Major Events of December 1990: 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 1990 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 1990: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 1990 Channel Tunnel Breakthrough: Workers drill an opening 132 feet below the English Channel, connecting tunnel sections and reuniting Great Britain with the European mainland for the first time in over 8,000 years, a monumental engineering achievement.
02 Dec 1990 First All-German Parliamentary Election Post-Reunification: The first free parliamentary election in reunified Germany was held, with Chancellor Helmut Kohl leading a coalition that would shape the country's post-reunification political landscape.
03 Dec 1990 Mary Robinson Becomes First Female President of Ireland: Mary Robinson made history by becoming the first female President of Ireland, marking a significant milestone for gender representation in Irish politics and leadership.
04 Dec 1990 Milošević Becomes President of Serbia: Slobodan Milošević assumes the presidency of Serbia, a pivotal moment that would have significant implications for the future of Yugoslavia and the Balkan region.
05 Dec 1990 Iraq Signals Diplomatic Opening with US: In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, Iraq announced its willingness to engage in talks with the United States regarding the escalating Persian Gulf crisis, which would later develop into the Gulf War.
06 Dec 1990 Military Jet Crash in Bologna School Tragedy: A military jet of the Italian Air Force, abandoned by its pilot after an on-board fire, crashed into a high school near Bologna, resulting in a devastating loss of 12 student lives and injuring 88 others in a shocking accident.
07 Dec 1990 Iraqi Parliament Endorses Hostage Release Decision: In the context of rising tensions following the Gulf War, the Iraqi parliament officially endorsed Saddam Hussein's decision to release foreign hostages, signaling a potential diplomatic maneuver during the international crisis.
08 Dec 1990 Galileo Spacecraft Earth Flyby: NASA's Galileo spacecraft completed its first flyby of Earth, a critical maneuver in its complex trajectory towards Jupiter. This gravitational assist helped the spacecraft gain the necessary velocity to reach its ultimate destination in the outer solar system. The flyby was a crucial part of the mission's innovative trajectory design, using planetary gravity to modify its path without excessive fuel consumption.
09 Dec 1990 Lech Wałęsa Elected President of Poland: Lech Wałęsa, the iconic Solidarity movement leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, becomes the first democratically elected president of Poland, symbolizing the country's transition from communist rule to democracy.
10 Dec 1990 Hyderabad-Aligarh Communal Violence: A severe Hindu-Muslim rebellion erupted in Hyderabad-Aligarh, India, resulting in 140 fatalities. This incident highlighted the ongoing religious tensions in the region.
11 Dec 1990 Albanian Student and Worker Demonstrations Against Communism: Mass demonstrations by students and workers began across Albania, marking a critical turning point in the country's political landscape. These protests would ultimately lead to the collapse of the communist regime and pave the way for democratic reforms.
12 Dec 1990 US Ambassador Leaves Kuwait: Nathaniel Howell, the United States Ambassador to Kuwait, departed from Kuwait amid rising tensions in the region during the Gulf War period.
13 Dec 1990 Historic Meeting Between De Klerk and Mandela: South African President F. W. de Klerk met with Nelson Mandela in a pivotal discussion aimed at dismantling apartheid. This meeting represented a critical moment in South Africa's journey towards racial reconciliation and democratic transformation.
14 Dec 1990 Nancy Cruzan Right to Die Case Landmark Decision: In a pivotal legal case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Nancy Cruzan, who was in a persistent vegetative state following a car accident, could have her feeding tube removed. This landmark decision was a critical moment in medical ethics and patient autonomy, highlighting the right of individuals or their families to make end-of-life decisions. Cruzan passed away 12 days after the tube was removed.
15 Dec 1990 Iraq Accepts Diplomatic Talks with Bush Administration: In a significant diplomatic development during the Gulf Crisis, Iraq signaled willingness to engage in talks with the United States, potentially de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.
16 Dec 1990 Haiti's Democratic Transition: Aristide's Presidential Election: Reverend Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected President of Haiti, marking a historic moment that ended nearly three decades of oppressive military rule. As a former Catholic priest and pro-democracy activist, Aristide represented a significant shift towards democratic governance in Haiti, bringing hope for political reform and social change.
17 Dec 1990 KTBN Shortwave Radio Launch in Salt Lake City: KTBN, a radio station based in Salt Lake City, Utah, initiated its shortwave radio transmission services, expanding its broadcasting capabilities and potentially reaching a wider regional audience.
18 Dec 1990 National League 1993 Expansion Team Selection: The National League announced six finalist cities for its 1993 expansion, ultimately selecting Miami and Denver as the new franchise locations. The finalist cities included Buffalo, Denver, Miami, Orlando, Tampa-St. Petersburg, and Washington, DC.
19 Dec 1990 Major Winter Storm Impacts Minnesota and South Dakota: A significant winter storm swept through the northwestern regions of Minnesota, initiating snowfall by early afternoon on December 19th, 1990. The precipitation intensified overnight, blanketing the entire northern two-thirds of Minnesota and extending into northeastern South Dakota by the early afternoon of December 20th. The storm brought substantial snowfall, disrupting local transportation and daily activities in the affected regions.
20 Dec 1990 Significant Soviet Political Shift: Eduard Shevardnadze, a key reformist in Mikhail Gorbachev's government, unexpectedly resigns from his position as Soviet Foreign Minister, signaling potential instability in the Soviet leadership during the final months before its dissolution.
21 Dec 1990 Saddam Hussein Defies UN Withdrawal Deadline: In a provocative German television interview, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein explicitly stated that he would not withdraw Iraqi forces from Kuwait, directly challenging United Nations resolutions and escalating tensions in the lead-up to the Gulf War.
22 Dec 1990 Lech Wałęsa Becomes First Democratically Elected Polish President: Lech Wałęsa was sworn in as Poland's first popularly elected president, marking a significant milestone in Poland's transition from communist rule to democratic governance. As a former Solidarity trade union leader, Wałęsa played a crucial role in Poland's democratic revolution and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for his efforts in promoting human rights and peaceful political change.
23 Dec 1990 Slovenia Votes for Independence from Yugoslavia: In a historic referendum, Slovenia overwhelmingly voted to secede from Yugoslavia. 88.5% of the overall electorate (94.8% of votes cast) supported independence, with an impressive voter turnout of 93.3%. This marked a crucial moment in the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Slovenia's path to becoming an independent nation.
24 Dec 1990 St. Basil's Cathedral Bells Ring After Decades: On Christmas Eve, the historic bells of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow rang for the first time since the death of Vladimir Lenin, symbolizing a significant cultural and historical moment during the twilight of the Soviet era.
25 Dec 1990 Birth of the First Web Browser: Tim Berners-Lee creates the WorldWideWeb software browser for the NeXT computer, marking a pivotal moment in internet history by developing the first-ever web browser that would revolutionize global communication.
26 Dec 1990 Kasparov Retains Chess World Championship: Grandmaster Garry Kasparov successfully defended his world chess championship title by defeating longtime rival Anatoly Karpov in a high-stakes championship match, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest chess players of his era.
27 Dec 1990 President Bush's Working Holiday at Camp David: On December 27, 1990, President George H. W. Bush briefly interrupted his holiday vacation to handle routine administrative tasks at the White House before returning to Camp David, Maryland. This demonstrates the continuous nature of presidential responsibilities, even during the holiday season, as the president remained engaged with governmental matters while seeking some personal respite.
28 Dec 1990 New York City Subway Electrical Fire: A severe electrical fire occurred in a subway tunnel near Clark Street in Brooklyn, resulting in 2 fatalities and 188 injuries. The incident highlighted significant safety concerns in the New York City subway system.
29 Dec 1990 Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton's Wedding: Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, famous for her perfect 10 performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, married Shannon Kelley in a private ceremony. Retton, who became an American sports icon after her remarkable gymnastics achievements, transitioned into her personal life with this significant event.
30 Dec 1990 United Negro College Fund Annual Fundraising Success: The 11th annual fundraising campaign for the United Negro College Fund successfully raised $10,000,000, supporting educational opportunities for African American students across the United States.
31 Dec 1990 Iraq Implements Military Draft: In preparation for potential military conflict, Iraq initiated a mandatory military draft for 17-year-old males, signaling increasing tensions in the region and potential preparations for future military operations.