What Happened in 1991?
For those of us who were around at the time, the 90s were pretty wild – and by 1991, the political, cultural, and entertainment landscapes were evolving fast. We were fast approaching a post-Cold War world, and changes were unfolding in politics on either side of the Atlantic.
1991 in itself was a highly tumultuous year alone – and in this guide, we’ll take you through some of the biggest events and moments that shaped this memorable 12 months. Here’s what’s worth remembering about 1991.
In this year
January
January 16th, 1991 officially marked the start of the First Gulf War, as the United Nations’ deadline for Iraq to remove troops from Kuwait had officially expired, and Operation Desert Storm launched against Iraq with air strikes. Iraq would retaliate the following day by attacking Israel with scud missiles.
February
As of February 16th, 1991, the Council of Lithuania finally declared the country’s independence. In so doing, they brought an end to decades of Soviet oversight – another indication that the USSR was finally coming to an end. The moment became part of what was known as the Singing Revolution.
March
Albanian citizens celebrated being able to vote in democratic multi-party elections for the first time since 1923, ending 70 years of one-party rule. The vote would lead the Party of Labour of Albania to win the ballot by a landslide.
April
April 1991 proved to be a dramatic month for global trading, as it not only saw the opening of Poland’s Warsaw Stock Exchange on April 12th, but also the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaking above 3,000 at close for the first time in history. It was a good time to get into stocks, it seems!
May
Édith Cresson became the first-ever female prime minister of France. However, she only remained prime minister until 1992, when her career ended in a scandal of corruption charges. The charges were from when she was the European Commissioner for Research, Science, and Technology. Still – her claiming the role of PM was still a major moment for political equality!
June
Mount Unzen erupted in Japan. This natural disaster killed 46 people due to pyroclastic flow, fast-moving waves of hot gas, and volcanic matter.
July
In the US, telephone services failed in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and Washington DC. The services failed as a result of an error emanating from a software bug. It’s thought that more than 12 million customers were affected. Little wonder then, that traditional phone lines are being phased out!
August
The internet as we know it was pretty much born as of August 6th, 1991. While many people had access to communications relays through rudimentary internet access, CERN’s Tim Berners-Lee announced he would launch the “World Wide Web” project, bringing international connectivity.
September
In a landmark registration day for the United Nations, seven different territories all joined the UN roster – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, South Korea, and even North Korea all joined the body on September 17th, 1991.
October
October 15th saw a major change at the top of US legislation, when controversial justice Clarence Thomas officially took over Thurgood Marshall’s seat on the Supreme Court, following the latter’s retirement.
November
Freddie Mercury, celebrated frontman and songwriter for British rock band Queen, died from pneumonia as a result of AIDS on November 24th. The star’s passing would not only shake the entertainment world, but would also bring the frightening reality of HIV and AIDS back into public discussion.
December
Following a year of dramatic referendums surrounding the future of the Soviet Union, then-Russian premier Mikhail Gorbachev resigned on Christmas Day 1991, in anticipation of the USSR dissolving completely. He was right to do so – as the Union effectively dissolved the very next day, on December 26th, 1991.
1991 was the year of the…
…Goat!
Like 1967, 1979, 2003, and 2015, 1991 celebrated Goats all over the world, according to traditions outlined through the Chinese zodiac. People born in Goat years are said to be very kind, helpful, empathic, quiet, creative, and sincere. The next Goat year won't be until 2027, so you’ve plenty of time to plan ahead for any bleaters in your life!
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This page was last modified on February 12, 2024. Suggest an edit
Celebrity Births in 1991
Ariana DeBose, American actor, born January 25th, 1991
Jeremy Allen White, American actor, born February 17th, 1991
Joe Alwyn, British actor, born February 21st, 1991
Austin Butler, American actor, born August 17th, 1991
Zazie Beetz, German-American actor, born June 1st, 1991
Famous People We Lost in 1991
David Lean, British director, died aged 83
Freddie Mercury, British singer, and songwriter, died aged 45
Graham Greene, British writer, died aged 86
Redd Foxx, American actor, died aged 68
Frank Capra, Italian-American director, died aged 94
