The year 1991 (MCMXCI) of the Gregorian Calendar began and ended on a Tuesday. During the year Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia. Shortly after, the Soviet Union collapsed, leading to closure of the KGB, the end of The Cold War, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the declaration of independence for 11 ex-Russian states. The allied forces liberated Kuwait from Iraq in Operation Desert Storm. The Provisional IRA launched a failed mortar attack on a British cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street. Yugoslavia collapsed as Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia declared their independence. Apartheid was abolished in South Africa and the United Nations officially condemed the actions of Israel against Palestine.
Thirty four people were killed when two planes collided at Los Angeles International Airport, Exxon was ordered to pay $1 billion to clean-up the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and Mike Tyson is charged with the rape of Desiree Washington. American children's author Dr. Seuss died at the age of 87, as did musician Freddie Mercury—the frontman for Queen. The 45-year-old Mercury passed away from an AIDS-related illness.
January 1991
January 12: The U.S. House of Representatives voted 250-183 and the U.S. Senate voted 52-47 to give George H.W. Bush authorization to use force against Iraq after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
January 18: Gulf War: In an attempt to force Israel into the war, Saddam Hussein launches scud missiles into the cities of Tel Aviv, and Haifa.
February 1991
February 23: Gulf War: President George H.W. Bush announces that the ground war in Iraq had begun.
February 26: Gulf War: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Baghdad Radio that he had ordered his forces to withdraw from Kuwait.
February 27: Gulf War: President George H.W. Bush declared that "Kuwait is liberated, Iraq's army is defeated," and announced that the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight
March 1991
March 3: The Iraqi army signs an armistice with the international coalition, precluding the end of the Gulf War.http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/March+1991
March 14: After spending 16 years in prison for allegedly bombing a public house on behalf of the IRA, the court determines that evidence was fabricated by police and The Birmingham Six are released.
March 3 1991
This video shows the beating of Rodney King on March 3rd in Los Angeles. In the video three LAPD officers kicked, stomped and beat a seemingly defenseless victim about the head and body with metal batons as their supervisor watched. Polls have shown that over 90% of Los Angeles residents who saw the videotape believed that the police used excessive force, however, a jury later decided that the evidence was not sufficient to convict the officers.
April 1991
April 1: At age 56 Shirley Dorsey, a chronic back pain sufferer and medical marijuana advocate, committed suicide in the face of criminal prosecution for the cultivation of marijuana.
April 6: The Persian Gulf War endshttp://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001293.html
May 1991
May 21: Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber.
May 6: TIME Magazine uncovers Scientology as a cult of greed and accuses the religion of squeezing money from its followers.http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19910506,00.html
June 1991
July 1991
July 1: The Warsaw Pact is officially negated.
July 9: After 30 years of exclusion, South Africa is re inducted into the Olympic movement.
July 11: A total solar eclipse occurred in Hawai'i. It will be the longest eclipse in duration, for the next 141 yearhttp://www.astropicom/HTML/L_STORY/BAJA91.HTM
August 1991
August 21: The Soviet Union Coup against Mikhail Gorbachev failed thanks to hard line opposition led by Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin
August 25: Belarus declares independence from the Soviet Union
September 1991
September 1: Uzbekistan declares independence from the Soviet Union.
September 30: Jean Bertrand Aristide, the first Democratically elected President of Haiti was overthrown by a Military coup. He would live in exile until his return in 1994.
September 24 1991
September 24: Kurt Cobain and Nirvana release the album Nevermind as their first studio release. The album would be #1 on Billboard by January. It is only their second album but becomes a huge success because of single "Smells Like Teen Spirit". It would be two years until their next album.
October 1991
October 1: After grim student achievement reports are released by the Education Department, George W. Bush visits a Washington junior high school as part of a new educational campaign.
October 15: Clarence Thomas, nominee for The U.S. Supreme Court is confirmed by the U.S. Senate
November 1991
November 7: NBA's Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson announced that he had tested positive for the AIDS virus and was retiring.
November 21: Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt is named the 6th Secretary-General of The United Nations.
December 1991
December 4: After being held hostage in Lebanon for seven years Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson is released.
December 25: Mikhail Gorbachev announced his resignation as leader of the Soviet Union.
Famous Births
Apr. 04: Jamie Lynn Spears - Zoey 101
Jun. 23: Katie Armiger - Singer
Famous Deaths
Mar. 21: Leo Fender - Guitar Maker
Mar. 29: Lee Atwater - GOP Strategist
Chart Toppers
Jan. 26: Surface - "The First Time"
Mar. 09: Mariah Carey - "Someday"
Mar. 23: Timmy T - "One More Try"
May 18: Hi-Five - "I Like the Way"
Jun. 15: Paula Abdul - "Rush Rush"
Jul. 20: EMF - "Unbelievable"
Oct. 12: Mariah Carey - "Emotions"
Nov. 02: Karyn White - "Romantic"
Dec. 07: Michael Jackson - "Black or White"http://www.thisdayinrock.com/index.php/category/billboard-charts/page/269/
Top Grossing Movies
64th Academy Awards
Best Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
Lead Actor: Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs
Lead Actress: Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs
Best Director Jonathan Demme for Silence of the Lambs
Best Documentary: In the Shadow of the Stars directed by Allie Light and Irving Saraf
Championship Teams
Top Athletes
Nobel Laureates
References
Fast Facts
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