Major Events of September 1981: 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 September 1981 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of September 1981: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Sep 1981 Voyager 2 Spacecraft Approaches Saturn: NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Saturn, continuing its groundbreaking planetary exploration mission and capturing unprecedented scientific data about the ringed planet and its complex system of moons.
- 02 Sep 1981 Soviet Underground Nuclear Test: The Soviet Union conducted an underground nuclear test, continuing its nuclear weapons development program during the Cold War era. Such tests were part of the ongoing strategic and technological competition between global superpowers.
- 03 Sep 1981 UN Convention on Women's Rights Established: The United Nations instituted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), a groundbreaking international bill of rights designed to protect and promote women's equality worldwide.
- 04 Sep 1981 Assassination of French Ambassador in Lebanon: Louis Delamare, France's ambassador to Lebanon, was assassinated in Beirut, highlighting the volatile political climate in the region during this period.
- 05 Sep 1981 Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp Established: The first women arrived at what would become the historic Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp in the United Kingdom, marking a significant moment of feminist and anti-nuclear protest. The camp would become a powerful symbol of peaceful resistance against nuclear weapons during the Cold War era.
- 06 Sep 1981 Christy Brown: Irish Poet and Artist: Christy Brown, a renowned Irish author, poet, and artist, was born in 1932. Known for overcoming significant physical challenges due to cerebral palsy, Brown became famous for creating art and writing using only his left foot.
- 07 Sep 1981 West Tampa, Florida Wins American Legion World Series: The West Tampa, Florida baseball team triumphed in the American Legion World Series, defeating Rich, Virginia with a decisive 6-4 victory. This win highlighted the team's skill, teamwork, and representation of their local community in a prestigious youth baseball tournament.
- 08 Sep 1981 Only Fools and Horses TV Premiere: Iconic British comedy series 'Only Fools and Horses' created by John Sullivan premieres on BBC One. The show, starring David Jason as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter, Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney, and Lennard Pearce as Grandad, would go on to become one of the most beloved sitcoms in British television history.
- 09 Sep 1981 Jagat Narain Assassination: Jagat Narain, a 92-year-old Indian newspaper owner, was assassinated by three gunmen after publishing articles critical of Sikh militant groups, highlighting the dangerous landscape of journalism during this period of political tension.
- 10 Sep 1981 Picasso's Guernica Returns to Spain: The iconic anti-war painting 'Guernica' by Pablo Picasso was finally returned to Spain after decades of exile. Created in 1937 in response to the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, the monumental artwork symbolized the suffering and devastation of war. Its return marked a significant moment in Spanish cultural history, representing the country's transition to democracy and reconciliation with its turbulent past.
- 11 Sep 1981 Assassination of Ayatollah Mir Asadollah Madani: Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Mir Asadollah Madani was assassinated during Friday prayers in Tabriz. A man approached him near the end of the Jumu'ah service and detonated a grenade, killing Madani, the assassin, and six worshippers. Madani had become the Imam for Tabriz following the 1979 assassination of Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei.
- 12 Sep 1981 Devastating Kashmir Earthquake: A powerful magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Gilgit area in Kashmir, causing massive destruction. The catastrophic event resulted in at least 220 fatalities, over 2,500 injuries, and extensive damage, including numerous landslides that reshaped the region's landscape.
- 13 Sep 1981 McEnroe Defeats Borg at US Open: John McEnroe beats Björn Borg for the US Open tennis title in a highly anticipated match, further solidifying his rivalry and dominance in professional tennis.
- 14 Sep 1981 People's Court TV Show Premiere: Judge Joseph Wapner's People's Court debuts on television, introducing a groundbreaking format of televised small claims court proceedings that would influence future reality court shows.
- 15 Sep 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor Approved for Supreme Court: The United States Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court, marking a historic milestone for gender representation in the highest judicial body.
- 16 Sep 1981 Assassination of Iranian Ayatollah: Ayatollah Mir Asadollah Madani was assassinated during the Jumu'ah prayer service in Tabriz, Iran, marking a significant moment of political violence during the post-revolutionary period.
- 17 Sep 1981 Gerald R. Ford's State Funeral: The state funeral of former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford was held with full presidential honors, marking the end of a significant chapter in American political history. The ceremony honored Ford's service to the nation, including his role in healing the country after the Watergate scandal.
- 18 Sep 1981 France Abolishes Capital Punishment: On September 18, 1981, the French Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly) voted to abolish capital punishment, marking a significant milestone in the country's human rights and judicial reform. This historic decision effectively ended the death penalty in France, reflecting a growing global trend towards more humane criminal justice practices.
- 19 Sep 1981 Simon and Garfunkel's Historic Central Park Concert: Legendary folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel performed a free concert in Central Park, New York, drawing an estimated half a million people. This reunion concert became an iconic cultural event, symbolizing the enduring appeal of their music.
- 20 Sep 1981 China's First Triple Satellite Launch: China achieves a significant milestone in its space program by successfully launching three satellites into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, marking a major advancement in its space technology capabilities.
- 21 Sep 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor Becomes First Female Supreme Court Justice: On September 21, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor made history by being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice. Her appointment was a groundbreaking moment for gender equality in the United States judicial system, breaking a significant barrier for women in high-level government positions.
- 22 Sep 1981 Tragic Turkish Air Force Training Accident: During a military exercise, a Turkish Air Force Northrop F-5 fighter jet crashed in Babaeski due to pilot error, resulting in the death of one crew member and 65 soldiers on the ground, marking one of the most devastating military training accidents in Turkish history.
- 23 Sep 1981 Donkey Kong Arcade Game Released: Nintendo released the groundbreaking arcade game Donkey Kong, which would become a pivotal moment in video game history. The game introduced the iconic characters Mario (then known as Jumpman) and Donkey Kong, launching Nintendo into global prominence in the electronic gaming industry.
- 24 Sep 1981 United States Conducts Nuclear Test in Nevada: On September 24, 1981, the United States conducted a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site, continuing its Cold War-era nuclear weapons development and testing program. These underground nuclear tests were part of the ongoing strategic and technological competition with the Soviet Union during the early 1980s.
- 25 Sep 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor Becomes First Female Supreme Court Justice: Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as the 102nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this prestigious judicial position. Her appointment represented a significant breakthrough for gender equality in the highest levels of the U.S. judicial system.
- 26 Sep 1981 Assassination of Ayatollah Madani: Iranian Ayatollah Mir Asadollah Madani was assassinated during Friday prayers in Tabriz. A man carrying a grenade approached Madani near the end of the service and detonated the explosive, killing Madani, the assassin, and six other worshippers. Madani had become the Imam for Tabriz following the 1979 assassination of Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei.
- 27 Sep 1981 First TGV High-Speed Train Service: The inaugural commercial run of the Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) high-speed rail service commenced, connecting Paris and Lyon. Departing Paris's Gare de Lyon at 6:15 am with 772 passengers, the train reached speeds of 156 miles per hour and arrived in Lyon at 9:05 am, marking a significant milestone in French transportation technology.
- 28 Sep 1981 Joseph Paul Franklin Sentenced for Racist Murders: Joseph Paul Franklin, a notorious white supremacist, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the racially motivated murders of two Black joggers in Salt Lake City, Utah. His crimes were part of a broader pattern of hate-driven violence targeting racial minorities.
- 29 Sep 1981 Iranian Military Aircraft Crash: A tragic aviation disaster occurred when an Iranian Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft crashed into a firing range near Kahrizak, Iran, resulting in the devastating loss of 80 lives.
- 30 Sep 1981 US Debt Ceiling Milestone: The United States reaches a historic milestone as its national debt ceiling is raised to one trillion dollars for the first time. The U.S. Senate approved increasing the government's credit limit from $985 billion to $1,079 billion, signaling growing national financial complexity.