Major Events of March 1998: 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 1998 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 1998: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 1998 Titanic Reaches $1 Billion Box Office Milestone: James Cameron's epic film 'Titanic' became the first movie in cinema history to gross over $1 billion worldwide, marking a significant moment in film industry economics and global entertainment.
02 Mar 1998 Galileo Spacecraft Discovers Potential Ocean on Europa: NASA's Galileo spacecraft provided groundbreaking scientific evidence suggesting the presence of a liquid ocean beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. This discovery significantly expanded our understanding of potential extraterrestrial environments that could potentially harbor life, marking a pivotal moment in planetary exploration.
03 Mar 1998 Bill Gates Senate Testimony on Microsoft's Market Position: Microsoft founder Bill Gates appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to address concerns about the company's dominant position in the software industry. His testimony was a pivotal moment in the ongoing antitrust investigation into Microsoft's business practices, which centered on allegations of monopolistic behavior in the personal computer operating system market.
04 Mar 1998 Supreme Court Landmark Decision on Same-Sex Sexual Harassment: In a groundbreaking civil rights ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously decided that federal laws prohibiting workplace sexual harassment apply equally when both the victim and perpetrator are of the same sex, significantly expanding workplace discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ employees.
05 Mar 1998 First Woman Space Shuttle Commander Selected: Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Collins makes history as she is chosen to pilot the Space Shuttle Columbia for a December 1998 mission to deploy an advanced telescope, representing a significant milestone for women in space exploration.
06 Mar 1998 Austria to Return Nazi-Confiscated Artworks: Austria announced a landmark decision to return artworks seized by Nazis from Jewish owners during World War II, which were previously kept in Vienna museums as national treasures.
07 Mar 1998 Nazi War Criminal Sentenced for World War II Massacre: Erich Priebke, an 84-year-old former Nazi officer, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a military court for his role in the 1944 Ardeatine Caves massacre, where 335 men and boys were brutally killed during World War II. This sentencing represents a continued pursuit of justice for war crimes decades after the conflict.
08 Mar 1998 Ray Nitschke Dies of Heart Attack: Ray Nitschke, the iconic Green Bay Packers linebacker, passed away from a heart attack at the age of 61. His death marked the loss of one of the most intimidating defensive players of his generation.
09 Mar 1998 War Criminal Pleads Guilty to Rape in Bosnian Conflict: Dragoljub Kunarac, a 37-year-old former Serb commander, became the first defendant to plead guilty to war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He admitted to raping Muslim women during the Bosnian War in 1992, marking a significant moment in international war crimes prosecution.
10 Mar 1998 US Military Anthrax Vaccination Begins: United States troops stationed in the Persian Gulf began receiving the first anthrax vaccinations as part of a preventive health and military preparedness strategy.
11 Mar 1998 Palestinian Conflict Escalation: A tragic incident occurred in the West Bank where three Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops at a military checkpoint. The deaths sparked violent protests and a funeral for the martyrs, highlighting the ongoing tensions and complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
12 Mar 1998 Japanese Financial Scandal: Major financial scandal erupts in Japan as prosecutors conduct raids on the central bank and arrest an official suspected of leaking confidential information to private banks, highlighting systemic corruption concerns in Japan's financial sector.
13 Mar 1998 Groundbreaking Astronomical Discovery: Universe's Accelerating Expansion: The High-Z Supernova Search Team published pioneering scientific evidence demonstrating that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, a revolutionary finding that challenged previous understanding of cosmic dynamics and laid groundwork for future cosmological research.
14 Mar 1998 Sonia Gandhi Elected Congress Party Head: On March 14, 1998, Sonia Gandhi, the widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was elected as the president of the Indian National Congress Party. Her election succeeded Sitaram Kesri and reinforced the Gandhi family's long-standing political influence in Indian politics, marking a significant moment in the party's leadership transition.
15 Mar 1998 Titanic Dominates Box Office: James Cameron's epic film 'Titanic' continues its remarkable box office success, defeating 'Star Wars' to claim the #1 spot in the North American domestic box office. The film grossed an impressive $471 million, solidifying its place as a global cinematic phenomenon.
16 Mar 1998 Pope John Paul II Apologizes for Holocaust Silence: In a profound moment of historical reconciliation, Pope John Paul II publicly apologized for the Roman Catholic Church's inactivity and silence during the Holocaust, acknowledging the institutional failure to protect Jewish people during World War II.
17 Mar 1998 Vatican Acknowledges Failure During Holocaust: The Vatican issued a historic document of repentance, formally acknowledging and expressing regret for the Roman Catholic Church's failure to effectively prevent or deter the mass killing of Jews during World War II.
18 Mar 1998 Russian Atomic Minister Removed from Position: Viktor N. Mikhailov, a highly influential figure in Russia's nuclear sector who played crucial roles in both military and civilian nuclear programs, was unexpectedly dismissed from his ministerial position. His removal came as a surprise to many observers and potentially signaled significant shifts in Russia's nuclear policy and leadership.
19 Mar 1998 China's Major Economic Reforms Announced: New Prime Minister Zhu Rongji unveiled an ambitious three-year reform program targeting state-owned industries, banking system restructuring, and comprehensive government redesign to improve economic solvency and efficiency.
20 Mar 1998 George Howard: Jazz Saxophonist Remembered: George Howard was a prominent American jazz saxophonist known for his smooth jazz and contemporary jazz styles. Born in 1956, he was a significant figure in the jazz music scene during the 1980s and 1990s, contributing to the evolution of contemporary jazz and R&B-influenced saxophone performance.
21 Mar 1998 Death of Galina Ulanova, Legendary Ballet Dancer: Galina Ulanova, a renowned Russian prima ballerina assoluta, passed away at the age of 87. Considered one of the most influential ballet dancers of the 20th century, Ulanova was celebrated for her exceptional artistry, technical precision, and profound emotional expression. She was a principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet and played a pivotal role in elevating Soviet ballet to international acclaim during the mid-20th century.
22 Mar 1998 Ethnic Conflict Escalates in Kosovo: Serbian police launched a brutal military operation against ethnic Albanians in central Kosovo Province, using mortar rounds, burning homes, and shooting civilians in an attempt to suppress the separatist movement. This event highlighted the growing tensions in the region.
23 Mar 1998 70th Academy Awards Ceremony: The 70th Academy Awards ceremony was a landmark event in Hollywood history, hosted by the charismatic Billy Crystal for the sixth time. Held at the prestigious Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, the event was dominated by James Cameron's epic film 'Titanic', which made Oscar history by winning an extraordinary 11 Academy Awards. Jack Nicholson was honored with the Best Actor award, while Helen Hunt received Best Actress, marking a memorable night for cinema.
24 Mar 1998 Jonesboro School Shooting Tragedy: On March 24, 1998, a devastating school shooting occurred at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Two young boys, Mitchell Johnson (13) and Andrew Golden (11), ambushed students and teachers from a wooded area near the school. The attack resulted in five fatalities: four students and one teacher, with an additional ten people injured. This shocking incident highlighted critical issues of youth violence and school safety in the United States.
25 Mar 1998 Westside Middle School Shooting Tragedy: On March 25, 1998, a devastating school shooting occurred at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Two young students, Mitchell Johnson (13) and Andrew Golden (11), triggered a false fire alarm and then opened fire on students and teachers, resulting in the deaths of four students and one teacher. This horrific incident sparked nationwide discussions about youth violence, gun control, and school safety measures.
26 Mar 1998 Oued Bouaicha Massacre: During the Algerian Civil War, a horrific massacre occurred in Oued Bouaicha, where 52 civilians, predominantly infants and young children, were brutally killed using axes and knives. This tragic event exemplifies the extreme violence and human rights atrocities that characterized the Algerian Civil War, which lasted from 1991 to 2002. The targeting of defenseless infants and children highlights the brutal nature of the conflict between the Algerian government and Islamist rebel groups.
27 Mar 1998 FDA Approves Viagra: A Medical Breakthrough in Treating Male Sexual Dysfunction: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially approved Viagra (sildenafil citrate), developed by Pfizer, as the first prescription medication to treat male erectile dysfunction. This groundbreaking pharmaceutical development offered a revolutionary oral treatment for a condition that previously had limited medical solutions.
29 Mar 1998 Minnesota Supercell Tornado Event: A powerful supercell thunderstorm generated 13 tornadoes across southern Minnesota, with the strongest being an F4 intensity tornado. The event resulted in two confirmed fatalities.
30 Mar 1998 Kentucky Wins 60th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: In a thrilling championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Utah Utes with a score of 78-69. This victory marked Kentucky's second NCAA title in three seasons and their seventh championship overall, solidifying their status as a basketball powerhouse.
31 Mar 1998 Netscape Launches Mozilla Open Source Project: Netscape released the source code of its web browser under an open-source license agreement, creating the Mozilla project. This groundbreaking move would eventually lead to the formation of the non-profit Mozilla Foundation, significantly impacting the future of web browser development and open-source software.