The Year 1981 From The People History

What Events Happened in 1981

• Iran releases 52 American hostages, who had been held for 444 days

• Solidarity inspired popular protests and general strike lead to imposition of Marshal Law and eventual outlawing of solidarity party in Poland

• Thatcher Government in England begin privatisation of Nationalised Industries creating economic revival , this format is later emulated in many other countries throughout the world

• Air traffic controllers strike causing chaos in the US and The US President Ronald Reagan Fires Them

• Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands dies on May 5th while on the hunger strike, During that time Bobby Sands is elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

• Ronald Reagan becomes US President

• The first high speed train service in Europe begins with the French TGV / high-speed train between Paris and Lyon

• Following plans between European Countries and the US to base Nuclear Missiles in Europe protesters including those at Greenham Common picket US bases

• Anti nuclear protesters invade the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Reactor in California

• Researchers find the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic

• Muhammad Ali finally retires with career record of 55 wins and 5 defeats

• US brings in new disability eligibility rules for those claiming disability affecting 500,000 who lose benefits

• Rupert Murdoch shuts down the Sunday Times due to an industrial dispute

• Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke admits her feature was fabricated and relinquished the Pulitzer Prize

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require parental notification when teenage girls seek abortions .

• Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper is caught, and imprisoned for life for 13 counts of murder

• Earthquake hits Athens, killing 16 people

• Pope John Paul II, is shot on on May 13th but not killed in Vatican City

• Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales.

• Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated

• Sandra Day O'Connor is nominated to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

• The first American test-tube baby, is born

• Riots break out in a number of UK Cities including Brixton ( London ), Toxteth ( Liverpool ), and Moss Side ( Manchester )

• The introduction of the first Frequent Flyer Miles AAdvantage introduced by American Airlines ( frequent flyer miles can be redeemed for free air travel )

• Four senior Labour MP'S announce they will breakaway from Labour Party and set up the Social Democratic Party SDP under the leadership of Roy Jenkins

• 147 passengers and crew of a Pakistan Airways are taken hostage and released in Syria

• Attempted coup in Bangladesh and the President Ziaur Rahman is murdered

• Antigua and Barbuda Gains Independence From Great Britain

• The First London Marathon is Run In England

Technology

• Scientists identifyThe Aids Virus
• First Flight of US Space Shuttle Columbia
• The European Rocket "Ariane" is launched
• IBM in US launches it's first PC which uses Microsoft Software MS DOS
• The term INTERNET first mentioned
• Post It Notes launched by 3M Corp
• The Worlds Fastest Train The French TGV goes into service between Paris and Lyons
• China Clones the first fish ( Golden Carp )
• Artificially Produced Insulin becomes the worlds first genetically engineered protein to treat human disease Diabetes
• MS-DOS released by Microsoft

Popular Culture 1981

• MTV (Music Television) is launched August 1st
• Simon And Garfunkel Reunite for concert in New Yorks Central Park

Popular Films

• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Superman II
• Nine to Five
• Any Which Way You Can
• Arthur
• The Cannonball Run
• For Your Eyes Only
• On Golden Pond
• Chariots of Fire

Check out our Television Programmes From The 80s whenever possible we have included a trailer to jog your memory. Series trailers and more information are found on the decade they started.

Popular Musicians

• John Lennon
• Blondie
• Dolly Parton " 9 to 5 "
• Sheena Easton
• Diana Ross and Lionel Richie with " Endless Love "
• Olivia Newton-John With " Physical "
• Roxy Music
• Bucks Fizz
• Adam and The Ants
• Michael Jackson
• Queen
• David Bowie