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Major Events of July 1975: 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 July 1975 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of July 1975: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 1975 Muhammad Ali Defeats Joe Bugner: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali successfully defended his heavyweight championship title by defeating Joe Bugner in a grueling 15-round match, further solidifying his status as a global sports icon.
  • 02 Jul 1975 Australian Political Crisis: Jim Cairns Dismissed: On July 2, 1975, Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam dismissed Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns from his governmental position. The dismissal was prompted by allegations of improper conduct, which represented a significant moment of political tension within the Australian government during the mid-1970s.
  • 04 Jul 1975 American Bicentennial Commemorative Coins Released: In celebration of the United States' 200th anniversary, special commemorative coins including quarter-dollar, half-dollar, and dollar denominations were released into circulation, marking a significant national milestone.
  • 05 Jul 1975 Arthur Ashe's Historic Wimbledon Victory: Arthur Ashe made history by becoming the first African-American man to win the Wimbledon singles title, defeating Jimmy Connors in a groundbreaking four-set match. This victory was not just a sporting achievement but a significant moment in breaking racial barriers in tennis.
  • 06 Jul 1975 Comoros Independence: The Comoros Islands declare independence from France after approximately 137 years of colonial rule. This marked a significant moment in the archipelago's history, establishing their sovereignty and national identity.
  • 07 Jul 1975 US Billboard Number 1 Hit: On July 7, 1975, 'Love Will Keep Us Together' by The Captain and Tennille topped the Billboard charts, representing the popular music landscape of mid-1970s America.
  • 08 Jul 1975 Gerald Ford Seeks Republican Nomination: U.S. President Gerald Ford officially announced his intention to seek the Republican Party's nomination for the 1976 presidential election, marking a significant moment in his political career as the first unelected president who had succeeded Richard Nixon.
  • 09 Jul 1975 Senegal's Limited Multi-Party System Law: The National Assembly of Senegal passes a landmark law introducing a restricted multi-party political system, marking a significant step towards political pluralism in the country.
  • 10 Jul 1975 Comoros Islands Declare Independence from France: The Chamber of Deputies of the Comoros Islands unanimously voted 33-0 to declare independence from France, marking a significant moment in the decolonization process of Africa. While most of the archipelago gained independence, Mayotte chose to remain a French overseas department, creating a unique political situation in the region.
  • 11 Jul 1975 Terracotta Army Archaeological Discovery: Chinese archaeologists uncovered a remarkable 3-acre burial site containing approximately 6,000 clay warrior statues, dating back to the early Qin Dynasty around 221 BC. This significant archaeological find provides profound insights into ancient Chinese military and artistic practices.
  • 12 Jul 1975 São Tomé and Príncipe Gains Independence from Portugal: The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe was granted independence from Portuguese colonial rule after centuries of Portuguese administration. Manuel Pinto da Costa became the first president, with Miguel Trovoada serving as the prime minister, marking a significant moment in the country's postcolonial history.
  • 13 Jul 1975 São Tomé and Príncipe Gains Independence: On July 13, 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe achieved independence from Portugal after centuries of colonial rule. Portuguese Admiral Antonio Rosa Coutinho and São Tomé Assembly President Xavier Dias signed historic documents ending Portuguese colonial administration. Following the signing, Manuel Pinto da Costa was sworn in as the first President of the newly independent nation, with Miguel Trovoada serving as Prime Minister.
  • 14 Jul 1975 South Africa Intervenes in Angolan Independence Conflict: South Africa began providing military aid to pro-Western Angolan independence groups FNLA and UNITA, supporting their struggle against the Marxist People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), which had recently seized control of Angola's capital. This intervention was part of the broader Cold War geopolitical dynamics in Africa.
  • 15 Jul 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project: Historic Space Collaboration: The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marked a groundbreaking moment in space exploration, representing the first joint mission between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Two spacecraft, Apollo and Soyuz, were launched simultaneously, symbolizing a significant diplomatic breakthrough and technological achievement in international cooperation.
  • 16 Jul 1975 Portuguese Evacuation from Angola: As Angola approached its scheduled independence, thousands of Portuguese nationals were preparing to leave the country, marking a significant moment in the decolonization process of Portuguese Africa. This mass evacuation reflected the complex political transitions and potential tensions surrounding the end of Portuguese colonial rule.
  • 17 Jul 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project: First US-Soviet Space Collaboration: The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project marked a historic moment of international cooperation during the Cold War, where an American Apollo spacecraft docked with a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in Earth orbit. This groundbreaking mission symbolized a thawing of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, demonstrating peaceful scientific collaboration in space.
  • 19 Jul 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Space Mission: First International Space Docking: The Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft successfully linked in orbit for two days, marking a historic moment of international cooperation during the Cold War era. This joint mission between the United States and Soviet Union symbolized a significant diplomatic breakthrough in space exploration.
  • 20 Jul 1975 India Expels Foreign Journalists: On July 20, 1975, during a period of heightened media censorship, the Indian government expelled three international journalists from The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and Newsweek for refusing to sign a government-mandated pledge of compliance with censorship regulations.
  • 21 Jul 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Spacecraft Undock: The historic Apollo-Soyuz mission concluded its joint activities as the American and Soviet spacecraft undocked at 11:26 a.m. EDT. This mission represented a pivotal moment of cooperation during the Cold War, symbolizing détente between the United States and Soviet Union in space exploration.
  • 22 Jul 1975 South Africa Supports Angolan Independence Fighters: South Africa began providing military aid to pro-Western Angolan independence fighters FNLA and UNITA, opposing the Marxist MPLA in the complex Angolan independence struggle.
  • 23 Jul 1975 Dodgers Players Hit Consecutive Pinch Home Runs: On July 23, 1975, in a remarkable baseball achievement, Los Angeles Dodgers players Willie Crawford and Lee Lacy became the fifth duo in Major League Baseball history to hit consecutive pinch home runs during the same game. This rare feat highlighted the Dodgers' offensive depth and the players' exceptional batting skills.
  • 24 Jul 1975 Apollo 18 returns to Earth.
  • 25 Jul 1975 A Chorus Line Broadway Premiere: The groundbreaking musical 'A Chorus Line' premieres at the Shubert Theatre in New York City, marking the beginning of its record-setting Broadway run. Created by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban, the show would become a landmark in musical theatre history, ultimately running for 6,137 performances and winning multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize.
  • 26 Jul 1975 Gerald Ford Announces 1976 Presidential Campaign: President Gerald R. Ford officially announced his candidacy for the 1976 presidential election, marking a significant moment as the first unelected president seeking a full term after succeeding Richard Nixon.
  • 27 Jul 1975 Assassination of Alfred Duraiappah in Jaffna: Alfred Duraiappah, the Mayor of Jaffna and former Member of Parliament, was assassinated on July 27, 1975. This event was significant in the context of the emerging Sri Lankan Civil War, marking an early and brutal political killing that would foreshadow years of violent conflict between Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan government.
  • 29 Jul 1975 DUPE: Ford's Auschwitz Visit: US President Gerald Ford became the first sitting US President to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, marking a significant moment of historical acknowledgment and remembrance of the Holocaust.
  • 30 Jul 1975 Jimmy Hoffa Disappearance: Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously vanished from the Machus Red Fox restaurant parking lot in suburban Detroit, marking one of the most infamous unsolved disappearances in American labor history. Hoffa was last seen around 2:30 p.m. and would be legally declared dead in 1982, despite his body never being found.
  • 31 Jul 1975 The Miami Showband Massacre: During the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, a tragic paramilitary attack resulted in the deaths of three members of a popular cabaret band and two gunmen, highlighting the brutal sectarian violence of the period.