From the “Reagan Revolution” to the end of the Cold War, the 1980s was a pivotal decade in reshaping the cultural, social, economic, and political landscape of the United States. This digital exhibition presents ten case studies to explore some of the ways American life and government shifted during these years and how they have been remembered. Each story provides a unique angle on the decade’s remaking of race, gender, class, sexuality, and nation – from protests to protect abortion rights to Toshiba radios smashed at the U.S. Capitol – with ongoing impacts for radical activism, social welfare, foreign policy, and digital media today.

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The exhibition was produced by undergraduate and graduate students in Professor Stephen Vider’s Spring 2021 course, “The 1980s: Politics, Culture, and Memory.” It is a project of the Cornell Public History Initiative. To learn more about the PHI and see more student exhibitions and projects, visit our website and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.