Missiles in Europe at the Greenham Common Air Force Base in England and Deploys Pershing Missiles in West Germany Due to the deployment of Cruise Missiles in the UK CND organises marches and rallies with over 200,000 attending.





Brinks Mat robbery Brinks Mat warehouse robbery at Heathrow Airport making off with three tons of gold bars valued at $37.5 million





Maze High Security Prison Mass prisoner breakout from Maze High Security Prison near Lisburn, Northern Ireland





UK Seatbelt Law Seatbelt use for drivers and front seat passengers becomes mandatory in the United Kingdom.





U.S Embassy is bombed in Beirut A Terrorist attack by a suicide bomber on the U.S Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people





U.S. Unemployment Unemployment Rises in the US to 12 million the highest figure since 1941





Harrods Bombing IRA Bomb Exploded outside Harrods on December 17th during the pre Christmas Shopping Season





Ethiopia Famine Ethiopia Appeals for world Aid for when the death toll reaches4 million





Philippines The Philippines opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, assassinated





First mobile phones The first mobile phones, are introduced to the public by the Motorola Company.





Breakfast TV Breakfast TV starts in UK with the BBC Breakfast Time and TV-am





Sally Ride Sally Ride on June 18th becomes first American woman in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger.





Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher wins landslide victory in General Elections in the UK







Argentina Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín wins democratic elections to become the President of Argentina





Popular Culture 1983 Final Episode of M*A*S*H airs record 125 million watch

Cabbage Patch Dolls are sold in shops and become a success

West German news magazine Stern publish the Hitler Diaries which turn out to be Forgeries Popular Films Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Tootsie

Trading Places

WarGames

Superman III

Flashdance

Staying Alive

Octopussy

National Lampoon's Vacation

Never Say Never Again

Terms of Endearment

Yentl

Educating Rita Popular Musicians Phil Collins

The Police with " Every Breath that you take "

Hot Chocolate

Big Country

Black Sabbath

David Bowie

Johnny Cash

Culture Club

Duran Duran

Elton John

Pink Floyd

Ozzy Osbourne

Lionel Richie with " All Night Long "

Rod Stewart

Michael Jackson with " Beat It and Billy Jean "

The Moody Blues

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Born This Year Born This Year 1983





Technology ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet .

officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, . Lotus 1-2-3 is released

is released IBM releases the IBM PC XT

US Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on it's maiden flight

Microsoft Word is first released

is first released The First Person to Receive an Artificial Heart Barney Clark US dies after 112 days

Barney Clark US dies after 112 days Swatch introduce their first watches





Major World Political Leaders Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser Till 11 March

Australia Prime Minister Bob Hawke From 11 March

Brazil President João Figueiredo Canada Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau



China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Li Xiannian



France President François Mitterrand



Germany Chancellor Helmut Kohl

India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi



Italy Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani Till 4 August

Italy Prime Minister Bettino Craxi From 4 August



Japan Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone Mexico President Miguel de la Madrid Russia / Soviet Union

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Yuri Andropov South Africa Prime Minister Pieter Willem Botha United States President Ronald Reagan United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

Political Elections 1983

British General Election 1983 Margaret Thatcher ( Conservative ) defeats Michael Foot ( Labour ) and David Steel ( Liberal ) and Roy Jenkins (SDP)



Prime MinisterTill 11 MarchPrime MinisterFrom 11 MarchPresidentPrime MinisterChairman of the People's Republic of ChinaPresidentChancellorPrime MinisterPrime MinisterTill 4 AugustPrime MinisterFrom 4 AugustPrime MinisterPresidentChairman of the Council of People's CommissarsPrime MinisterPresidentPrime Minister









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