Major Events of March 2005: 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 2005 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of March 2005: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Mar 2005 Supreme Court Bans Juvenile Death Penalty: In a landmark decision in Roper v. Simmons, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing individuals who committed crimes before the age of 18 is unconstitutional, marking a significant shift in capital punishment policy.
02 Mar 2005 Morocco Declares Independence from France: Morocco proclaims independence from France, with Sultan Muhammad V forming the country's first government, marking a significant moment in the nation's decolonization process.
03 Mar 2005 Steve Fossett's Historic Solo World Flight: Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett completed the first non-stop, non-refueled solo flight around the world in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, covering a remarkable distance of 40,234 kilometers in 67 hours and 2 minutes.
04 Mar 2005 UN Warning on HIV in Africa: The United Nations issued a critical warning that approximately 90 million Africans could potentially be infected with HIV without significant intervention and action to combat the disease's spread.
05 Mar 2005 Nazi Party Gains Parliamentary Majority: In German parliamentary elections, the Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote, enabling them to form a majority with Nationalist allies, a pivotal moment in the rise of Nazi power in Germany.
06 Mar 2005 Bolivian President Carlos Mesa Resigns: In a significant political development, Bolivian President Carlos Mesa announced his resignation, effective Monday, March 7, 2005. This marked a moment of political instability in Bolivia, potentially triggered by ongoing social and economic tensions.
07 Mar 2005 Hans Bethe, Nuclear Physicist, Dies: Nobel Laureate Hans Bethe, a pivotal figure in nuclear physics who contributed to atomic bomb development and was a prominent nuclear testing critic, passed away at 98 years old.
08 Mar 2005 Massive Opposition Rally in Beirut: Approximately 800,000 people gathered in Beirut for an opposition rally, marking the largest protest in Lebanon's history, one month after the assassination of Rafik Hariri.
09 Mar 2005 Omar Karami Reelected as Lebanese Prime Minister: Omar Karami is reelected to the position of Prime Minister by the Lebanese Parliament, signaling continued political dynamics in Lebanon.
10 Mar 2005 Rwanda Begins Gacaca Community Court Hearings for Genocide Cases: Traditional Gacaca community courts in Rwanda commenced hearings for individuals accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, a crucial step in the country's reconciliation and justice process.
11 Mar 2005 Madrid Train Bombings Memorial: Spain held a national day of mourning to commemorate the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia inaugurated the Forest of the Departed, a memorial park where each victim has a cypress or olive tree planted.
12 Mar 2005 Hu Jintao Becomes Chairman of Central Military Commission: During the 3rd Plenum of the 10th National People's Congress, President Hu Jintao was elected to the position of Chairman of the Central Military Commission, consolidating his political and military leadership in China.
13 Mar 2005 Pope John Paul II Discharged from Hospital: Pope John Paul II was discharged from Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic, returning to Vatican City approximately two and a half weeks after undergoing a tracheotomy. His recovery was closely monitored by global media and followers.
14 Mar 2005 Cedar Revolution: Massive Lebanese Protest: Approximately one million people gather in Beirut for a historic opposition rally, marking the largest demonstration in Lebanon's history, occurring one month after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
15 Mar 2005 New Holocaust Museum Inaugurated at Yad Vashem: A powerful new Holocaust museum is inaugurated at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, with leaders from 40 countries and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in attendance. Israeli President Moshe Katzav emphasizes the museum's critical role in warning humanity about the dangers of hatred, racism, and potential genocide.
16 Mar 2005 Israel Transfers Jericho to Palestinian Control: Israel officially handed over Jericho to Palestinian control, a significant diplomatic move that was expected to strengthen Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. This transfer represented a potential step towards resolving territorial disputes and improving Palestinian autonomy.
17 Mar 2005 Potential Black Hole Creation at Particle Accelerator: Physicists at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in Upton, New York, potentially created a microscopic black hole, sparking scientific speculation about quantum physics.
18 Mar 2005 Terri Schiavo Feeding Tube Removal: Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed at her husband's request, sparking a global ethical debate on euthanasia, patient rights, and end-of-life medical decisions.
19 Mar 2005 Pakistan's Shaheen-II Missile Test: Pakistan successfully test-fired the Shaheen-II, a long-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers, capable of carrying various warhead types. This test was part of a series of missile development efforts.
20 Mar 2005 Bosnian Serb General to Face War Crimes Tribunal: The Serbian government confirmed that Vinko Pandurevic, a Bosnian Serb general, would surrender to the International Criminal Tribunal at The Hague. He faces charges of genocide related to the infamous 1995 Srebrenica massacre, a pivotal moment in the Bosnian War's tragic history.
21 Mar 2005 Red Lake School Shooting: On March 21, 2005, a tragic school shooting occurred at Red Lake High School in Minnesota, where 10 people were killed by Jeff Weise, making it the deadliest school shooting since the Columbine High School massacre. The shooter, a 16-year-old student, first killed his grandfather and grandfather's companion before attacking the school and ultimately taking his own life.
22 Mar 2005 Marburg Virus Outbreak in Angola: The Marburg virus outbreak in Angola had claimed at least 96 lives, highlighting a significant public health crisis in the region.
23 Mar 2005 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion: A catastrophic explosion occurs at BP's Texas City oil refinery, resulting in 15 fatalities and over 170 injuries. This industrial disaster highlights significant safety concerns in the petrochemical industry.
24 Mar 2005 Kyrgyzstan Political Upheaval: Protesters in Bishkek successfully overthrow President Askar Akayev, storming the presidential palace. Akayev flees the country, potentially to Russia or Kazakhstan, marking a pivotal moment in Kyrgyzstan's political history.
25 Mar 2005 Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan: In a significant political upheaval, Kyrgyzstan's opposition leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev was named interim President, while the incumbent President Askar Akayev remained defiant. The political transition was marked by widespread protests and subsequent looting in Bishkek, the capital city.
26 Mar 2005 Taiwanese Protest Against China's Anti-Secession Law: Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 Taiwanese citizens demonstrate in Taipei, expressing strong opposition to the People's Republic of China's Anti-Secession Law, which threatens Taiwan's sovereignty and potential independence.
27 Mar 2005 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion: A catastrophic explosion at the BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas, resulted in the tragic deaths of 14 people, marking one of the worst industrial accidents in recent U.S. history.
28 Mar 2005 2005 Northern Sumatra Earthquake: A devastating magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, causing significant destruction. The earthquake resulted in at least 1,300 fatalities, 350 injuries, and widespread damage to infrastructure. A 3-meter tsunami further compounded the disaster, damaging the port and airport on Simeulue Island.
29 Mar 2005 MGM Studios v. Grokster Supreme Court Case: The United States Supreme Court hears the landmark MGM Studios v. Grokster case, a pivotal legal battle concerning peer-to-peer file-sharing and digital copyright issues.
30 Mar 2005 Egyptian Protests Against Mubarak's Fifth Term: Despite a protest ban, thousands of Egyptians demonstrated against President Hosni Mubarak's fifth term, with conflicting reports about the number of detained protesters.
31 Mar 2005 UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Warns of Global Environmental Crisis: The UN-backed Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reported substantial and potentially irreversible biodiversity loss, warning of critical risks to basic resources like water, food, and timber.