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

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

  • 01 Nov 1974 UN Affirms Cyprus Independence: The United Nations officially affirms and recognizes the independence of Cyprus, a significant moment in the island's post-colonial history.
  • 02 Nov 1974 Tragic Seoul Nightclub Fire: A devastating fire at the Time Go-Go Club in Seoul, South Korea results in 78 fatalities. The tragedy was compounded by the club's criminal negligence, with doors being barred, forcing six victims to jump to their deaths from the seventh floor to escape the flames.
  • 03 Nov 1974 Tragic Seoul Fire at Daewang Corner Building: A devastating early-morning fire at the Daewang Corner building in the Dongdaemun District of Seoul resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. The fire killed 88 people and injured 35, with the majority of victims trapped in the Time Go-Go Club on the sixth floor. Witnesses reported that club employees had locked the exit door to prevent customers from leaving without paying, leading to a horrific scenario where 13 people were trapped in hotel rooms on the seventh floor, with six ultimately jumping to their deaths in desperation.
  • 05 Nov 1974 Federal Elections Campaign Act Signed: President Gerald Ford signs the Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1974, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at reforming campaign finance and increasing transparency in political funding.
  • 06 Nov 1974 Soviet Luna 23 Lunar Mission: The Soviet Union successfully landed the Luna 23 lunar probe in the Mare Crisium region of the Moon, continuing their ambitious lunar exploration program. The mission's primary objective was to collect and return lunar soil samples to Earth, contributing to scientific understanding of lunar geology.
  • 07 Nov 1974 63rd Davis Cup: South Africa beats India in
  • 08 Nov 1974 Carol DaRonch Escapes Ted Bundy: In a remarkable act of survival, Carol DaRonch narrowly escapes attempted abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her quick thinking and resistance help her avoid becoming another victim of one of America's most notorious serial killers.
  • 10 Nov 1974 Montreal Canadiens Historic Shutout: The Montreal Canadiens delivered a dominant performance, shutting out the Washington Capitals with an overwhelming 11-0 victory, showcasing their offensive prowess and defensive strength.
  • 11 Nov 1974 Maria Callas' Legendary Final Public Performance: Operatic soprano Maria Callas, one of the most celebrated and influential classical singers of the 20th century, made her final public appearance in Sapporo, Japan. This moment marked the end of an extraordinary career that revolutionized opera performance and interpretation.
  • 12 Nov 1974 South Africa Suspended from UN General Assembly: On November 12, 1974, the United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend South Africa due to its discriminatory apartheid policies. This significant diplomatic action was a strong international condemnation of the racist system of institutionalized racial segregation and white supremacy that had been enforced in South Africa since 1948. The suspension marked a critical moment in the global struggle against racial discrimination and highlighted the international community's rejection of apartheid.
  • 13 Nov 1974 Amityville Horror Murders: Ronald DeFeo Jr. commits a horrific familicide, murdering all six members of his family while they slept in their home at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. This shocking crime would later become the basis for the infamous 'Amityville Horror' story, capturing public imagination and spawning numerous books and films.
  • 15 Nov 1974 Ringo Starr Releases 'Goodnight Vienna' Album: Ringo Starr released his album 'Goodnight Vienna' and the single 'Only You' in the United Kingdom. This album was part of Starr's solo career following the breakup of The Beatles, featuring collaborations with various musicians and produced by John Lennon.
  • 16 Nov 1974 Historic Interstellar Radio Message Sent from Arecibo: The Arecibo radio telescope transmitted a groundbreaking interstellar radio message towards the M13 Great Globular Cluster, a pioneering moment in human communication with potential extraterrestrial civilizations. This message, traveling at the speed of light, is expected to reach its destination around the year 27,000, symbolizing humanity's first deliberate attempt to communicate beyond our solar system.
  • 17 Nov 1974 Ford's Anti-Inflation Campaign: President Gerald Ford launches the 'Whip Inflation Now' (WIN) campaign, a public initiative aimed at combating the high inflation rates affecting the United States economy during the mid-1970s, encouraging citizens to take personal economic actions.
  • 19 Nov 1974 Palestine Liberation Organization Gains UN Observer Status: On November 19, 1974, the United Nations General Assembly granted the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) observer status, marking a significant diplomatic milestone for Palestinian representation in international forums. This decision recognized the PLO as a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and provided them a platform to voice their political aspirations on the global stage.
  • 20 Nov 1974 US Antitrust Suit Against AT&T: On November 20, 1974, the United States Department of Justice filed a critical antitrust lawsuit against AT&T Corporation. This legal action would ultimately lead to the landmark breakup of AT&T and its Bell System, fundamentally reshaping the telecommunications industry in the United States and paving the way for increased competition and innovation.
  • 21 Nov 1974 Birmingham Pub Bombings: On November 21, 1974, the Provisional IRA conducted a devastating terrorist attack in Birmingham, England, bombing two pubs and killing 21 people while injuring 182 others. The tragedy led to the wrongful conviction of six Irish men, known as the Birmingham Six, who were later acquitted after years of imprisonment, highlighting significant miscarriages of justice in the British legal system.
  • 22 Nov 1974 UN General Assembly Recognizes Palestinian Sovereignty: On November 22, 1974, the United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark resolution recognizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and sovereignty. This pivotal moment marked a significant diplomatic milestone in the ongoing Middle East conflict, affirming the Palestinian national aspirations on the global stage.
  • 23 Nov 1974 Vladivostok Summit: SALT-II Framework: On November 23, 1974, U.S. President Gerald Ford and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev met at the Vladivostok Summit, where they successfully negotiated a framework for the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT-II). This landmark diplomatic meeting aimed to reduce nuclear weapon stockpiles and ease Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 24 Nov 1974 Discovery of Lucy - Groundbreaking Hominid Fossil: On November 24, 1974, paleontologists Donald Johanson and Tom Gray made a remarkable discovery in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia: a 3.18 million-year-old female hominid skeleton of the genus Australopithecus, nicknamed 'Lucy'. This skeleton, approximately 40% complete, was one of the most significant paleoanthropological finds of the 20th century, providing crucial insights into human evolution.
  • 25 Nov 1974 IRA Outlawed in Britain after Birmingham Pub Bombings: The British government officially outlawed the Irish Republican Army (IRA) following the devastating Birmingham pub bombings, which resulted in the deaths of 21 people. This marked a significant escalation in the British response to IRA violence during the Troubles.
  • 26 Nov 1974 Kakuei Tanaka Resigns as Japan's Prime Minister: Japan's Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka announced his resignation following an investigative committee report from the House of Representatives, signaling a significant political transition in Japan.
  • 27 Nov 1974 Argentine Police Official Assassinated by Montoneros: Alberto Villar, the director of the Policía Federal Argentina's secret police, was assassinated by members of the Montoneros, a left-wing Peronist guerrilla organization. This event underscores the intense political violence and ideological conflicts prevalent in Argentina during the 1970s.
  • 28 Nov 1974 John Lennon's Final Public Concert Performance: John Lennon made his last concert appearance as a guest of Elton John at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During the performance, he sang iconic songs including 'Whatever Gets You Thru the Night', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', and 'I Saw Her Standing There', creating a memorable musical moment shortly before his tragic death.
  • 30 Nov 1974 Discovery of Lucy - Groundbreaking Paleoanthropological Find: A team of renowned paleoanthropologists including Donald Johanson, Maurice Taieb, Yves Coppens, and Tim White discovered the remarkably preserved skeleton of an early human ancestor, later named 'Lucy' (Australopithecus afarensis), in the Middle Awash region of Ethiopia's Afar Depression. This discovery significantly advanced our understanding of human evolution.