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

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

  • 01 Mar 1990 Steve Jackson Games Secret Service Raid: The United States Secret Service raided Steve Jackson Games, a pivotal event that ultimately led to the formation of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a significant moment in digital rights advocacy.
  • 02 Mar 1990 Nelson Mandela's ANC Leadership Role: Nelson Mandela was elected Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC), marking a significant milestone in his political career and South Africa's journey towards democracy.
  • 03 Mar 1990 First Dog Sled Crossing of Antarctica: The International Trans-Antarctica Expedition, consisting of six explorers from six different nations, successfully completed the first complete dog sled crossing of the Antarctic continent. This remarkable journey demonstrated extraordinary teamwork, endurance, and international scientific collaboration in one of the world's most challenging environments.
  • 04 Mar 1990 Bloodless Military Coup in Ciskei Bantustan: In a significant political development during the late apartheid era, Lennox Sebe was ousted from his position as President for life of the Ciskei Bantustan through a bloodless military coup led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.
  • 05 Mar 1990 Space Shuttle Mission STS-36 Returns: The U.S. 65th manned space mission, STS-36, successfully completed its mission and returned to Earth, contributing to ongoing space exploration efforts.
  • 06 Mar 1990 Newfoundland Rejects Meech Lake Accord: Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells officially confirmed that he would rescind the province's previous approval of the Meech Lake Accord, a significant moment in Canadian constitutional negotiations that ultimately led to the accord's failure.
  • 07 Mar 1990 Philadelphia Subway Train Derailment: A tragic subway train derailment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resulted in three passenger fatalities and 162 injuries. The incident highlighted critical safety concerns in urban public transportation infrastructure.
  • 08 Mar 1990 German Parliament Resolution on Polish Border: The German Bundestag issued a historic resolution affirming Germany's commitment to respecting Poland's territorial integrity. The resolution explicitly stated that Germany would not make any territorial claims against Poland, either in the present or future, symbolizing a significant step towards reconciliation after decades of historical tension.
  • 09 Mar 1990 Estonia Declares Independence: The Parliament of Estonia officially declared independence from the Soviet Union, a pivotal moment in the dissolution of the Soviet bloc and the restoration of Estonian sovereignty.
  • 10 Mar 1990 Lithuania Declares Independence from Soviet Union: During the late stages of the Cold War, Lithuania officially declared independence from the Soviet Union through the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, marking a significant moment in the dissolution of the USSR.
  • 11 Mar 1990 Lithuania Declares Independence from Soviet Union: The Lithuanian Parliament officially declared that the previous incorporation into the Soviet Union was illegal and proclaimed the country's independence, marking a significant moment in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
  • 12 Mar 1990 Chile Returns to Democracy: Patricio Aylwin was sworn in as Chile's first democratically elected president since 1970, marking the end of the Pinochet military dictatorship and a crucial transition back to democratic governance. This event represented a pivotal moment in Chilean political history and human rights restoration.
  • 13 Mar 1990 Soviet Union Establishes Presidential System: The Supreme Soviet approved constitutional changes creating a U.S.-style presidential system. Mikhail Gorbachev was subsequently elected as the first President of the Soviet Union on March 15, 1990, signaling a major political transformation during the late Cold War period.
  • 14 Mar 1990 Gorbachev Becomes President of Soviet Congress: Mikhail S. Gorbachev was elected as the President of the Soviet Congress, marking a significant moment in the political transformation of the Soviet Union during the late stages of perestroika and glasnost reforms.
  • 15 Mar 1990 Gorbachev Becomes First Executive President of Soviet Union: Mikhail Gorbachev was elected as the first executive president of the Soviet Union, marking a significant political transition during the final years of the Soviet era. This event symbolized the ongoing reforms and political restructuring led by Gorbachev through his policies of glasnost and perestroika.
  • 16 Mar 1990 Lithuania Declares Independence from Soviet Union: On March 11, 1990, Lithuania made a historic declaration of independence from the Soviet Union through the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. This momentous event was a significant milestone in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and marked a crucial step towards Lithuanian sovereignty, challenging Soviet control and inspiring other Baltic states to pursue similar paths of independence.
  • 17 Mar 1990 Murder of Mar Mejía, Guatemalan Feminist Activist: Mar Mejía, a prominent Guatemalan feminist activist, was murdered on this date, highlighting the dangerous climate for human rights advocates in Guatemala during this period.
  • 18 Mar 1990 First Free Elections in East Germany: The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) held its first democratic elections, marking a historic moment in the transition from communist rule. Conservative parties defeated the Communist Party, signaling a significant political shift in the lead-up to German reunification.
  • 19 Mar 1990 Târgu Mureș Ethnic Tensions: Violent ethnic clashes erupted in Târgu Mureș, Romania, four days after commemorating the Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire. These tensions highlighted the complex ethnic dynamics in Transylvania following the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, with conflicts primarily involving Romanian and Hungarian populations.
  • 20 Mar 1990 Namibia Gains Independence: On March 20, 1990, Namibia officially achieved independence, marking the end of 106 years of colonial rule by Germany and South Africa. This historic moment represented a significant milestone in African decolonization, with Sam Nujoma becoming the country's first president and establishing a democratic government after decades of struggle.
  • 21 Mar 1990 Namibia Gains Independence: After 75 years of South African rule, Namibia officially becomes an independent nation. Sam Nujoma is inaugurated as the country's first president, marking a significant milestone in African decolonization and self-determination.
  • 22 Mar 1990 Lithuania Declares Independence from Soviet Union: The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) officially declared independence from the Soviet Union through the historic Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. This momentous event marked a significant step in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Lithuanian sovereignty.
  • 23 Mar 1990 Hazelwood Ordered to Clean Up Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Joseph Hazelwood, former captain of the Exxon Valdez, is legally mandated to assist in cleaning up Prince William Sound and pay $50,000 in restitution for the devastating 1989 oil spill, which was one of the most significant environmental disasters in U.S. history.
  • 24 Mar 1990 Indian Intervention in Sri Lankan Civil War Ends: The Indian Peace Keeping Force completes its withdrawal from Sri Lanka, marking the end of its intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War. This significant geopolitical event signaled a shift in regional dynamics.
  • 25 Mar 1990 Happy Land Social Club Fire: A devastating arson fire at the illegal 'Happy Land' social club in the Bronx, New York City, resulted in the tragic deaths of 87 people. The fire highlighted serious issues of illegal nightclub operations and fire safety regulations in urban environments.
  • 26 Mar 1990 62nd Academy Awards Ceremony: The 62nd Academy Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema, with the film 'Driving Miss Daisy' winning Best Picture. Daniel Day-Lewis was honored for Best Actor, while Jessica Tandy won Best Actress. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Billy Crystal and took place at the prestigious Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
  • 27 Mar 1990 Jesse Owens Receives Congressional Gold Medal: U.S. President George H. W. Bush posthumously honored Jesse Owens, the legendary African American athlete who famously challenged Nazi racial ideology during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, with the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal.
  • 28 Mar 1990 Jesse Owens Honored with Congressional Gold Medal: President George H. W. Bush posthumously awarded Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal, recognizing his groundbreaking achievements in sports and his historic performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he challenged racial prejudices by winning four gold medals.
  • 29 Mar 1990 Czechoslovakia's Naming Dispute: The Czechoslovak parliament encounters significant political deadlock over the country's nomenclature following the collapse of Communist governance, leading to the diplomatic tension known as the 'Hyphen War'. This dispute centered on whether to hyphenate the country's name and represented deeper underlying tensions about national identity in the post-Communist era.
  • 30 Mar 1990 Estonia Declares Soviet Rule Illegal: In a landmark moment during the late Cold War period, Estonia held its first free elections since the Soviet era on March 18 and subsequently declared Soviet rule to have been illegal since 1940, marking a significant step towards national sovereignty and independence.
  • 31 Mar 1990 Poll Tax Riot in London: A massive anti-poll tax demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, escalates into a violent riot. The event results in 471 people being injured and 341 arrested, marking a significant moment of civil unrest against the controversial Community Charge introduced by the Thatcher government.