previous year1989
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
2000next year

Major Events of August 1996: 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 August 1996 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of August 1996: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Aug 1996 Michael Johnson's Historic 200m World Record: At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, American sprinter Michael Johnson achieves a groundbreaking performance by breaking the 200-meter world record with an extraordinary time of 19.32 seconds, surpassing the previous record by 0.30 seconds.
  • 02 Aug 1996 Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics: The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, concluded with a grand closing ceremony, marking the end of the centennial Olympic Games. This edition was significant as it celebrated 100 years of modern Olympic history.
  • 03 Aug 1996 Andre Agassi Wins Olympic Tennis Gold Medal: American tennis star Andre Agassi secured the men's singles gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics, decisively defeating Spanish player Sergi Bruguera with a commanding score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, further solidifying his status as a top international tennis player.
  • 04 Aug 1996 NASA Announces Potential Life Evidence in Martian Meteorite: NASA scientists revealed that the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite, believed to originate from Mars, potentially contains evidence of primitive life-forms, marking a groundbreaking moment in extraterrestrial research.
  • 05 Aug 1996 Dallas Cowboys play Kansas City Chiefs in Monterrey Mexico
  • 06 Aug 1996 NASA Announces Potential Evidence of Life in Martian Meteorite: NASA scientists announced a groundbreaking discovery regarding the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite, suggesting potential microscopic evidence of primitive life forms from Mars. This announcement sparked global scientific excitement and intense debate about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
  • 07 Aug 1996 Deadly Flash Floods in Spain: A catastrophic flooding event occurred near Huesca, Spain, resulting in the tragic loss of over 80 campers' lives during heavy rainfall. The sudden and intense rainstorm overwhelmed the camping area, causing a devastating flash flood that caught campers unprepared.
  • 08 Aug 1996 Nevill Mott, Renowned Physicist, Passes Away: Sir Nevill Mott, a distinguished English physicist who made significant contributions to solid-state physics and quantum mechanics, died on this date. Mott was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his fundamental work on the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems. His groundbreaking research helped advance understanding of semiconductor and metal properties, making him a pivotal figure in 20th-century physics.
  • 09 Aug 1996 Boris Yeltsin's Second Presidential Term Begins: Boris Yeltsin was officially sworn in at the Kremlin for his second consecutive term as President of Russia, marking a significant moment in post-Soviet Russian political history. This event underscored Yeltsin's continued leadership during a critical period of political and economic transition for the country.
  • 10 Aug 1996 Major West Coast Power Grid Failure: A significant transmission line failure caused a massive blackout affecting approximately 4 million people across eight West Coast states. The power outage led to widespread disruptions in infrastructure, transportation, and daily life, highlighting the vulnerability of the electrical grid.
  • 11 Aug 1996 Oasis Performs Historic Knebworth Concert: British rock band Oasis performed the largest free-standing concert in United Kingdom history at Knebworth, Hertfordshire. This landmark event showcased the band's immense popularity during the peak of the Britpop era.
  • 12 Aug 1996 Osama bin Laden Declares War on the United States: In a significant geopolitical moment, Osama bin Laden issues a formal declaration of war against the United States, specifically targeting American presence in Saudi Arabia, which he refers to as 'the land of the two holy places' (Mecca and Medina). This declaration would later be seen as a precursor to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
  • 13 Aug 1996 Arrest of Marc Dutroux in Belgium: Belgian authorities arrested Marc Dutroux, his wife Michelle Martin, and accomplice Michel Lelièvre on suspicion of kidnapping. This arrest marked a critical moment in one of Belgium's most notorious criminal cases involving child abduction and murder. On June 22, 2004, all three were found guilty, with Dutroux receiving a life sentence, Martin 30 years, and Lelièvre 25 years.
  • 14 Aug 1996 Deadly Fireworks Accident in Arequipa: A catastrophic fireworks display accident occurred in Arequipa, Peru, when a rocket ignited and knocked down a high-tension power cable into a dense crowd, resulting in the electrocution of 35 people. This tragic incident underscored the potential dangers of public entertainment events and the importance of safety protocols.
  • 15 Aug 1996 Bob Dole Republican Presidential Nomination: During the Republican National Convention held in San Diego, California, Senator Bob Dole was officially nominated as the Republican Party's presidential candidate for the 1996 United States presidential election. Congressman Jack Kemp was selected as his running mate for the vice presidential position, completing the Republican ticket for the upcoming national election.
  • 16 Aug 1996 Russian Crew Escapes Taliban Prison: After an extraordinary 378-day imprisonment by the Taliban, the crew of a Russian Il-76TD aircraft managed a daring escape. They overpowered their guards, boarded their aircraft, and successfully flew to freedom, marking a remarkable survival and liberation story from the Airstan incident of 1995.
  • 17 Aug 1996 Soyuz TM-24 Space Mission Launch: The Soyuz TM-24 spacecraft was successfully launched into orbit on August 17, 1996, as part of the ongoing Russian space exploration program. This mission was part of the continued Soviet and Russian tradition of space missions to the Mir space station, representing an important moment in human spaceflight during the mid-1990s.
  • 18 Aug 1996 CIA-Contra Cocaine Scandal Exposed by Journalist Gary Webb: The San Jose Mercury News published Gary Webb's groundbreaking three-part investigative series revealing how the CIA allegedly facilitated cocaine importation during the Reagan administration to secretly fund Nicaraguan Contra rebels. The series, known as the 'Dark Alliance' exposé, sparked significant controversy and raised serious questions about government involvement in drug trafficking.
  • 19 Aug 1996 South African Political Parties Submit to Truth and Reconciliation Commission: On August 19, 1996, major South African political parties commenced their submissions to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a pivotal moment in the nation's post-apartheid healing process. The TRC, established to investigate human rights violations during the apartheid era, provided a platform for political parties to acknowledge past injustices, seek reconciliation, and contribute to national unity by revealing historical truths.
  • 20 Aug 1996 Seoul Reunification Protest Dispersed: A large-scale protest involving thousands of demonstrators in Seoul, advocating for reunification with North Korea, was forcibly disbanded by riot police. The event highlighted the ongoing tensions and complex political dynamics surrounding the potential reunification of the Korean peninsula.
  • 21 Aug 1996 De Klerk Apologizes for Apartheid Crimes: Former State President of South Africa, F. W. de Klerk, made a historic official apology to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Cape Town for crimes committed during the Apartheid era, marking a significant moment in South Africa's journey towards national reconciliation.
  • 22 Aug 1996 Clinton Signs Welfare Reform Act: On August 22, 1996, President Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, a landmark piece of legislation that fundamentally transformed the United States' welfare system. The law replaced the decades-old Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), introducing work requirements, time limits on benefits, and significant restrictions on welfare eligibility. This reform represented a bipartisan effort to reduce welfare dependency and encourage self-sufficiency among low-income Americans.
  • 23 Aug 1996 Clinton Welfare Reform: President Bill Clinton signs the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, fundamentally transforming the United States' welfare system by introducing work requirements and time limits for benefits.
  • 24 Aug 1996 Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Release: Microsoft released Windows NT 4.0, a significant operating system with a graphical user interface closely resembling Windows 95. The sophisticated software was comprised of 16.5 million lines of code and was developed under the project code-name 'Cairo'. This release represented an important milestone in enterprise computing, offering enhanced stability and security features for business and professional users.
  • 25 Aug 1996 Tiger Woods Wins US Amateur Golf Championship: Tiger Woods secured his third consecutive US Amateur Golf Championship, marking a significant milestone in his early professional career. At just 20 years old, Woods demonstrated exceptional skill and potential that would later revolutionize professional golf.
  • 26 Aug 1996 Clinton Signs Welfare Reform Act: President Bill Clinton signed the landmark welfare reform legislation, fundamentally transforming the United States' social welfare system by introducing work requirements and time limits for benefits.
  • 27 Aug 1996 Prince Charles and Princess Diana Finalize Divorce: The high-profile marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, officially concluded after 15 years with the issuance of a final divorce decree, ending one of the most publicized royal marriages of the 20th century.
  • 28 Aug 1996 Prince Charles and Diana Divorce Finalized: The divorce of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, was officially concluded at the High Court of Justice in London. Following the divorce, Diana was restyled as 'Diana, Princess of Wales' by the Queen's letters patent issued a week prior.
  • 29 Aug 1996 Clinton-Gore Democratic Nomination: At the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois, incumbent U.S. President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were officially re-nominated as the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 1996 United States presidential election.
  • 30 Aug 1996 Iraqi Forces Capture Arbil in Northern No-Fly Zone: During the ongoing Iraq disarmament crisis, Iraqi military forces launched a significant offensive into the northern No-Fly Zone, successfully capturing the city of Arbil. This action represented a direct challenge to international monitoring efforts and escalated tensions in the region.
  • 31 Aug 1996 Iraqi Forces Capture Arbil in Northern No-Fly Zone: During the Iraq disarmament crisis, Iraqi military forces launched an offensive into the northern No-Fly Zone, successfully capturing the city of Arbil. This military action escalated tensions in the region and demonstrated Saddam Hussein's aggressive territorial strategies.