Major Events of August 1971: 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 August 1971 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1971: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1971 George Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh: A groundbreaking benefit concert held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, featuring an all-star lineup including George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, and Leon Russell. The event raised global awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh and set a precedent for large-scale charity concerts.
02 Aug 1971 Apollo 15 Lunar Module Falcon Lifts Off from Moon: U.S. astronaut David Scott conducted a historic scientific demonstration on the lunar surface, showcasing Galileo's principles of motion by dropping a feather and hammer simultaneously, demonstrating they fall at the same rate in the Moon's vacuum. The Apollo 15 lunar module Falcon then successfully lifted off from the lunar surface, marking another milestone in human space exploration.
03 Aug 1971 Paul McCartney Forms Wings: Paul McCartney officially announced the formation of his new band Wings, marking a significant moment in his post-Beatles musical career. The group would consist of McCartney himself, his wife Linda McCartney, and former Moody Blues member Denny Laine, representing a fresh creative direction for the legendary musician.
04 Aug 1971 Apollo 15 Lunar Satellite Deployment: On August 4, 1971, NASA successfully launched the first satellite into lunar orbit from a manned spacecraft during the Apollo 15 mission. This groundbreaking achievement marked a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating the United States' advanced capabilities in lunar scientific research and spacecraft technology. The satellite deployment was part of a comprehensive lunar exploration program aimed at gathering detailed scientific data about the Moon's surface and environment.
05 Aug 1971 DC-10 Jumbo Jet Enters Commercial Service: The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 wide-body jumbo jet officially entered commercial aviation service with an inaugural American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, representing a significant advancement in long-haul passenger transportation technology.
06 Aug 1971 Chay Blyth's Historic Solo Nonstop Sea Voyage: Scottish adventurer Chay Blyth completed an extraordinary maritime achievement by becoming the first person to circumnavigate the globe solo and nonstop while traveling in a westerly direction. This remarkable journey demonstrated exceptional nautical skill, endurance, and navigational prowess, pushing the boundaries of maritime exploration.
07 Aug 1971 Apollo 15 Mission Return: The Apollo 15 mission successfully returned to Earth, completing a significant lunar exploration mission that advanced human understanding of space exploration and lunar geology.
08 Aug 1971 British Soldier Killed by IRA in Belfast: During the height of the Northern Ireland conflict known as 'The Troubles', an active British soldier was fatally shot by members of the Irish Republican Army in Belfast, further escalating tensions in the region.
09 Aug 1971 Operation Demetrius in Northern Ireland: On August 9, 1971, the British authorities launched Operation Demetrius in Northern Ireland, a controversial military operation involving mass arrests and internment without trial of individuals suspected of being affiliated with the Irish Republican Army (PIRA). The operation triggered widespread civil unrest, with mass riots erupting across the region. Thousands of people were forcibly displaced from their homes, and the violence resulted in approximately twenty deaths. This event significantly escalated tensions during the period known as 'The Troubles' and marked a critical moment in the complex conflict between British forces and Irish republican paramilitaries.
10 Aug 1971 Harmon Killebrew Joins 500 Home Run Club: Harmon Killebrew becomes the 10th member of the 500 home run club by hitting a historic home run at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. This milestone solidifies his place among baseball's elite power hitters.
11 Aug 1971 Nixon Ends Bretton Woods System and Imposes Economic Freeze: President Richard Nixon announces a landmark economic policy shift by ending the dollar's convertibility to gold at a fixed rate and imposing a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, and rents. This decision effectively dismantled the Bretton Woods international monetary system that had been in place since the end of World War II.
12 Aug 1971 Syria Severs Diplomatic Relations with Jordan: Syrian President Hafez al-Assad officially terminated diplomatic relations with Jordan due to escalating border tensions and regional political conflicts. This diplomatic rupture reflected the complex and volatile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East during the early 1970s.
13 Aug 1971 Nixon's Economic Policy Transformation: U.S. President Richard Nixon convened a critical closed conference at Camp David with top economic advisors, including Federal Reserve Board chairman Arthur Burns, U.S. Treasury Secretary John Connally, and future Fed Chairman Paul Volcker. The meeting focused on potentially revolutionary monetary policy changes, specifically discussing the devaluation of the U.S. dollar and the potential withdrawal from the Bretton Woods Agreement, which would fundamentally reshape global economic structures.
14 Aug 1971 British Internment in Northern Ireland: British military authorities initiated a controversial internment policy in Northern Ireland, arresting and detaining suspected Irish Republican Army (IRA) members without trial, escalating tensions during the Troubles.
15 Aug 1971 Nixon Ends Bretton Woods System: In a landmark economic decision, President Richard Nixon announced the end of the Bretton Woods monetary system, effectively removing the United States from the gold standard. This momentous action fundamentally transformed global financial markets by decoupling the U.S. dollar from gold convertibility, allowing currency to float freely in international exchanges.
17 Aug 1971 First Solo Nonstop Westward Sea Voyage Around the World: Scottish yachtsman Chay Blyth achieved a remarkable maritime feat by completing a solo nonstop circumnavigation of the globe sailing westward against prevailing winds and sea currents. Using his 59-foot (18-meter) ketch named British Steel, Blyth demonstrated extraordinary navigational skill and endurance by challenging the traditional sailing routes.
18 Aug 1971 Australia and New Zealand Withdraw Troops from Vietnam: On August 18, 1971, Australia and New Zealand officially announced the withdrawal of their military forces from Vietnam, signaling the end of their involvement in the prolonged and controversial Vietnam War. This decision reflected the growing international sentiment against the conflict and marked a significant shift in the military commitments of both nations in Southeast Asia.
19 Aug 1971 Bangladesh Flooding Disaster: Extensive flooding struck Bangladesh and eastern Bengal, causing massive displacement as thousands of people were forced to flee the inundated areas.
20 Aug 1971 FBI begins covert investigation of journalist Daniel Schorr.
21 Aug 1971 Plaza Miranda Bombing: A devastating terrorist bombing occurred during a political rally of the Liberal Party at Plaza Miranda in the Quiapo district of Manila, Philippines. The explosion resulted in nine fatalities and injured 95 people, including many prominent Liberal Party politicians. The incident was highly controversial, with widespread suspicion that incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos might have orchestrated the attack as a strategic pretext for declaring martial law, which would significantly alter the Philippines' political landscape.
22 Aug 1971 Bolivian Military Coup Ousts President Torres: On August 22, 1971, a military coup led by Colonel Hugo Banzer successfully overthrew the government of President Juan José Torres, marking a significant political transition in Bolivia. The coup shifted the country's political landscape, replacing a leftist government with a military regime.
23 Aug 1971 WGTU TV channel 29 in Traverse City, MI (ABC) begins broadcasting
24 Aug 1971 Pink Floyd's Historic Pompeii Concert: Pink Floyd performed a legendary concert in the abandoned amphitheatre of Pompeii, creating a unique and iconic musical moment. The performance was filmed and later became a celebrated documentary, capturing the band's artistic brilliance in a hauntingly beautiful ancient setting.
26 Aug 1971 Women's Equality Day Established: The United States Congress officially declares August 26th as an annual Women's Equality Day, commemorating the 19th Amendment's ratification and honoring women's ongoing struggle for equal rights.
27 Aug 1971 Failed Coup Attempt in Chad: On August 27, 1971, an attempted military coup d'état was thwarted in Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa. The Chadian government strongly alleged that Egypt was complicit in the coup attempt, leading to an immediate severance of diplomatic relations between the two nations. This event highlighted the complex political instability and external interference prevalent in post-colonial African states during the early 1970s.
28 Aug 1971 US Dollar Floats Against Japanese Yen: On August 28, 1971, the United States allowed the US dollar to float freely against the Japanese yen, marking a significant moment in international monetary policy. This decision was part of the broader economic reforms initiated by President Richard Nixon, which fundamentally changed the post-World War II Bretton Woods fixed exchange rate system.
30 Aug 1971 Alberta's Political Transformation: The Progressive Conservatives, led by Peter Lougheed, decisively defeat the long-standing Social Credit government under Harry E. Strom, ending 36 years of uninterrupted Social Credit rule in Alberta. This election represented a major political shift in Canadian provincial politics.
31 Aug 1971 First Car Driven on the Moon: Dave Scott made history by becoming the first person to drive a vehicle on the lunar surface during the Apollo 15 mission, demonstrating human technological capability and expanding exploration boundaries.