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

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

  • 01 Nov 1971 Introduction of the Eisenhower Dollar Coin: The United States Mint released the Eisenhower dollar coin, commemorating President Dwight D. Eisenhower and marking a significant moment in American numismatic history. This coin was the first dollar coin minted after the Peace dollar series and featured a design honoring both Eisenhower's presidency and the historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
  • 02 Nov 1971 Orioles Pat Dobson no-hits Yomiuri Giants, 2-0
  • 03 Nov 1971 UNIX Programmer's Manual Published: The first edition of the UNIX Programmer's Manual was published, marking a significant milestone in the development of computer operating systems and software documentation. This manual would become a foundational text for computer scientists and programmers worldwide.
  • 04 Nov 1971 Emma Groves Blinded by Rubber Bullet During Northern Ireland Conflict: On November 4, 1971, Emma Groves, a 47-year-old mother of eleven from Belfast, Northern Ireland, was permanently blinded after being struck in the face by a rubber bullet during the height of the Troubles. This traumatic incident became a pivotal moment in highlighting the potential brutality of crowd control weapons. Following her injury, Groves became a prominent human rights activist, dedicating her life to campaigning against the use of rubber bullets and advocating for peaceful conflict resolution. Her personal tragedy drew international attention to the human cost of the Northern Ireland conflict and the indiscriminate nature of crowd control tactics.
  • 05 Nov 1971 24th Amendment to Indian Constitution Empowers Parliament: The 24th Amendment to the Indian Constitution was implemented, granting the Indian Parliament unprecedented power to suspend certain 'Fundamental Rights' when deemed necessary. This amendment represented a significant shift in the constitutional framework, potentially expanding governmental authority during a complex political era.
  • 06 Nov 1971 Largest U.S. Underground Nuclear Test on Amchitka Island: The United States Atomic Energy Commission conducted a significant underground nuclear test, code-named Cannikin, on Amchitka Island in the Aleutian Islands. This test represented the largest underground hydrogen bomb detonation in U.S. history at that time, marking a critical moment in Cold War-era nuclear weapons development.
  • 08 Nov 1971 HBO Television Channel Launch: Home Box Office (HBO), the first premium cable television channel in the United States, was launched. The inaugural program was the movie "Sometimes a Great Notion", starring Paul Newman and Henry Fonda. This launch marked a significant moment in television broadcasting, pioneering the concept of subscription-based entertainment channels.
  • 09 Nov 1971 John List Family Murder: On November 9, 1971, John List, a 46-year-old accountant from Westfield, New Jersey, committed a horrific familicide by murdering his mother, wife, and three children using multiple handguns. After the murders, he meticulously planned his escape, assuming a new identity and successfully evading capture for 18 years before being eventually apprehended.
  • 10 Nov 1971 Khmer Rouge Attack on Phnom Penh: Khmer Rouge forces launch a devastating attack on Phnom Penh and its airport in Cambodia, killing 44 people, wounding at least 30, and damaging nine aircraft. This event underscores the escalating violence during the Cambodian Civil War.
  • 11 Nov 1971 Neil Simon's 'Prisoner of Second Avenue' Broadway Premiere: The renowned playwright Neil Simon's play 'Prisoner of Second Avenue' made its debut on Broadway in New York City, marking another significant contribution to American theater in the early 1970s.
  • 12 Nov 1971 Mariner 9 Enters Mars Orbit: The U.S. spacecraft Mariner 9 made history by becoming the first human-made object to successfully enter and orbit another planet's orbit around Mars. This groundbreaking mission provided unprecedented scientific insights into the Martian landscape, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
  • 13 Nov 1971 Mariner 9: First Spacecraft to Orbit Mars: On November 13, 1971, the American space probe Mariner 9 successfully became the first spacecraft in human history to orbit another planet. At 4:42 p.m. California time (00:42 UTC on 14 November), technicians at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, achieved this groundbreaking milestone. The spacecraft entered an elliptical orbit around Mars, ranging from 800 miles (1,300 km) to 10,700 miles (17,200 km) above the planet's surface, marking a significant advancement in space exploration.
  • 14 Nov 1971 Mariner 9 Reaches Mars Orbit: NASA's Mariner 9 spacecraft successfully became the first human-made object to orbit another planet, entering Mars' orbit after a 167-day journey through space. This historic mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration, providing unprecedented close-up views and scientific data about the Martian surface.
  • 15 Nov 1971 UN Recognizes People's Republic of China: The United Nations General Assembly voted to admit the People's Republic of China as a member and simultaneously expelled the Republic of China (Taiwan), marking a significant geopolitical shift in international diplomacy during the Cold War era.
  • 16 Nov 1971 Compton Inquiry on Northern Ireland Internment: The Compton inquiry was officially published, addressing allegations of mistreatment during the internment of suspected militants in Northern Ireland. While acknowledging some instances of ill-treatment, the report ultimately rejected claims of systematic brutality or torture, providing a controversial assessment of the government's actions during the conflict.
  • 18 Nov 1971 China's Nuclear Test at Lop Nor: On November 18, 1971, the People's Republic of China conducted a nuclear test at the Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era. These tests were part of China's strategic efforts to establish itself as a nuclear power.
  • 19 Nov 1971 DUPE - Monticello Nuclear Power Plant Radioactive Water Incident: A significant environmental incident occurs at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant in Minnesota, where radioactive cooling water overflows its containment tank and potentially contaminates the Mississippi River, raising serious environmental and safety concerns.
  • 20 Nov 1971 Women's March for Abortion Rights: On November 20, 1971, women from across the United States participated in significant demonstrations supporting abortion rights. Simultaneous marches were held in Washington D.C. and San Francisco, marking an important moment in the women's reproductive rights movement.
  • 21 Nov 1971 Battle of Garibpur: Indian and Bengali Forces Defeat Pakistani Army: In a significant military engagement preceding the Indo-Pakistani War, Indian troops, collaborating with Mukti Bahini (Bengali guerrillas), successfully defeat the Pakistan army in the Battle of Garibpur, marking a crucial moment in the Bangladesh Liberation War.
  • 22 Nov 1971 Cairngorm Plateau Disaster: On November 22, 1971, a devastating mountaineering tragedy occurred in the Scottish Cairngorm mountains, where five children and one adult leader perished from extreme exposure and hypothermia. This incident is considered Britain's worst mountaineering disaster, highlighting the severe risks of alpine expeditions and the unforgiving nature of mountain environments during harsh winter conditions.
  • 23 Nov 1971 China Joins UN Security Council: The People's Republic of China was officially seated in the United Nations Security Council, marking a significant diplomatic shift in global geopolitics. This momentous event represented a major change in international representation, replacing Taiwan's delegation with mainland China's representatives.
  • 24 Nov 1971 D.B. Cooper Hijacking: On Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, 1971, a mysterious man known as 'D.B. Cooper' hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727 aircraft. Cooper demanded $200,000 in ransom and four parachutes. After releasing the passengers in Seattle, he instructed the flight crew to refuel the aircraft and begin a second flight to Mexico City. Cooper then dramatically parachuted into the dark, stormy night over southwestern Washington, vanishing without a trace and becoming one of the most infamous unsolved criminal mysteries in American history.
  • 25 Nov 1971 D.B. Cooper Hijacking and Parachute Escape: On November 25, 1971, a mysterious man known as Dan Cooper (later misreported as D.B. Cooper) hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 between Portland and Seattle. He successfully extorted $200,000 in ransom and parachuted out of the aircraft over Washington state, becoming one of the most famous unsolved criminal mysteries in American history. Despite extensive investigations, Cooper was never found, and his true identity remains unknown.
  • 26 Nov 1971 Czechoslovak Federal Assembly Elections: In a significant political event, Czechoslovakia conducted two-day elections for the 200 seats of the lower house of the Federal Assembly, specifically the Chamber of the National Assembly. These elections were part of the communist-era electoral process, where candidates were typically pre-selected by the ruling Communist Party, reflecting the political structure of Czechoslovakia during the Cold War period.
  • 27 Nov 1971 First Soviet Spacecraft Crash Landing on Mars: On November 27, 1971, the Soviet Mars 2 mission became the first spacecraft to reach the Martian surface, albeit through a crash landing. This historic moment marked a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating humanity's initial attempt to make contact with the Martian surface.
  • 28 Nov 1971 Deadly CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Crash in Vietnam: A catastrophic CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash claimed the lives of thirty-four members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division in South Vietnam. This tragic incident highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by military personnel during the Vietnam War.
  • 29 Nov 1971 Soviet Nuclear Test in Kazakhstan: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Eastern Kazakhstan, continuing its Cold War-era nuclear weapons development program. This test was part of the ongoing nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the early 1970s.
  • 30 Nov 1971 Iran's Territorial Expansion in the Persian Gulf: Iran strategically seized the Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands from the Emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, escalating territorial tensions in the Persian Gulf region. This action was part of Iran's broader geopolitical strategy to assert control over strategic maritime territories.