1983 The worlds most popular word processing
program 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 protests
Cost of Living 1983
How Much things cost in 1983
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 3.22%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 1258
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 11.00%
Average Cost of new house $82,600.00
Average Income per year $21,070.00
Average Monthly Rent $335.00
Dodge RAM 50 Truck $5,665.00
What Events Happened in 1983
The U.S. Embassy is bombed in Beirut,
killing 63 people
Unemployment Rises in the US to 12
million the highest figure since 1941
IRA Bomb Exploded outside Harrods during
the pre Christmas Shopping Season
Hurricane Alicia hits the Texas coast,
killing 22
Ethiopia Appeals for world Aid for
when the death toll reaches 4 million
The Worlds Population is estimated at 4.72
billion
China's Population reaches 1 billion
Civil War breaks out in Zimbabwe
A 5.2 earthquake hits Central New York
Richard Noble sets a new land speed
record of 633.468 mph, driving Thrust 2 at the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.
Due to the deployment of Cruise Missiles in
the UK CND organizes marches and rallies with over 200,000 attending.
A Terrorist attack by a suicide bomber destroys
the United States Embassy in Beirut, killing 63
The first mobile phones, are introduced
to the public by the Motorola Company.
Breakfast TV starts in UK with the BBC Breakfast
Time and TV-am
Sally Ride becomes first American woman
in space on the Space Shuttle Challenger.
The US deploys Cruise Missiles in Europe
at the Greenham Common Air Force Base in England and Deploys Pershing
Missiles in West Germany
President Ronald Reagan proposes the Strategic
Defense Initiative (SDI)
Margaret Thatcher wins landslide
victory in General Elections in the UK
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
Technology 1983
ARPANET officially
changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.
Lotus 1-2-3 is released
IBM releases the IBM PC XT
US Space Shuttle Challenger is launched on
it's maiden flight
Microsoft Word is first released
The First Person to Receive an Artificial
Heart Barney Clark US dies after 112 days