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Major Events of December 1984: 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 1984 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of December 1984: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Dec 1984 NASA Controlled Impact Demonstration: NASA conducted a groundbreaking experiment called the Controlled Impact Demonstration, deliberately crashing a remote-controlled Boeing 720 airliner to test crash survivability technologies and gather critical safety data for future aircraft design and passenger protection.
  • 02 Dec 1984 Bhopal Disaster: Worst Industrial Catastrophe in History: A catastrophic methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, resulted in one of the most devastating industrial accidents ever recorded. The incident killed more than 8,000 people immediately and injured over half a million, with long-term health impacts raising the eventual death toll to approximately 23,000. The disaster exposed critical failures in industrial safety protocols and environmental regulations.
  • 03 Dec 1984 Bhopal Disaster: Catastrophic Industrial Accident: On December 3, 1984, a devastating industrial disaster occurred at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. A massive methyl isocyanate gas leak released toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment, causing immediate and long-term devastation. The accident resulted in approximately 3,800 immediate deaths and injured around 150,000-600,000 people, with an estimated 6,000 additional deaths occurring in subsequent years due to exposure-related health complications.
  • 04 Dec 1984 Mannar Massacre in Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Army soldiers conducted a brutal massacre, killing over 200 civilians in the town of Mannar, marking a significant and tragic event during the Sri Lankan Civil War.
  • 05 Dec 1984 Rickey Henderson Traded to New York Yankees: The Oakland Athletics traded star outfielder Rickey Henderson to the New York Yankees in a significant player exchange. Henderson, known for his exceptional base-stealing abilities, was traded along with pitcher Jay Howell and Jose Rijo in a multi-player deal that would reshape both teams' rosters.
  • 06 Dec 1984 Helena Suková Breaks Martina Navratilova's Winning Streak: In a remarkable tennis achievement, Helena Suková defeated Martina Navratilova in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, ending Navratilova's extraordinary 74-match winning streak. This match was a significant moment in professional tennis history.
  • 07 Dec 1984 Bhopal Disaster: Worst Industrial Accident in History: A catastrophic chemical leak at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, released 45 tons of toxic methyl isocyanate and other hazardous compounds. The disaster resulted in immediate deaths of 2,259 people, with long-term estimates suggesting up to 16,000 fatalities and over 500,000 people injured, making it one of the most devastating industrial accidents in human history.
  • 08 Dec 1984 Neo-Nazi Leader Killed in FBI Shootout: Robert Jay Mathews, the leader of the white supremacist group The Order, was killed in a violent confrontation with FBI agents, marking a significant moment in the suppression of domestic extremist movements in the United States.
  • 09 Dec 1984 Kuwaiti Jet Hijacking Ends: DUPE
  • 10 Dec 1984 Desmond Tutu Receives Nobel Peace Prize: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist and cleric, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his courageous non-violent struggle against racial oppression and his significant role in promoting human rights and racial reconciliation.
  • 11 Dec 1984 Mauretania Military Coup: A military coup takes place in Mauritania, led by Colonel Maawiya Ould Sid'ahmed Taya, marking a significant political transition in the country's governance. The coup represents a typical pattern of political instability in West African nations during the 1980s, where military interventions were common methods of changing national leadership.
  • 12 Dec 1984 Battle of Tolvajärvi: Finnish Victory in Winter War: Finnish forces achieve a significant and morale-boosting victory against Soviet Union troops in the Battle of Tolvajärvi, marking their first major success during the Winter War of 1939-1940.
  • 13 Dec 1984 William Schroeder's First Stroke After Artificial Heart Implantation: On December 13, 1984, William Schroeder, a pioneering recipient of an artificial heart, experienced his first stroke. Schroeder was part of the groundbreaking Jarvik-7 artificial heart program at Humana Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, and was the second patient to receive a permanent artificial heart after Barney Clark. This medical event highlighted the complex challenges and potential complications of early artificial heart transplantation.
  • 14 Dec 1984 Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Tops UK Charts: The charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid, a supergroup of British and Irish musicians, reached number 1 in the UK music charts. The song was created to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia and became a significant cultural moment of 1980s humanitarian efforts.
  • 15 Dec 1984 Band Aid's Charity Single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Tops UK Charts: On December 15, 1984, the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid entered the UK chart at No. 1, remaining at the top for five consecutive weeks. The song, featuring numerous prominent British musicians, was created to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia and became the biggest-selling UK single of its time, with over 3.5 million copies sold.
  • 16 Dec 1984 Charity Single Milestone: On December 16, 1984, Band Aid's charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was the number one song in the United Kingdom, raising awareness and funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, marking a significant moment in music-driven humanitarian efforts.
  • 17 Dec 1984 Revolutionary Act Against British Colonial Rule: Indian revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru assassinate British police officer James Saunders in Lahore, Punjab, as an act of retaliation for the infamous Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, symbolizing the intense resistance against British colonial oppression.
  • 18 Dec 1984 Sweden Triumphs in 73rd Davis Cup Tennis Tournament: In a decisive display of tennis prowess, the Swedish national tennis team defeated the United States team 4-1 in the 73rd Davis Cup final held in Gothenburg, Sweden. This victory solidified Sweden's growing reputation as a dominant force in international tennis during the 1980s.
  • 19 Dec 1984 Sino-British Hong Kong Treaty Signing: People's Republic of China Premier Zhao Ziyang and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher signed a historic treaty in Beijing, agreeing to the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, marking a significant diplomatic milestone in post-colonial geopolitics.
  • 20 Dec 1984 Jonelle Matthews Disappearance: Jonelle Matthews, a young girl from Greeley, Colorado, mysteriously disappeared on this date. Her case remained unsolved for decades until her remains were discovered on July 23, 2019, approximately 24 kilometers southeast of her home. The investigation revealed her cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.
  • 21 Dec 1984 Soviet Space Mission to Halley's Comet: The Soviet Union launches the Vega 2 spacecraft as part of an international mission to conduct a fly-by of Halley's Comet, contributing to significant scientific exploration of celestial bodies.
  • 22 Dec 1984 Bernhard Goetz Subway Shooting Incident: Bernhard Goetz shoots four African-American men on an express train in the Bronx, New York City, sparking a national controversy about urban crime, race relations, and self-defense.
  • 23 Dec 1984 Viv Richards' Remarkable Test Cricket Performance: On December 23, 1984, legendary West Indies batsman Viv Richards delivered an extraordinary performance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring an impressive 208 runs against Australia. This remarkable innings showcased Richards' exceptional batting skills and further cemented his status as one of cricket's most formidable players of the era.
  • 24 Dec 1984 Mauritanian Palace Coup of 1984: On December 24, 1984, a significant political upheaval occurred in Mauritania when military officers staged a palace coup, overthrowing the existing government. Colonel Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya seized power, marking a critical moment in Mauritanian political history and demonstrating the ongoing political instability in the region during the 1980s.
  • 25 Dec 1984 The Veronicas: Australian Pop Duo Born: Jessica and Lisa Origliasso, twin sisters who would later form the popular Australian pop music duo The Veronicas, were born on this date. Known for their energetic pop-rock style and harmonious vocals, they would become significant figures in the Australian music scene.
  • 26 Dec 1984 Royal Wedding of Princess Astrid of Belgium: Princess Astrid of Belgium married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este in a prestigious royal ceremony, uniting two noble European families. The wedding was a significant social event in the Belgian royal calendar, symbolizing diplomatic and familial connections between European aristocratic lineages.
  • 27 Dec 1984 Significant Martian Meteorite Discovery in Antarctica: A team of American meteorite hunters discovers the meteorite ALH 84001 in the Allan Hills region of Antarctica. This remarkable find would later gain significant scientific attention when, in 1996, a NASA research team led by David McKay reported potential evidence of past microbial life, including possible 'microfossils' within the meteorite. The discovery sparked intense scientific debate about the possibility of past life on Mars and became a pivotal moment in extraterrestrial research.
  • 28 Dec 1984 Ethiopian Famine of 1984: A devastating humanitarian crisis begins in Ethiopia, leading to widespread starvation and the death of approximately one million people by the end of 1984. This catastrophic event drew international attention and sparked significant global humanitarian relief efforts.
  • 29 Dec 1984 Wayne Gretzky's Remarkable Performance: Wayne Gretzky scores his 32nd NHL career hat trick and adds 3 assists in Edmonton's 6-3 victory over Detroit Red Wings. He reaches his 100th point in just 35 games, the 2nd fastest in NHL history (previously recorded 100 points in 34 games in 1983).
  • 30 Dec 1984 Devastating Earthquake in India-Bangladesh Border Region: A significant magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the India-Bangladesh border region, causing substantial destruction in southern Assam, India. The seismic event resulted in 20 fatalities, approximately 100 injuries, and left around 10,000 people homeless. The earthquake caused extensive structural damage to buildings and infrastructure in the affected area.
  • 31 Dec 1984 Rajiv Gandhi Becomes Prime Minister of India: Rajiv Gandhi assumes office as India's 6th Prime Minister, succeeding his mother Indira Gandhi in a significant political transition following her assassination earlier that year.