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

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

  • 01 Jul 1984 PG-13 Movie Rating Introduced: The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) introduces the PG-13 movie rating, creating a new category between PG and R to provide more nuanced content guidance for moviegoers.
  • 02 Jul 1984 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signed: On July 2, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark Civil Rights Act, a pivotal piece of legislation that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This historic law was a critical milestone in the American civil rights movement, dismantling legal segregation and providing federal protections for marginalized communities.
  • 03 Jul 1984 Supreme Court Ruling on Jaycees Gender Discrimination: The United States Supreme Court ruled that the Jaycees organization could not discriminate against women and must admit female members, marking a significant milestone in gender equality.
  • 04 Jul 1984 World Record Hammer Throw: Soviet athlete Yuri Sedykh set a world record by throwing the hammer 86.33 metres.
  • 05 Jul 1984 United States v. Leon Supreme Court Decision: The United States Supreme Court issued the landmark United States v. Leon decision, establishing a significant good-faith exception to the Fourth Amendment's exclusionary rule. This ruling allows evidence obtained through technically defective search warrants to be admissible in criminal trials if law enforcement acted in good faith and believed the warrant was valid.
  • 06 Jul 1984 Atari Acquisition by Jack Tramiel: Warner Communications sold its home video game and computer systems division of Atari to entrepreneur Jack Tramiel for US$240 million, structured through long-term loans. The deal included an option for Warner to potentially purchase up to 32 percent interest in the new company at US$2 per share, marking a significant transition in the early personal computer and gaming industry.
  • 07 Jul 1984 91st Wimbledon Women's Tennis Championship: Martina Navratilova defeats Chris Evert in a thrilling Wimbledon Women's Singles final, showcasing her tennis dominance during the 1980s.
  • 08 Jul 1984 Battle of Poltava: A Turning Point in European Power Dynamics: Peter I of Russia decisively defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava, marking the end of Sweden's era as a major European power and signaling Russia's rising influence.
  • 09 Jul 1984 Lightning Strikes York Minster: On July 9, 1984, a devastating lightning strike set fire to York Minster, one of England's most historic and significant medieval cathedrals. The lightning bolt caused a massive fire that swept through much of the building's structure, creating significant architectural damage.
  • 10 Jul 1984 Supreme Court Rules on Gender Discrimination in Private Organizations: In a landmark civil rights decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Jaycees, a male-only civic organization, could not legally exclude women from membership. This ruling was a significant step towards gender equality, challenging discriminatory practices in private associations and reinforcing anti-discrimination laws.
  • 11 Jul 1984 Vehicle Safety Regulation: The U.S. government mandated that all cars must be equipped with either air bags or seat belts by 1989, a crucial step in improving automotive passenger safety.
  • 12 Jul 1984 Geraldine Ferraro Becomes First Female Major-Party VP Candidate: On July 12, 1984, Geraldine Ferraro made history by becoming the first woman nominated as a vice-presidential candidate by a major U.S. political party. Her selection by Walter Mondale on the Democratic ticket represented a significant milestone for women in American politics.
  • 13 Jul 1984 Terry Wallis Coma and Miraculous Awakening: Terry Wallis, a nineteen-year-old from the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, suffered a severe automobile accident that left him in a deep coma. In an extraordinary medical event, he would eventually awaken nineteen years later on June 13, 2003, capturing national attention and highlighting the mysteries of human consciousness and medical recovery.
  • 14 Jul 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's Massacre: In a tragic mass shooting at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro, California, 41-year-old James Oliver Huberty killed 21 people before being fatally shot by law enforcement, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history at that time.
  • 15 Jul 1984 Severomorsk Naval Base Disaster: A catastrophic explosion at the Soviet Union's Severomorsk Naval Base in the Northern Fleet resulted in the destruction of approximately two-thirds of their missile stockpile, representing a major military setback during the Cold War era.
  • 16 Jul 1984 Death of Billy Williams, Comedian and Singer: Billy Williams, a notable entertainer known for his performances on the iconic 'Your Show of Shows', passed away at the age of 73. Williams was a prominent comedian and singer during the golden age of television variety shows, contributing significantly to the entertainment landscape of mid-20th century America.
  • 17 Jul 1984 United States Raises National Drinking Age: The United States federal government standardized the national drinking age to 21, effectively creating a uniform policy across all states to reduce alcohol-related accidents and youth drinking.
  • 18 Jul 1984 McDonald's Massacre in San Ysidro: On July 18, 1984, a tragic mass shooting occurred at a McDonald's restaurant in San Ysidro, California. James Oliver Huberty, a 41-year-old unemployed security guard, opened fire indiscriminately, killing 21 people and injuring 19 others. The incident is considered one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history at the time. After a 77-minute rampage, Huberty was ultimately shot and killed by a police SWAT team sniper.
  • 19 Jul 1984 Geraldine Ferraro Wins Democratic VP Nomination: Congresswoman Geraldine A. Ferraro from New York becomes the first female vice-presidential nominee for a major U.S. political party, representing the Democratic Party.
  • 20 Jul 1984 Vanessa Williams Resigns from Miss America: Vanessa Lynn Williams is asked to resign from her Miss America title after unauthorized nude photographs of her are published in Penthouse magazine, marking a significant moment in pageant history and challenging societal norms of the time.
  • 21 Jul 1984 First Documented Robot-Related Fatality in the US: In a tragic industrial accident at a factory in Jackson, Michigan, a robot crushes a worker against a safety bar, marking the first recorded robot-related human fatality in the United States and raising significant questions about workplace safety and emerging robotic technologies.
  • 22 Jul 1984 113th British Golf Open: Seve Ballesteros Wins at St. Andrews: Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros wins the 113th British Open Golf Championship at the historic St. Andrews course, shooting an impressive total of 276 and securing victory by two shots over competitors Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson. This marks his second of three Open titles, further cementing his legacy in professional golf.
  • 23 Jul 1984 Vanessa Williams Resigns as Miss America: Vanessa Lynn Williams becomes the first Miss America to resign from her title after unauthorized nude photographs of her were published in Penthouse magazine. This event marked a significant moment in pageant history, highlighting issues of privacy, personal judgment, and societal standards of the time.
  • 24 Jul 1984 Air France Concorde Crash Tragedy: Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde supersonic passenger aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 109 passengers and crew, plus four people on the ground. This catastrophic event marked a turning point in the history of supersonic commercial aviation.
  • 25 Jul 1984 First Woman's Space Walk: Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya made history on July 25, 1984, by becoming the first woman to conduct a spacewalk during the Soyuz T-12 mission. She performed extravehicular activity (EVA) while docked at the Salyut 7 space station, breaking significant ground for women in space exploration.
  • 26 Jul 1984 Pete Rose Ties Ty Cobb's Single Record: Cincinnati Reds player Pete Rose achieved a significant milestone by tying Ty Cobb's record of 3,052 career singles, showcasing his remarkable consistency and hitting prowess in Major League Baseball.
  • 27 Jul 1984 Prince's 'Purple Rain' Premieres: The iconic musical film 'Purple Rain' premiered in Hollywood, marking a pivotal moment in pop culture that transformed musician Prince into a global superstar. The film not only showcased Prince's extraordinary musical talent but also established him as a significant cultural icon of the 1980s.
  • 28 Jul 1984 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles: The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, opened in Los Angeles, California, United States. The event was marked by the presence of US President Ronald Reagan, who officially opened the Games. These Olympics were historically significant due to the ongoing Cold War tensions, with fourteen Eastern Bloc countries, including the Soviet Union and East Germany, boycotting the event in retaliation for the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia.
  • 29 Jul 1984 23rd Summer Olympics Open in Los Angeles: The 1984 Summer Olympic Games officially commence in Los Angeles, California, marking a significant international sporting event during the Cold War era. The Games were notable for the Soviet Union's boycott, which followed the United States' boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
  • 30 Jul 1984 Youngest Heart Transplant Recipient: Holly Roffey, an 11-day-old infant, becomes the youngest person to successfully undergo a heart transplant, marking a significant milestone in pediatric cardiac surgery.
  • 31 Jul 1984 US Men's Gymnastics Team Olympic Victory: The United States men's gymnastics team secured the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, showcasing exceptional athletic skill and national pride during the Cold War-era Olympic Games.