The Century: America's Time — Season 1, Episode 14: 1981-1989: A New World

Episode synopsis

The Reagan era witnessed the unexpected end of the Cold War and a welcome return to a booming domestic economy – but did events unfold too quickly to control? This program takes a look at the details and the aftershocks both of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the yuppie capitalism that threatened to push the limits of the American economy too far.

About The Century: America's Time

The Century: America's Time is a 15-part series of documentaries produced by the American Broadcasting Company on the 20th century and the rise of the United States as a superpower. The documentary originally aired on The History Channel in 1999. Another earlier series, simply called "The Century" also produced by ABC, appeared on the ABC network in 1999, and also later appeared on the History Channel. It consists of six two-hour shows with each chronicling two different events based around a common theme.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1The Beginning: Seeds of Change
• E21914-1919: Shell Shock
• E31920-1929: Boom to Bust
• E41929-1936: Stormy Weather
• E51936-1941: Over the Edge
• E61941-1945: Civilians at War (2 parts)
• E71941-1945: Homefront
• E81946-1952: Best Years
• E91953-1960: Happy Days
• E101960-1964: Poisoned Dreams
• E111965-1970: Unpinned
• E121971-1975: Approaching the Apocalypse