previous year1969
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980next year

Major Events of December 1974: 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 December 1974 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of December 1974: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1974 TWA Flight 514 Tragic Crash: A Boeing 727 carrying TWA Flight 514 crashed northwest of Dulles International Airport, resulting in the devastating loss of all 92 passengers and crew members. This tragic aviation accident highlighted critical safety concerns in commercial air travel during the mid-1970s.
  • 02 Dec 1974 Soyuz 16 Space Mission: The Soviet Union launched Soyuz 16 into Earth orbit for a six-day scientific and technological mission, continuing the space exploration efforts of the era.
  • 04 Dec 1974 Sartre Visits Andreas Baader in Prison: Renowned French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre visited imprisoned Red Army Faction (RAF) leader Andreas Baader, highlighting the intellectual engagement with radical political movements of the era.
  • 05 Dec 1974 Final Episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus: The groundbreaking comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus broadcasts its final episode on BBC 2, marking the end of a revolutionary comedy era.
  • 06 Dec 1974 New York Stock Exchange Reaches Historic Low Point: The New York Stock Exchange experienced a significant downturn, closing at 577.60 points—its lowest level since October 26, 1962—reflecting the economic challenges and market volatility of the mid-1970s.
  • 07 Dec 1974 Randolph-Sheppard Act Implemented: The Randolph-Sheppard Act officially took effect, marking a significant milestone in disability rights legislation. This landmark United States law, titled 'Vending Facilities for Blind in Federal Buildings', was designed to provide blind individuals with meaningful employment opportunities and enhance their economic independence by establishing priority for blind persons to operate vending facilities in federal buildings.
  • 08 Dec 1974 Greek Monarchy Referendum Details: In a landmark democratic process, approximately 70 percent of Greek voters supported abolishing the monarchy and transitioning to a presidential republic.
  • 09 Dec 1974 Extraordinary Prison Release: Johnson Grigsby was freed after an unprecedented 66 years of imprisonment in Indiana, marking an extraordinary case of long-term incarceration and eventual release.
  • 10 Dec 1974 UN International Women's Year Declaration: The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 3275, officially designating 1975 as International Women's Year to promote gender equality and women's rights globally.
  • 11 Dec 1974 FALN Terrorist Bombing in East Harlem: On December 11, 1974, a terrorist bombing by the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN), a Puerto Rican nationalist group, targeted a location in East Harlem. The explosion critically injured police officer Angel Poggi, leaving him permanently disabled. This incident was part of a series of violent attacks by FALN during the 1970s aimed at promoting Puerto Rican independence through militant actions.
  • 12 Dec 1974 Jimmy Carter Announces Presidential Campaign: On December 12, 1974, 50-year-old Jimmy Carter, then Governor of Georgia, officially launched his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination at the Atlanta Civic Center. This moment marked the beginning of Carter's underdog campaign that would ultimately lead him to win the presidency in 1976, defeating incumbent Gerald Ford.
  • 13 Dec 1974 North Vietnamese Spring Offensive Begins: During the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese forces launched their decisive 1975 Spring Offensive, a major military campaign that would ultimately lead to the complete capitulation of South Vietnam by April 30, 1975. This offensive marked a critical turning point in the conflict, signaling the imminent end of the prolonged war.
  • 14 Dec 1974 Last World War II Combatant Surrenders: Private Teruo Nakamura, a Taiwanese-born soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army, became the final combatant from World War II to surrender on December 14, 1974. His surrender marked the symbolic end of World War II hostilities, nearly three decades after the war's official conclusion.
  • 15 Dec 1974 Beirut Iraqi Embassy Bombing: A devastating suicide car bombing targets the Iraqi Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, completely destroying the building and resulting in 61 fatalities, including Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon. This terrorist attack highlights the volatile political climate in the Middle East during the 1970s.
  • 16 Dec 1974 US Nuclear Test in Nevada: The United States performed a nuclear weapons test at the Nevada Test Site on December 16, 1974, continuing its nuclear weapons research and development program during the Cold War era.
  • 17 Dec 1974 WIPO Becomes UN Specialized Agency: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) officially became a specialized agency of the United Nations, marking a significant milestone in international intellectual property governance and cooperation.
  • 18 Dec 1974 Michail Stasinopoulos Elected President of Greece: Michail Stasinopoulos of the New Democracy Party was elected President of Greece by a near-unanimous vote of the Hellenic Parliament, marking a significant moment in post-military junta Greek political history.
  • 19 Dec 1974 Nelson Rockefeller Becomes Vice President: Nelson A. Rockefeller is sworn in as the 41st Vice President of the United States under President Gerald Ford, following the constitutional provisions of the 25th Amendment after Richard Nixon's resignation.
  • 20 Dec 1974 Ethiopia Becomes Socialist One-Party State: Ethiopia undergoes a significant political transformation, transitioning to a socialist one-party state, which would dramatically reshape the country's political landscape and governance structure.
  • 22 Dec 1974 Nelson Rockefeller Sworn In as Vice President: Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in as Vice President after an extensive four-month confirmation process on Capitol Hill. This unprecedented event marked the first time in U.S. history that both the President and Vice President were not elected through traditional popular vote, following the resignations of Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.
  • 23 Dec 1974 Good News Musical Opens on Broadway: The musical 'Good News' by Ray Henderson, B.G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown opened at the St. James Theater in New York City, running for a limited engagement of 16 performances. This revival of the classic 1920s musical brought nostalgic entertainment to Broadway audiences during the mid-1970s.
  • 24 Dec 1974 Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Australia.
  • 25 Dec 1974 Cyclone Tracy Devastates Darwin: On Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, causing unprecedented destruction. The powerful tropical cyclone virtually destroyed the entire city, killing 71 people and leaving over 70% of Darwin's buildings in ruins. The disaster led to the largest peacetime evacuation in Australian history, with over 30,000 residents airlifted out of the region.
  • 26 Dec 1974 Cyclone Tracy Devastates Darwin: Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin, Australia, causing catastrophic damage and virtually destroying the entire city. This natural disaster resulted in significant loss of life, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and prompted a massive national emergency response and subsequent urban reconstruction efforts.
  • 27 Dec 1974 Sandinista Hostage Seizure in Nicaragua: The Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), a revolutionary political party, seized government hostages during a private party in Managua, escalating political tensions in Nicaragua.
  • 28 Dec 1974 Devastating Pakistan Earthquake of 1974: A severe magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Pakistan, causing massive destruction in the Pattan region. The disaster resulted in 5,300 fatalities, 17,000 injuries, and impacted approximately 97,000 people. The village of Pattan and surrounding hamlets were completely obliterated, marking one of the most significant natural disasters in Pakistan's history.
  • 29 Dec 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers Triumph in AFC Championship: In a decisive playoff match, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders 24-13 at Oakland Coliseum, advancing in the AFC Championship game. This victory was a significant moment in the Steelers' storied NFL history, showcasing their emerging dominance in professional football during the 1970s.
  • 30 Dec 1974 The Beatles Legal Dissolution: The Beatles are officially legally disbanded, concluding a four-year legal process that marked the formal end of one of the most influential rock bands in history.
  • 31 Dec 1974 Altair 8800 Personal Computer Debuts: Popular Electronics magazine displays the Altair 8800, widely considered the first personal computer that would spark the microcomputer revolution and inspire early tech entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Paul Allen.