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Major Events of November 1987: 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 1987 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of November 1987: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 1987 Death of René Lévesque, Quebec Political Leader: René Lévesque, prominent Canadian politician and premier of Quebec from 1976 to 1985, passed away at age 65. A key figure in Quebec's political history, Lévesque was known for his significant role in the Quebec sovereignty movement.
  • 02 Nov 1987 Notable Music Releases: George Harrison released the album 'Cloud 9' and Paul McCartney released the compilation album 'All the Best' on this day, contributing to the rich musical landscape of 1987.
  • 03 Nov 1987 Wall Street Market Fluctuation: After a streak of five consecutive gains, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experiences a downturn, dropping 50.56 points, reflecting the volatile nature of financial markets in the late 1980s.
  • 04 Nov 1987 Lisa Steinberg Child Abuse Case: Lisa Steinberg, a 6-year-old girl, was tragically beaten into a coma by her adoptive father, Joel Steinberg, in a horrific case of child abuse that shocked the nation and drew significant attention to domestic violence and child welfare issues.
  • 05 Nov 1987 Govan Mbeki's Release from Robben Island Prison: Govan Mbeki, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and African National Congress (ANC) leader, was released from Robben Island prison after serving 24 years of a life sentence for treason against the white minority South African government. His release was a significant moment in the struggle against apartheid, symbolizing the gradual dismantling of the oppressive racial segregation system.
  • 06 Nov 1987 Birth of Ana Ivanovic: Ana Ivanovic, a prominent Serbian professional tennis player, was born on November 6, 1987, in Belgrade, Serbia. She would later become a Grand Slam champion and reach world No. 1 ranking, significantly contributing to Serbian tennis history.
  • 07 Nov 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Signed: U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, marking a significant milestone in Cold War arms reduction and diplomatic relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.
  • 08 Nov 1987 Enniskillen Remembrance Day Bombing: On November 8, 1987, a devastating terrorist attack occurred in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a bomb during a Remembrance Day service. The explosion killed eleven civilians and wounded sixty-three others, marking one of the most tragic incidents during the Northern Ireland conflict known as 'The Troubles'.
  • 09 Nov 1987 Black Monday Stock Market Crash: On November 9, 1987, global financial markets experienced a catastrophic single-day decline known as 'Black Monday'. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by an unprecedented 22.6%, representing the most significant percentage drop in stock market history at that time. This sudden and dramatic market collapse triggered widespread panic among investors, leading to massive sell-offs across international stock exchanges. The crash was attributed to a complex mix of factors, including computerized trading programs, market overvaluation, and growing economic uncertainties. The event exposed critical vulnerabilities in financial trading systems and prompted significant regulatory reforms in subsequent years.
  • 10 Nov 1987 Black Monday Stock Market Crash: On November 10, 1987, global stock markets experienced a catastrophic financial event known as Black Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) plummeted by 508 points, representing a staggering 22.6% decline in a single trading day. This unprecedented market crash is considered one of the most significant financial events of the late 20th century, causing widespread economic panic and triggering major reforms in financial market regulations.
  • 11 Nov 1987 Supreme Court Justice Nomination: Judge Anthony M. Kennedy was nominated to the United States Supreme Court, a significant appointment that would shape judicial decisions for decades to come.
  • 12 Nov 1987 Boris Yeltsin Fired from Moscow Communist Party Leadership: Boris Yeltsin was dismissed from his position as head of Moscow's Communist Party due to his vocal criticism of the slow pace of political and economic reforms. This event marked a significant moment in the late Soviet period, highlighting growing internal tensions and the eventual collapse of the Communist system.
  • 13 Nov 1987 First Condom Commercial on British Television: On November 13, 1987, the BBC made history by broadcasting the first-ever television commercial for condoms in the United Kingdom. This groundbreaking moment represented a significant step in public health communication and sexual education, breaking long-standing social taboos around discussing sexual health openly.
  • 14 Nov 1987 La Cage aux Folles Broadway Closing: The groundbreaking Broadway musical 'La Cage aux Folles' concluded its remarkable run at the Palace Theater in New York City after an impressive 1,761 performances. This landmark production, which premiered in 1983, was a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ representation in theater, challenging societal norms and bringing gay themes to mainstream audiences.
  • 15 Nov 1987 Braşov Rebellion Against Communist Regime: In a significant act of worker resistance, over 20,000 workers in Braşov, Romania, rebelled against Nicolae Ceaușescu's oppressive communist regime and harsh economic policies. Demonstrators marched towards the Communist Party headquarters and city hall, challenging the authoritarian government's control. The protest was ultimately suppressed by Securitate (secret police) forces, highlighting the growing tensions within Romania's communist system.
  • 16 Nov 1987 Parlatino Treaty of Institutionalization: The Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) signs the Treaty of Institutionalization, establishing a formal framework for regional legislative cooperation and integration.
  • 17 Nov 1987 Velvet Revolution Begins: In Czechoslovakia, a student demonstration in Prague is violently suppressed by riot police, igniting the Velvet Revolution—a peaceful uprising aimed at overthrowing the communist government and ultimately leading to the fall of the communist regime.
  • 18 Nov 1987 King's Cross Underground Station Fire: A devastating fire at King's Cross St Pancras underground station in London resulted in 31 fatalities, marking one of the most tragic transportation accidents in British history. The blaze exposed significant safety deficiencies in London's subway infrastructure and led to major reforms in fire prevention and emergency response protocols.
  • 19 Nov 1987 Max Headroom Broadcast Signal Hijacking: On November 19, 1987, an unprecedented television signal intrusion occurred in Chicago, where unknown hackers successfully interrupted the broadcast signals of two television stations, WGN-TV and WTTW. During the brief interruption, a person wearing a Max Headroom-style mask appeared on screen, creating one of the most bizarre and mysterious incidents in broadcast history. The first interruption lasted approximately 20 seconds on WGN-TV's evening news broadcast, and a subsequent, more extended hijacking on WTTW lasted around 90 seconds. Despite extensive investigations by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and local authorities, the perpetrators were never identified, making this a legendary moment in early hacker culture and television anomalies.
  • 20 Nov 1987 Lusaka Protocol Signed in Angola: On November 20, 1987, the Angolan government and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) rebels signed the Lusaka Protocol in Zambia, ostensibly bringing an end to 19 years of devastating civil conflict. Despite the diplomatic agreement, localized fighting would resume the following year, highlighting the fragility of the peace process and the deep-rooted tensions within the country.
  • 21 Nov 1987 Jonathan Pollard Spy Arrest: U.S. Navy intelligence analyst Jonathan Pollard was arrested for espionage after being caught passing classified national defense information to Israel. His arrest on November 21, 1987, marked a significant breach of national security and led to a controversial life sentence. Pollard's case became a complex diplomatic and legal issue between the United States and Israel.
  • 22 Nov 1987 Max Headroom Broadcast Signal Intrusion Incident: On November 22, 1987, an unprecedented television signal hijacking occurred in Chicago, where unknown perpetrators successfully interrupted the broadcasts of WGN-TV and WTTW. The intrusion lasted approximately 110 seconds total, with a bizarre video featuring a person wearing a Max Headroom mask, creating a surreal and mysterious moment in broadcast history.
  • 23 Nov 1987 Billboard Number 1 Hit in USA: (I've Had) The Time of My Life: On November 23, 1987, the iconic song '(I've Had) The Time of My Life' by Bill Medley topped the US music charts. This song, famously featured in the movie 'Dirty Dancing', became a massive hit and won both an Academy Award and a Grammy Award for Best Original Song.
  • 24 Nov 1987 Leadership Change in China: Li Peng Becomes Premier: Li Peng succeeded Zhao Ziyang as Premier of the People's Republic of China, marking a significant transition in Chinese political leadership during the late 1980s. This change occurred during a period of economic reforms and political complexity in China, with potential long-term implications for the country's governance and policy direction.
  • 25 Nov 1987 Devastating Typhoon Nina Strikes Philippines: Typhoon Nina, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, devastated the Philippines with extreme winds reaching 265 km/h (165 mph) and a massive storm surge. The typhoon destroyed entire villages, resulting in at least 1,036 confirmed fatalities and causing widespread destruction across the region.
  • 26 Nov 1987 Tokyo Disneyland Milestone Celebration: On November 26, 1987, Tokyo Disneyland achieved a significant milestone by welcoming its 50-millionth guest, marking an impressive achievement for the first Disney theme park in Asia. Located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, the park had rapidly become a cultural phenomenon since its opening on April 15, 1983. This momentous occasion highlighted the park's immense popularity and the growing enthusiasm for Western entertainment concepts in Japanese popular culture.
  • 27 Nov 1987 Assassination of Ross McWhirter by Provisional IRA: The Provisional IRA assassinated Ross McWhirter, a prominent journalist and anti-terrorism activist, shortly after he publicly announced a reward for capturing IRA members responsible for recent terrorist attacks in England.
  • 28 Nov 1987 South African Airways Flight 295 Disaster: South African Airways Flight 295 tragically crashed into the Indian Ocean, resulting in the complete loss of all 159 passengers and crew members. The aircraft was destroyed by a fire in the cargo hold, leading to a catastrophic mid-flight incident off the coast of Mauritius.
  • 29 Nov 1987 Korean Air Flight 858 Bombing: A devastating terrorist attack occurred when North Korean agents planted a bomb on Korean Air Flight 858, causing the aircraft to explode over the Thai-Burmese border, resulting in the tragic death of all 155 passengers and crew members. This act of international terrorism shocked the global community and highlighted the ongoing tensions in the Korean peninsula.
  • 30 Nov 1987 Daniel Noboa Birth: Daniel Noboa, who would later become the youngest-ever President of Ecuador, was born in Guayaquil on November 30, 1987. His future political significance makes this birth notable in contemporary Latin American political history.