80s Trivia Questions and Answers

The 1980s was a decade filled with significant historical events that shaped the world we live in today. From political developments to technological advancements and cultural milestones, the '80s was a time of change and innovation.

Whether you lived through this transformative era or are simply curious about the history of the time, our 80s trivia questions and answers will leave you guessing how much you know about this time in history.

For more quizzes, see our trivia quiz sitemap.

80s Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Who was the President of the United States during most of the 1980s?
Answer: Ronald Reagan

2. In what year did the Berlin Wall fall, marking the end of the Cold War?
Answer: 1989

3. Which country invaded Afghanistan in 1979, leading to a decade-long conflict?
Answer: Soviet Union

4. Who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom throughout the 1980s?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher

5. Which space shuttle exploded shortly after launch in 1986?
Answer: Challenger

6. In what year did the Iran-Iraq War begin?
Answer: 1980

7. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the 1980s?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev

8. What was the name of the economic policy implemented by Ronald Reagan in the United States?
Answer: Reaganomics

9. Which city hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984?
Answer: Los Angeles

10. In what year did the AIDS epidemic gain global attention?
Answer: 1981

11. Who was the first female Prime Minister of Australia?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher

12. Which country invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, leading to a conflict with the United Kingdom?
Answer: Argentina

13. What was the name of the space shuttle that successfully completed the first shuttle mission in 1981?
Answer: Columbia

14. Which event took place in 1989, marking the beginning of the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe?
Answer: Fall of the Berlin Wall

15. Who was the Pope during the 1980s?
Answer: Pope John Paul II

16. In what year did the Chernobyl disaster occur?
Answer: 1986

17. Which organization was established in 1980 to protect the environment and promote sustainability?
Answer: Greenpeace

18. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa?
Answer: Nelson Mandela

19. Which country saw a revolution in 1989 that led to the fall of its communist government?
Answer: Romania

20. In what year did the stock market crash, known as "Black Monday," occur?
Answer: 1987

21. Who was the first female justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court?
Answer: Sandra Day O'Connor

22. Which iconic music event took place in Live Aid in 1985?
Answer: Bob Geldof

23. What was the name of the conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falkland Islands?
Answer: Falklands War

24. In what year did the United States invade Grenada?
Answer: 1983

25. Who was the leader of the Solidarity movement in Poland during the 1980s?
Answer: Lech Walesa

26. Which country boycotted the Summer Olympics held in Moscow in 1980?
Answer: United States

27. What was the name of the first commercially successful personal computer?
Answer: IBM PC

28. In what year did the space shuttle Discovery make its maiden flight?
Answer: 1984

29. Who was the Prime Minister of Canada throughout the 1980s?
Answer: Brian Mulroney

30. Which disaster occurred in 1989 when an oil tanker spilled thousands of barrels of oil off the coast of Alaska?
Answer: Exxon Valdez oil spill

31. What was the name of the policy introduced by Margaret Thatcher to deregulate the British economy?
Answer: Thatcherism

32. In what year did the United States and the Soviet Union sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty?
Answer: 1987

33. Who was the first African-American mayor of Chicago?
Answer: Harold Washington

34. Which country elected its first female Prime Minister, Gro Harlem Brundtland, in 1981?
Answer: Norway

35. In what year did the space shuttle Atlantis make its first flight?
Answer: 1985

36. Who was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) during the 1980s?
Answer: Oliver Tambo

37. What was the name of the first commercially successful mobile phone?
Answer: Motorola DynaTAC

38. In what year did the United Kingdom and China sign an agreement to transfer sovereignty over Hong Kong?
Answer: 1984

39. Who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film "Rain Man" in 1989?
Answer: Dustin Hoffman

40. Which country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1986?
Answer: Mexico

41. What was the name of the political scandal that involved the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for hostages?
Answer: Iran-Contra Affair

42. In what year did the United States launch the first space shuttle mission with a female astronaut, Sally Ride?
Answer: 1983

43. Who was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America?
Answer: Vanessa Williams

44. Which country's leader, Ferdinand Marcos, was ousted in a popular uprising in 1986?
Answer: Philippines

45. In what year did the United States and the Soviet Union sign the INF Treaty, eliminating intermediate-range nuclear missiles?
Answer: 1987

46. Who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982 for his magical realism novels?
Answer: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

47. What was the name of the summit between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986?
Answer: Reykjavik Summit

48. In what year did the United Kingdom grant independence to Belize?
Answer: 1981

49. Who was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Indira Gandhi

50. What was the name of the political movement in Poland led by Lech Walesa in the 1980s?
Answer: Solidarity

Conclusion

The 1980s was a decade of profound historical significance, marked by political, cultural, and technological developments that continue to shape our world. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the emergence of influential leaders and groundbreaking events, the '80s left an indelible impact on society. We hope this trivia list has not only tested your knowledge but also provided a glimpse into the remarkable history of the era. So, celebrate the spirit of the 1980s and its transformative moments as we appreciate the legacy it has left behind.