previous year1989
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
2000next year

Major Events of July 1995: 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 1995 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of July 1995: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Jul 1995 Iraq Admits Biological Weapons Program: During the Iraq disarmament crisis, Iraq officially acknowledged the existence of an offensive biological weapons program for the first time, while simultaneously denying that these weapons had been weaponized. This admission came in response to evidence presented by the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), marking a significant moment in international weapons inspection efforts.
  • 02 Jul 1995 Tom Weiskopf Wins US Seniors Golf Open: Tom Weiskopf emerged victorious in the 16th United States Seniors Golf Open, showcasing his continued golfing prowess in the senior competitive circuit.
  • 03 Jul 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing: On April 19, 1995, a devastating domestic terrorist attack occurred at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, the bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and injured over 680 others. This was the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the United States prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
  • 04 Jul 1995 Bob Ross Passes Away: Beloved American painter and television host Bob Ross died on July 4, 1995, in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 52. Known for his PBS show 'The Joy of Painting', Ross was a cultural icon who made art accessible to millions.
  • 05 Jul 1995 Armenia Adopts Constitution: Armenia officially adopted its constitution through a nationwide referendum, marking a significant milestone in its post-Soviet independence. Four years after gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, this constitutional adoption represented a crucial step in establishing a democratic governance framework.
  • 06 Jul 1995 UN Declares Srebrenica Massacre as Genocide: The United Nations officially recognizes the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an act of genocide, marking a significant moment in international legal acknowledgment of war crimes during the Bosnian conflict.
  • 07 Jul 1995 Space Shuttle STS-71 Mission Completion: The Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully completed its STS-71 mission and landed at Kennedy Space Center. This mission was particularly significant as it was part of the Shuttle-Mir program, representing a crucial moment in post-Cold War space cooperation between the United States and Russia.
  • 08 Jul 1995 Volcanic Eruption on Montserrat: A significant volcanic eruption began on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, marking a critical geological event that would dramatically impact the island's landscape and population in the following years.
  • 09 Jul 1995 Navaly Church Bombing: During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Sri Lankan Air Force conducted a devastating bombing of a church in Navaly, resulting in the tragic death of 125 Tamil civilian refugees, highlighting the brutal nature of the conflict.
  • 10 Jul 1995 Aung San Suu Kyi Released from House Arrest: Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest, marking a significant moment in Myanmar's political struggle for democratic reform. Her release represented a potential breakthrough in the country's ongoing tension between military rule and democratic aspirations.
  • 11 Jul 1995 Srebrenica Massacre: Bosnian Serb forces, under the command of General Ratko Mladić, march into the UN-designated 'safe haven' of Srebrenica while United Nations Dutch peacekeepers withdraw. This marks the beginning of a systematic genocide where thousands of Bosniak men and boys were systematically murdered, representing one of the most horrific war crimes in recent European history.
  • 12 Jul 1995 1995 Midwest Heat Wave Disaster: A catastrophic heat wave struck the Midwestern United States, causing significant loss of life and infrastructure strain. The most severe impact was in the Chicago metropolitan area, where 583 people died due to extreme temperatures. The heat wave lasted four days, with temperatures reaching 104°F and heat indexes peaking at 125°F. Overnight temperatures remained in the upper 70s to low 80s, creating dangerous sustained heat conditions. The event led to record electricity and water usage, resulting in periodic utility outages.
  • 13 Jul 1995 Deadly Midwest United States Heat Wave: A catastrophic heat wave struck the Midwestern United States, with cities like Chicago and Milwaukee experiencing unprecedented high temperatures. The extreme weather event resulted in hundreds of fatalities, highlighting the severe health risks associated with climate-induced temperature extremes.
  • 14 Jul 1995 MP3 Audio Format Named: The MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) digital audio encoding format was officially named, marking a significant milestone in digital music technology that would revolutionize how people consume and share music worldwide.
  • 15 Jul 1995 First Book Sold on Amazon.com: Jeff Bezos's online bookstore, Amazon.com, sells its first book, marking the beginning of what would become a global e-commerce revolution. The book was a science fiction novel, signaling the start of a transformative digital retail platform.
  • 16 Jul 1995 French Presidential Apology for Holocaust Collaboration: French President Jacques Chirac delivered a landmark speech formally apologizing for the French government's role in the deportation of Jews during World War II, acknowledging the state's complicity with Nazi Germany and marking a significant moment of historical reconciliation.
  • 17 Jul 1995 Deadly Midwestern Heat Wave in the United States: A catastrophic heat wave struck the Midwestern United States, causing unprecedented temperatures in cities like Chicago and Milwaukee. Record-breaking heat claimed over 400 lives in a single day, highlighting the severe impact of extreme weather conditions.
  • 18 Jul 1995 Soufrière Hills Volcano Eruption on Montserrat: On the Caribbean island of Montserrat, the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted, marking the beginning of a prolonged geological disaster. Over several years, the volcanic activity would devastate the island, completely destroying the capital city of Plymouth and forcing approximately 2/3 of the island's population to evacuate and seek refuge elsewhere.
  • 19 Jul 1995 President Clinton's Address on Affirmative Action: In a landmark speech, President Bill Clinton delivered a comprehensive address on affirmative action, articulating its critical role in addressing systemic racial and gender-based discrimination. He emphasized that affirmative action is not about creating special privileges, but about ensuring equal opportunities for marginalized groups who have historically faced barriers in education, employment, and social advancement. Clinton argued that these policies are essential for creating a more equitable and just society by actively counteracting deeply entrenched patterns of inequality.
  • 20 Jul 1995 UC Regents End Affirmative Action: In a significant policy decision, the Regents of the University of California voted to terminate all affirmative action programs within the UC system, with the implementation set to be completed by 1997. This controversial decision marked a critical moment in the ongoing national debate about diversity, equal opportunity, and educational access.
  • 21 Jul 1995 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: From July 21 to July 26, 1995, the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China escalated tensions by firing missiles into the waters north of Taiwan, marking a significant moment in cross-strait relations and geopolitical dynamics.
  • 22 Jul 1995 Susan Smith Convicted of Murdering Her Children: Susan Smith was found guilty of murdering her two young sons by drowning them in a lake in South Carolina. This high-profile criminal case shocked the nation and raised significant discussions about mental health, parental responsibility, and child welfare.
  • 23 Jul 1995 American Spies Released by Iraq: David Daliberti and William Barloon, two American citizens detained in Iraq on espionage charges, were released by Saddam Hussein following diplomatic negotiations mediated by U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson.
  • 24 Jul 1995 Bill Clinton Serving as US President: Bill Clinton was serving his second term as the 42nd President of the United States, leading the country during a period of economic prosperity and significant political transformation in the mid-1990s.
  • 25 Jul 1995 First IVF Baby Conception: On July 25, 1995, Louise Joy Brown was conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), marking a groundbreaking moment in medical science. Pioneered by doctors Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards, this revolutionary reproductive technology opened new possibilities for couples struggling with infertility and represented a significant milestone in human reproductive medicine.
  • 26 Jul 1995 Potsdam Declaration Signed: The Potsdam Declaration was signed by the United States, United Kingdom, and China, outlining the precise terms of surrender for Japan at the end of World War II. This pivotal document set the stage for Japan's unconditional surrender and subsequent reconstruction.
  • 27 Jul 1995 Disney Acquires Capital Cities/ABC: The Walt Disney Company announced a landmark media acquisition, agreeing to purchase Capital Cities/ABC for approximately $20 billion. The deal involved exchanging one Disney share and $65 cash for each ABC share, creating one of the largest media mergers of the 1990s and significantly expanding Disney's media and broadcasting portfolio.
  • 28 Jul 1995 Alberto Fujimori Re-elected as President of Peru: Alberto Fujimori was sworn in for his second consecutive term as the Constitutional President of Peru. During this period, Fujimori continued his controversial leadership, implementing significant political and economic reforms while also facing increasing criticism for his authoritarian tendencies.
  • 29 Jul 1995 Monica Seles' Tennis Comeback: Monica Seles made a triumphant return to professional tennis by defeating legendary player Martina Navratilova, symbolizing her resilience after a traumatic stabbing incident that had interrupted her career.
  • 30 Jul 1995 Northern Chile Earthquake of 1995: A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck near the coast of Northern Chile, causing significant damage and human impact. The seismic event resulted in three fatalities, 58 injuries, and left 630 people homeless. Approximately 115 houses were destroyed. The earthquake's impact extended beyond Chile, being felt in southern Peru and La Paz, Bolivia. A mild tsunami was generated, with wave measurements recorded in Hawaii, Alaska, and Japan.
  • 31 Jul 1995 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) Signed: On July 31, 1995, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), a landmark diplomatic agreement aimed at reducing and limiting the nuclear arsenals of both superpowers. The treaty represented a significant milestone in Cold War de-escalation, establishing verifiable limits on the number of nuclear weapons and delivery systems each nation could deploy.