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Major Events of May 2004: 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 May 2004 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of May 2004: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2004 European Union Largest Expansion: On May 1st, 2004, the European Union experienced its most significant expansion to date, welcoming ten new member states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta, and Cyprus. This historic enlargement dramatically increased the EU's geographical and population scope, marking a pivotal moment in European integration following the end of the Cold War.
  • 02 May 2004 EU Expansion: Ten New Member States Join: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia officially joined the European Union, marking the largest single expansion in the EU's history. This momentous event significantly reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe, integrating ten former Eastern Bloc and Mediterranean countries into the European political and economic framework.
  • 03 May 2004 Oil Prices Reach 14-Year High: Global oil prices surged to their highest level since 1990, with crude oil reaching $38.21 per barrel, signaling significant economic and geopolitical pressures on the international energy market.
  • 04 May 2004 Congressional Condemnation of Iraqi Detainee Mistreatment: Democratic and Republican congressional leaders strongly condemned the alleged mistreatment of Iraqi detainees and called for a comprehensive congressional investigation.
  • 05 May 2004 European Union Largest Expansion: Eight former Communist nations and two Mediterranean countries joined the European Union (EU), marking its largest-ever expansion. The new members included Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, along with the island of Malta and the Greek portion of the island of Cyprus. They joined 15 countries already in the EU, representing a total population of 450 million persons.
  • 06 May 2004 Abu Ghraib Prison Abuse Scandal: The International Committee of the Red Cross repeatedly requested U.S. action regarding alleged prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib Prison. Democratic Senator Tom Harkin called for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation to preserve America's global image.
  • 07 May 2004 Putin's Second Presidential Term: Vladimir Putin was sworn in for his second and final four-year term as President of Russia, continuing his significant political leadership of the country.
  • 08 May 2004 Historic Greco-Turkish Diplomatic Breakthrough: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan concludes a historic visit to Greece, marking a significant moment in Greco-Turkish relations. Both leaders promise cooperation, with Erdogan visiting Thrace's Turkish minority and calling for reconciliation. Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis pledges support for Turkey's European Union membership bid.
  • 09 May 2004 Largest European Union Expansion: Eight former Communist nations and two Mediterranean countries joined the European Union, marking its most significant expansion to date. The new members included Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta, and the Greek portion of Cyprus, bringing the total EU population to approximately 450 million people.
  • 10 May 2004 Emmett Till Murder Investigation Reopened: The US Department of Justice reopened an investigation into Emmett Till's 1955 murder, a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement, signaling ongoing efforts to address historical racial injustices.
  • 11 May 2004 Iraq Occupation and Nick Berg Decapitation: During the Iraq occupation, civilians marched to Najaf's Muslim shrines, calling for Moqtada al-Sadr to remove his Mahdi Army. Simultaneously, a disturbing video of Nick Berg's decapitation by an Islamist group was released, allegedly in retaliation for the Abu Ghraib Prison prisoner abuse scandal.
  • 12 May 2004 Nick Berg Execution Video: Nick Berg, an American contractor in Iraq, was brutally murdered by a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda. The graphic execution video was distributed online, marking a deeply disturbing moment in the Iraq War and highlighting the extreme violence of terrorist organizations.
  • 13 May 2004 Abu Ghraib Prisoner Abuse Controversy: The Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal intensified as British government members began distancing themselves from the Bush administration. Peter Hain, Leader of The House of Commons, described the photos as 'appalling' and potentially in violation of the Geneva Convention.
  • 14 May 2004 Discovery of Massive Permian Extinction Crater: Scientists identified a 125-mile-wide crater off Australia's northwestern coast, potentially linked to the 'Great Dying' - the most significant extinction event in Earth's history.
  • 15 May 2004 Torreón Massacre: During the Mexican Revolution, forces led by Francisco I. Madero committed a tragic massacre, killing 303 Chinese and 5 Japanese immigrants in Torreón.
  • 16 May 2004 Massachusetts Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, following the landmark Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, marking a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ civil rights.
  • 17 May 2004 Massachusetts Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize same-sex marriages, marking a historic milestone in LGBTQ+ civil rights. This groundbreaking decision followed a landmark ruling by the state's Supreme Judicial Court.
  • 18 May 2004 Israeli Operation Rainbow in Rafah: Israel launched Operation Rainbow, a military offensive in Rafah, Gaza, which involved cutting off the city from the rest of the territory. Amnesty International strongly condemned the operation, accusing Israel of war crimes, citing the destruction of over 3,000 Palestinian homes during the ongoing intifada.
  • 19 May 2004 US Military Incident at Syrian Border: U.S. Army conducts a controversial military operation at the Iraqi-Syrian border, resulting in 40 soldiers killed and 117 injured. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt defends the action as within military engagement rules, despite potential civilian casualties.
  • 20 May 2004 US Raids Ahmed Chalabi's Home: U.S. and Iraqi police conducted a raid on Ahmed Chalabi's residence, a controversial member of the Iraqi Governing Council. They seized documents, arrested several Iraqi National Congress members, and severed financial ties with the group, charging them with currency exchange racketeering and theft.
  • 21 May 2004 Stanislav Petrov Honored for Preventing Nuclear War: Stanislav Petrov, a former Soviet military officer, was awarded the World Citizen Award for his crucial role in preventing a potential nuclear conflict in 1983. During a critical moment in the Cold War, Petrov correctly identified a false alarm in the Soviet early warning system, preventing a potentially catastrophic nuclear retaliation against the United States.
  • 22 May 2004 Dr. Manmohan Singh Becomes Prime Minister of India: Dr. Manmohan Singh assumes office as the 17th Prime Minister of India and the first Sikh to hold this prestigious position. His appointment marked a significant moment in Indian political history, signaling a new era of leadership and potential policy reforms.
  • 23 May 2004 Darfur Massacre: In a horrific incident in western Sudan, the janjaweed militia killed 56 civilians in Abga Rajil. The United Nations reported that the ongoing Darfur conflict had already displaced approximately one million people.
  • 24 May 2004 Oklahoma City Bombing Trial: Terry Nichols Convicted: An Oklahoma state court convicted Terry Nichols of murder in connection with the devastating 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, a domestic terrorist attack that killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
  • 25 May 2004 Devastating Floods in Haiti and Dominican Republic: Catastrophic floods struck Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with potential casualties estimated up to 1,000 people. The natural disaster caused significant loss of life and widespread destruction in the Caribbean region.
  • 26 May 2004 The New York Times Admits Iraq War Reporting Failures: The New York Times publicly acknowledged its journalistic shortcomings during the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War, admitting that its reporting and lack of critical scrutiny contributed to the widespread belief about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
  • 27 May 2004 World War II Veterans Memorial Dedication: National World War II veterans and their families gathered in Washington, D.C. to commemorate their service, share memories, and participate in the dedication ceremony of the World War II Memorial, honoring the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation.
  • 28 May 2004 US Military and Al-Sadr Forces Agree to Ceasefire in Najaf: After seven weeks of intense conflict, the US military and forces loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr agree to a ceasefire in Najaf. The agreement is marred by a tragic incident where four military contractors are brutally killed and their bodies desecrated by a hostile crowd.
  • 29 May 2004 National World War II Memorial Dedication: The National World War II Memorial was officially dedicated in Washington, D.C., commemorating the sacrifices of American soldiers during World War II. The ceremony was a significant national event, attended by approximately 200,000 people, symbolizing the nation's gratitude to the veterans who fought for freedom.
  • 30 May 2004 CIA Director George Tenet Resigns: George Tenet resigned as Central Intelligence Agency Director, citing personal reasons. John E. McLaughlin, the CIA Deputy Director, became the acting Director until a permanent replacement could be confirmed by Congress.
  • 31 May 2004 Memorial Day Presidential Address on War on Terror: On Memorial Day, President George W. Bush commemorated fallen military personnel and highlighted the removal of 'two terror regimes' in Iraq and Afghanistan, while acknowledging the rising U.S. military casualties, which had surpassed 1,000 at that point.