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

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

  • 01 Nov 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Following Indira Gandhi's Assassination: After the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 31 October 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, widespread anti-Sikh riots erupted across India. These violent incidents resulted in the targeted persecution of Sikh communities, with tens of thousands of Sikhs experiencing violence, property destruction, and tragic loss of life.
  • 02 Nov 1984 First Female Execution in the United States Since 1962: On November 2, 1984, Velma Barfield was executed in Raleigh, North Carolina, becoming the first woman executed in the United States since 1962. Her execution marked a significant moment in the history of capital punishment in America.
  • 03 Nov 1984 Cremation of Indira Gandhi: The state funeral of assassinated Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took place, marking a somber moment in Indian political history. Her cremation was a significant national event, attended by her family and high-ranking government officials.
  • 04 Nov 1984 Funeral of Indira Gandhi: Indira Gandhi was cremated in New Delhi, marking a significant moment in Indian political history. Her son, newly appointed Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, lit her funeral pyre on the banks of the Jamuna river. The ceremony was attended by over 100 foreign dignitaries, including notable world leaders such as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, USSR Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov, US Secretary of State George Shultz, and leaders from Zambia and Pakistan. The event symbolized the end of an era in Indian politics and the transition of power.
  • 05 Nov 1984 Nicaragua's Democratic Breakthrough: Nicaragua held its first free and democratic elections in 56 years, marking a significant moment in the country's political history. The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), led by Daniel Ortega, won a decisive victory with 63% of the vote, signaling a transition from decades of authoritarian rule and civil conflict.
  • 06 Nov 1984 1984 United States Presidential Election Landslide: In a historic election, incumbent President Ronald Reagan secured a monumental victory over Democratic challenger Walter F. Mondale, winning 59% of the popular vote - the highest percentage since Richard Nixon's 1972 election. Reagan carried an unprecedented 49 states, with Mondale managing to win only his home state of Minnesota by a razor-thin margin of 3,761 votes and the District of Columbia.
  • 07 Nov 1984 Space Shuttle Discovery STS 51-A Launch Postponed: The launch of Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS 51-A was scrubbed due to unfavorable high wind shear conditions at Kennedy Space Center. Wind shear, which represents sudden changes in wind speed or direction at different altitudes, can pose significant risks to spacecraft during launch, necessitating a postponement to ensure crew and mission safety.
  • 08 Nov 1984 Reagan Re-elected in Landslide Victory: Ronald Reagan was re-elected as the President of the United States, defeating Democratic rival Walter Mondale in a historic election with the largest margin of victory in modern political history. Reagan's overwhelming win solidified his conservative policy agenda and marked a significant moment in 1980s American politics.
  • 09 Nov 1984 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Completed: The "Three Servicemen" statue, part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is completed, providing a complementary sculptural element to the famous black granite wall honoring those who served in the Vietnam War.
  • 10 Nov 1984 First Breeders' Cup Horse Racing Championship: The inaugural Breeders' Cup World Championships took place at Hollywood Park Racetrack in California, marking a significant milestone in professional horse racing. This prestigious event brought together top thoroughbred horses and jockeys from across the United States to compete in multiple high-stakes races.
  • 11 Nov 1984 Death of Martin Luther King Sr.: Reverend Martin Luther King Sr., father of the legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., passed away in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 84. A prominent civil rights activist and Baptist minister in his own right, he was a significant figure in the African American community and the civil rights movement.
  • 12 Nov 1984 First Space Satellite Salvage Mission: Astronauts Dale A. Gardner and Joseph P. Allen aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery performed groundbreaking space walks to retrieve and salvage two malfunctioning satellites: Palapa B-2 and Westar 6. This historic mission marked the first successful satellite retrieval operation in space, demonstrating advanced astronaut capabilities and spacecraft maneuverability.
  • 13 Nov 1984 Ryne Sandberg Wins National League MVP: Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg was awarded the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award on November 13, 1984, recognizing his outstanding performance during the baseball season. Sandberg was known for his exceptional defensive skills and powerful batting, making him a key player for the Cubs during the 1980s.
  • 14 Nov 1984 Assassination of Cesar Climaco: Cesar Climaco, the mayor of Zamboanga City and a prominent critic of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated in his home city. Climaco, born in 1916, was known for his vocal opposition to the Marcos regime and was a significant political figure during a tumultuous period in Philippine history.
  • 15 Nov 1984 Cali Cartel Leader's Capture and Release: Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, a prominent leader of the notorious Cali Cartel, was temporarily captured in Spain while attempting to expand the cartel's international drug trafficking operations in Europe. Despite initial arrest, he was later acquitted and returned to Colombia, demonstrating the complex legal challenges in combating international drug cartels during the 1980s.
  • 16 Nov 1984 John Lennon Posthumous Album Release: John Lennon's album 'Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him' is released, continuing his musical legacy after his tragic death in 1980.
  • 17 Nov 1984 Purvis Short's Career-High Performance: Golden State Warriors' player Purvis Short achieves a career-high 59 points in a thrilling NBA game, though ultimately losing to the New Jersey Nets 124-110.
  • 18 Nov 1984 International Humanitarian Aid: During the Ethiopian famine, the Soviet Union assisted in delivering American wheat, demonstrating an unusual moment of international cooperation during the Cold War era.
  • 19 Nov 1984 San Juanico Disaster: Major Petroleum Storage Facility Explosion in Mexico City: A catastrophic series of explosions occurred at the PEMEX petroleum storage facility in San Juan Ixhuatepec, Mexico City, resulting in a massive fire that claimed approximately 500 lives. This industrial disaster is considered one of the most devastating technological accidents in Mexican history, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of human life.
  • 20 Nov 1984 SETI Founded: The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute is established, dedicated to exploring and understanding potential extraterrestrial life through scientific research and advanced astronomical observations.
  • 21 Nov 1984 Operation Moses: Ethiopian Jewish Refugee Evacuation: Operation Moses was a covert Israeli rescue mission that began on November 21, 1984, aimed at evacuating Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel community) from refugee camps in Sudan to Israel. The operation was a complex humanitarian effort that involved secret airlift operations through Brussels, Belgium, helping thousands of Ethiopian Jews escape challenging conditions and potential persecution to resettle in Israel. This mission was part of a broader initiative to bring Ethiopian Jews to their ancestral homeland, reflecting both humanitarian concerns and Israel's commitment to Jewish immigration.
  • 22 Nov 1984 Total Solar Eclipse of November 1984: A significant astronomical event occurred on November 22-23, 1984, featuring a total solar eclipse at the Moon's descending node of orbit. The eclipse had a precise magnitude of 1.0237, representing a rare celestial phenomenon.
  • 23 Nov 1984 Doug Flutie's Legendary Hail Mary Pass: In a historic moment of American college football, Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie threw an extraordinary 48-yard Hail Mary pass to wide receiver Gerard Phelan, dramatically defeating the University of Miami Hurricanes 45-41. This play is widely considered one of the most iconic and memorable moments in college football history, instantly elevating Flutie to national sports legend status.
  • 24 Nov 1984 Battle of Lookout Mountain during American Civil War: During the American Civil War, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant captured Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee, strategically breaking the Confederate siege led by General Braxton Bragg. This battle was a significant turning point in the Western Theater of the war, demonstrating the Union's tactical superiority and weakening the Confederate position in the region.
  • 25 Nov 1984 Band Aid Records 'Do They Know It's Christmas': Thirty-six of Britain and Ireland's top pop musicians gather in a Notting Hill studio to form Band Aid and record the iconic charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas', aimed at raising awareness and funds for famine relief in Ethiopia during a devastating humanitarian crisis.
  • 26 Nov 1984 US and Iraq Restore Diplomatic Relations: The United States and Iraq officially re-establish diplomatic relations, marking a significant moment in Middle Eastern geopolitical dynamics during the early 1980s. This diplomatic reconnection occurred before the complex tensions that would later define their relationship.
  • 27 Nov 1984 Brussels Agreement on Gibraltar Sovereignty Discussions: On November 27, 1984, the United Kingdom and Spain signed the Brussels Agreement, a diplomatic accord that marked a significant milestone in the ongoing dialogue about Gibraltar's status. Under this agreement, the UK committed to entering into substantive discussions with Spain regarding the potential sovereignty of the British overseas territory. This diplomatic initiative represented a nuanced approach to resolving long-standing territorial tensions between the two nations, potentially opening pathways for future negotiations about Gibraltar's political future.
  • 28 Nov 1984 William Penn and Hannah Penn Granted Honorary US Citizenship: In a historic gesture of recognition, the United States Congress posthumously granted Honorary Citizenship to William Penn and his wife Hannah Callowhill Penn, over 250 years after their deaths. This honor acknowledges Penn's foundational role in establishing Pennsylvania and his significant contributions to religious freedom and democratic principles in early American colonial history.
  • 29 Nov 1984 Band Aid Releases Iconic Charity Single: The supergroup Band Aid, featuring prominent British and Irish musicians, releases the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' to raise awareness and funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, becoming a landmark moment in music-driven humanitarian efforts.
  • 30 Nov 1984 Michael Jackson's Thriller Album Global Release: Michael Jackson's groundbreaking album 'Thriller' was released worldwide, which would later be recognized as the best-selling album in music history, revolutionizing pop music and music video culture.