What Happened in 2020?
What didn’t happen in 2020?
2020 is a year that, for most of us, probably lives on in infamy. Due to a global pandemic, we were all shut away for months, plans were canceled, big events were rescheduled, and many of us were separated and feared for our loved ones. But, just as every year does, 2020 also had some positives, including people coming together for justice.
2020 was a major shakeup in lots of ways – it saw the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in light of the murder of George Floyd, and, of course, the US Election in November would give rise to home-grown terrorism just a few months later.
For all its drama and devastation, 2020 was a very important year – so, to refresh your memory, here are some of the biggest events from 2020.
In this year
January
The first cases of a new illness, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were initially reported in Wuhan, China. This led to concerns about a potential global pandemic, which would eventually occur and take the world by storm for several years. Vaccines to fight the illness would roll out in record time within a matter of months.
February
The death of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man, occurred in Brunswick, Georgia, sparking nationwide protests. These protests and other such killings sparked a major moment for the Black Lives Matter movement to raise protest.
March
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic, prompting widespread public health measures. Countries around the world implemented lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing measures to help restrict the spread of the virus. China, in fact, would stay locked down longer than most countries.
April
British war veteran Captain Tom Moore raised millions of pounds for the National Health Service (NHS) by walking laps in his garden. He was 99 years old at the time. The veteran would pass away less than a year later, in February 2021.
May
The death of George Floyd, a black citizen, killed while unarmed in police custody in Minneapolis, sparked widespread global protests against racial injustice and police brutality. The police officer who shot him would eventually be arrested and found guilty of his crime, and at the time of writing, is still serving a murder sentence in prison.
June
June was a major election month in 2020 across the globe, with Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Kiribati, Malawi, Mongolia, and Iceland all sending citizens to the polls. The Republic of Ireland, too, welcomed a new Taoiseach in Micheal Martin.
July
SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully returned NASA astronauts from the International Space Station. In doing so, it completed its historic first crewed mission. The company has since moved on to creating reusable rockets and improving space exploration at incredible speed.
August
The United States brokered a historic agreement to help normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Israel would later sign said agreements at an official White House meeting in September.
September
Space fans got a little more excited than usual in September 2020, as it emerged that there was evidence of phosphine on Venus – specifically, in its atmosphere. This suggested it might be possible for microbial life to thrive there. Did we just find aliens?
October
The United States witnessed presidential and vice-presidential debates between incumbent President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden. Candidate Joe Biden would eventually go on to become President, replacing Donald Trump and sparking backlash among those who claimed the Democrat Party had faked the results.
November
Hurricane Iota struck Central America, causing widespread flooding and destruction in areas already affected by Hurricane Eta just weeks earlier.
December
Amid continued lockdown chaos, the United Kingdom and the European Union finally reached a post-Brexit trade deal outlining their future economic relationship – over four years since the Brexit referendum took place.
2020 was the year of the…
…rat!
Like 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, and 2008, 2020 celebrated Rats everywhere, according to the Chinese Zodiac. People born in Rat years are optimistic, likable, energetic, sensitive, resourceful, and versatile. However, they can also be very stubborn! The next Rat year won't be until 2032.
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This page was last modified on December 30, 2023. Suggest an edit
Celebrity Births in 2020
Khai (Born September, parents Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik)
Willa Jonas (Born July, parents Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas)
X Æ A-12 (Born May 2020, parents Grimes and Elon Musk)
Daisy Dove Bloom (Born August, parents Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom )
Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran (Born September, parents Cherry Seaborn and Ed Sheeran)
Famous People We Lost in 2020
Kobe Bryant, American basketball player, died aged 41
Chadwick Boseman, American actor, died aged 43
Sean Connery, Scottish actor, died aged 90
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, American lawyer and US Supreme Court legend, died aged 87
Diego Maradona, Argentinian football player and manager, died aged 60
