Timeline

1991

In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 separate states, the Persian Gulf war both began and ended and a coup in Haiti overthrew that country’s first democratically elected president. In the U.S., Los Angeles police beat motorist Rodney King on videotape, and Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls won their first NBA championship. Nirvana released its landmark single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” helping bring indie music mainstream, while movies like “Slacker” and “My Own Private Idaho” heralded the ascendance of independent film.

Mar

14

Birmingham Six

The Birmingham Six wave to relatives and well-wishers outside the Old Bailey following their release from the Court in London Chris Mullin MP with from left: John Walker, Paddy Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter and William Power. Picture Brian Farrell 14/3/1991 (Part of the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection). (Photo by Independent News and Media/Getty Images).

Getty Images

Aug

18

Press Conference by Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, holding documents of his arrest from the attempted coup on Moscow, speaks at a press conference after the coup. Staged in protest against Gorbachev's move toward more democratic policies, the coup ultimately failed, but seriously weakened his power and that of the Communist Party. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Sygma via Getty Images)

Sygma via Getty Images

Nov

07

Find out what happened on November 7 in this video of This Day in History. On this day in 1874, the Republican Party was first depicted by their elephant symbol in a cartoon in an edition of Harper’s Magazine. On November 7, 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrow the government of Russia and seized power. David Dinkins was elected as the first African American Mayor of New York City on November 7, 1989. Lastly, on November 7, 1991, hall of famer Magic Johnson announced his early retirement from the NBA. During a routine physical Magic Johnson was diagnosed with having the HIV virus. Now this hall of famer educates young people around the nation on how to defend themselves against AIDS.

Nov

18

This This Day in History video explains what occurred on November 18 throughout history. On November 18, 1820, the seal hunter Nathaniel Palmer and his crew became the first Americans to visit Antarctica. On November 18, 1883, the United States and Canadian Railroads established the five standard time zones for the continent. This stopped the confusion of having so many different time zones. On November 18, 1963, the Bell Telephone Company unveiled the first ever push button telephone. Lastly, on November 18, 1991, Terry Waite was released by his kidnappers in Lebanon. Waite spent five years in captivity, four of them being in solitary confinement.

Nov

24

Freddie Mercury of Queen performs on stage at Live Aid on July 13th, 1985.

Freddie Mercury of Queen performs on stage at Live Aid on July 13th, 1985. (Credit: Peter Still/Redferns/Getty Images)

Getty Images / Peter Still / Redferns

Dec

04

Hostage Terry Anderson Soon After his Release

American journalist Terry Anderson speaks at a press conference after his release by his Lebanese captors in 1991. (Photo by Peter Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

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