U.S. Events
Finding the Spark
During 1986 and 1987 the American people witnessed many dramatic events that sparked this country. Below is a list of some. You are not limited to these. Use the links provided and print resources noted to determine which three events you feel were the most important. These are the ones you are to include in this section of your song.
Smoke Detectors - Sparks to Consider
Use the Internet links as well as print resources to gather information on U.S. events that were in the news in 1986 and 1987. Remember to base your opinions as to why you choose the events you do on facts. Look at when the events occurred and what effect they had at the time. Examine circumstances that may have led up to the events. Also, consider what long term outcomes exist.
- Challenger- Learn about what has been called the worst accident in the history of the U.S. space program.
- Biographies - Find out a little more about the people who lost their lives in the Challenger accident.
- Black Monday - The stock market crashed 508 points.
- Voyager - The Voyager 2 spacecraft flew closely past Uranus.
- Tip O'Neill- The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives retires.
- Sally Ride - Learn why the first U.S. woman in space leaves NASA.
- Iran Contra Affair - Why are President Reagan and his staff investigated for dealing with Iran?
- Ivan Boesky - Who was he and what did he do?
- William Rehnquist - A new chief justice of the Supreme Court is nominated.
- Statue of Liberty - This U.S. landmark has an important birthday.
Other Sparks to Consider
- Jessica McClure is saved.
- William Schroeder dies.
- The United States Constitution celebrates a special birthday.
Other Smoke Detectors
Below is a list of possible print resources available to you. Use them to obtain more information about the events above, or to find other events of interest.
- Chronicle of the 20th Century Dorling Kindersley Publishing, New York, 1995
- Time 1994 Almanac, CD ROM, Time Magazine, Inc., Washington, DC
- Children's Atlas of World History, Kingfisher Books, LTD, Rand McNally Publishing, NY c. 1988, reprinted 1991
- Charlotte Evans, Illustrated History of the World, Kingfisher Books, LTD, Larousse Kingfisher Chambers, Inc, c.1992
- David Rubel, The United States in the 20th Century Scholastic, c.1995
- David Rubel, Encyclopedia of the Presidents and Their Times Scholastic, c. 1994, updated 1997.
- Young People's Encyclopedia of the United States Kingfisher Books, New York, c.1994
- World Almanac, 1987 Rand McNally Publishing
- World Almanac, 1988 Rand McNally Publishing
- Facts on File World News Index, 1986
- Facts on File World News Index, 1987
This page was created by K. Wilson, November, 1997.