Major Events of May 1966: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 1966 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of May 1966: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 May 1966 The Beatles' Final British Concert: The Beatles performed their last concert in the United Kingdom at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London, marking a significant moment in music history. This performance symbolized the end of their live touring era and signaled their transition to becoming a studio-focused band.
02 May 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Biography Awarded to Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.: Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for his seminal work 'A Thousand Days', a comprehensive account of President John F. Kennedy's presidency. The book provided an intimate and scholarly examination of the Kennedy administration from an insider's perspective.
03 May 1966 Lurleen Wallace Wins Alabama Democratic Primary: Lurleen Wallace, wife of controversial Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, decisively won the Democratic Party primary for Governor of Alabama. Her victory was essentially a guarantee of winning the general election, given Alabama's strong Democratic Party dominance at the time. This marked a significant moment in Alabama politics, where Lurleen would effectively serve as a proxy candidate for her husband, who was term-limited.
04 May 1966 Soviet Union and Fiat Forge Industrial Collaboration: The Soviet government signed a significant international industrial accord with Fiat to establish a car manufacturing facility within the USSR. This agreement represented a notable moment of technological and economic cooperation during the Cold War era, with plans to produce 600,000 small and medium-sized vehicles annually, potentially transforming the Soviet automotive industry.
05 May 1966 Willie Mays hit his 512th homerun.
06 May 1966 Moors Murderers Sentenced: Notorious serial killers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady were sentenced to life imprisonment for the horrific Moors Murders, a series of child murders that shocked the United Kingdom in the 1960s.
07 May 1966 Lurleen Wallace's Political Breakthrough: Lurleen Wallace, wife of Alabama Governor George C. Wallace, secured a landmark victory in the Democratic Party primary for the gubernatorial nomination. Her overwhelming win on May 3, 1966, virtually guaranteed her election in November in the traditionally Democratic state, marking a significant moment for women in Southern politics.
08 May 1966 Political Purge in Chinese Communist Party: Lu Dingyi, China's Minister of Culture and director of the Central Propaganda Department, was summoned to an unexpected Politburo meeting where he was accused of promoting a 'reactionary line of culture', subsequently fired and arrested during the Cultural Revolution.
09 May 1966 China's Nuclear Test at Lop Nor: The People's Republic of China conducted a significant nuclear test at the Lop Nor testing site in Xinjiang, demonstrating its emerging nuclear capabilities during the Cold War era. This test was part of China's strategic efforts to develop and assert its nuclear weapons program, marking an important milestone in global geopolitical tensions.
10 May 1966 North American Professional Soccer League Founding: On May 10, 1966, Bob Hermann and William D. Cox held a press conference in New York City to announce the establishment of the North American Professional Soccer League (NAPSL). The ambitious league planned to launch professional soccer competitions in the autumn of 1967, targeting 11 major cities across North America. This marked a significant moment in the development of professional soccer in the United States, signaling growing interest in the sport beyond its traditional international strongholds.
11 May 1966 Real Madrid wins 11th Europe Cup I.
12 May 1966 Devastating Sichuan Earthquake: A catastrophic earthquake measuring approximately 8.0 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan, China, resulting in a massive loss of life with over 69,000 people killed. This seismic event was one of the deadliest earthquakes in recent Chinese history, causing widespread destruction and significant humanitarian challenges.
13 May 1966 Civil Rights Act Enforcement in Education: The U.S. federal government denied education funding to 12 school districts in the Southern United States due to their violations of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, signaling a strong federal commitment to desegregation and equal educational opportunities.
14 May 1966 Beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China: The Communist Party of China issues the 'May 16 Notice', officially marking the start of the Cultural Revolution, a sociopolitical movement that would dramatically reshape Chinese society and politics.
15 May 1966 First U.S. Military Engagement in Cambodia during Vietnam War: The United States conducted its first military attack on Cambodia when the 1st Infantry Division was fired upon by mortar while patrolling in the Tây Ninh Province, near the border between South Vietnam and the neutral Cambodia.
16 May 1966 Cultural Revolution Begins in China: The Communist Party of China officially launches the Cultural Revolution through the 'May 16 Notice', a radical political campaign initiated by Mao Zedong aimed at purging capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society. This decade-long movement would dramatically reshape China's social, political, and cultural landscape, leading to significant social upheaval and human rights challenges.
17 May 1966 Gemini 9 Mission Preparation: NASA's Gemini 9 mission, crewed by astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan, was in final preparation stages for launch, representing another critical step in the United States' space exploration program during the intense Space Race era.
18 May 1966 Surveyor 1 Lunar Landing: NASA's Surveyor 1 spacecraft successfully performs the first soft landing by a U.S. spacecraft on the Moon, touching down in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) region. This mission was a critical milestone in the United States' space exploration program, paving the way for future lunar missions and the eventual Apollo moon landings.
19 May 1966 Sylvia Likens Murder: Gertrude Baniszewski Convicted: Gertrude Baniszewski was found guilty of the horrific murder and torture of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens in Indiana. She was sentenced to life in prison, though she was later released on parole in December 1985.
20 May 1966 Colombian Presidential Election: Senator Carlos Lleras Restrepo of the Liberal Party decisively won the Colombian presidential election, defeating his opponent Jose Jaramillo Giraldo in a significant political contest.
21 May 1966 Ulster Volunteer Force Declares War on IRA: The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland, officially declared war on the Irish Republican Army (IRA), escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict known as 'The Troubles'. This declaration marked a significant moment in the sectarian violence that would plague Northern Ireland for decades.
22 May 1966 U.S. First Military Action in Cambodia during Vietnam War: The United States launched its first military attack into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. After the U.S. 1st Infantry Division was subjected to mortar fire, Lt. Col. Richard L. Prillaman authorized a retaliatory strike across the Cai Bac River, targeting a Viet Cong position under the principle of self-defense.
23 May 1966 Mills v. Alabama Supreme Court Decision: In a landmark decision, Justice Hugo Black delivered the Supreme Court's opinion in Mills v. Alabama, striking down an Alabama law as unconstitutional and reinforcing First Amendment protections for free speech.
24 May 1966 US Military Action in Cambodia During Vietnam War: The United States military engaged in a cross-border operation in Cambodia after the 1st Infantry Division was attacked by mortar fire while patrolling in the Tây Ninh Province, near the border between South Vietnam and the neutral Cambodia.
25 May 1966 First DaZiBao of Cultural Revolution: The first significant 'big-character poster' (DaZiBao) is posted at Peking University, marking an early symbolic moment in China's Cultural Revolution, a period of intense social and political upheaval.
26 May 1966 Guyana Gains Independence: Guyana officially gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966, transitioning from a British colonial territory to a sovereign nation. This marked a significant milestone in the country's history, ending over 150 years of British colonial rule and establishing Guyana as a self-governing state in South America.
27 May 1966 German F-104 Starfighter Crash Incident: On May 27, 1966, the 55th German F-104 Starfighter experienced a catastrophic crash, highlighting the significant safety issues with this aircraft model during the Cold War era. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, nicknamed the 'Widowmaker', was notorious for its high accident rate, particularly in the German Luftwaffe.
28 May 1966 US Military Crosses Cambodian Border: During the Vietnam War, the United States military conducted its first attack into Cambodia after receiving mortar fire from Viet Cong positions. Lt. Col. Richard L. Prillaman of the 2nd Infantry invoked self-defense rules of engagement, firing shells across the Cai Bac River into enemy territory.
29 May 1966 US Military Engagement in Cambodia during Vietnam War: The United States launched its first military attack on Cambodia during the Vietnam War, with the U.S. 1st Infantry Division responding to mortar fire while patrolling near the border of Tây Ninh Province. This incident marked an escalation of the conflict into neutral Cambodian territory, signaling a significant expansion of the war's geographical scope.
30 May 1966 Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court Decision: The Supreme Court establishes a landmark legal precedent requiring law enforcement to inform suspects of their constitutional rights before interrogation, fundamentally changing criminal procedure in the United States.
31 May 1966 Philippines-Malaysia Diplomatic Relations Restored: On May 31, 1966, the Philippines officially reestablished diplomatic relations with Malaysia, marking a significant diplomatic reconciliation between the two Southeast Asian nations after a period of tension.