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Major Events of November 1981: 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 November 1981 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of November 1981: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Nov 1981 Antigua and Barbuda gains independence from the United Kingdom: Antigua and Barbuda officially gained independence from the United Kingdom on November 1, 1981. This marked a significant milestone in the nation's history, allowing it to establish its own government and constitution while remaining a member of the Commonwealth. The independence was celebrated with various ceremonies and events across the islands. source: britannica.com
  • 02 Nov 1981 Antigua and Barbuda gains independence from the United Kingdom: Antigua and Barbuda became an independent nation on November 2, 1981, after gaining sovereignty from British colonial rule. This marked a significant milestone in the Caribbean's decolonization process, allowing the nation to establish its own government and constitution. The independence is celebrated annually as a national holiday in Antigua and Barbuda. source: britannica.com
  • 03 Nov 1981 Rollie Fingers wins AL Cy Young Award: On November 3, 1981, Rollie Fingers, the 35-year-old relief ace of the Milwaukee Brewers, was named the American League's Cy Young Award winner. Fingers led the league with 28 saves and posted a 1.04 earned run average in 78 innings pitched. He received 22 first-place votes, surpassing Steve McCatty of the Oakland A's, who finished second with 84.5 points. source: upi.com
  • 04 Nov 1981 Dr. George Nichopoulos acquitted in Elvis Presley drug prescription case: Dr. George Nichopoulos, Elvis Presley's personal physician, was acquitted on November 4, 1981, of 11 counts of overprescribing addictive drugs to Presley and other patients. The jury found that Nichopoulos acted in the best interests of his patients, despite evidence of extensive drug prescriptions. In 1995, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners permanently suspended his medical license for overprescribing to numerous patients. source: washingtonpost.com
  • 06 Nov 1981 Fernando Valenzuela wins historic Cy Young Award: In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela, a rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, won the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the first rookie to receive this honor. He finished the season with a 13-7 record, a 2.48 ERA, and led the league with 180 strikeouts. Valenzuela also won the Rookie of the Year award that year. source: britannica.com
  • 07 Nov 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia's second launch (STS-2): The Space Shuttle Columbia launched for its second mission, STS-2, on November 7, 1981. This mission marked the first time a shuttle was reused, following its initial flight in April 1981. STS-2 successfully completed a series of tests and experiments, further demonstrating the shuttle's capabilities for future missions. source: nasa.gov
  • 08 Nov 1981 Belgian general election held on November 8, 1981: Belgium held its general elections on November 8, 1981, marking the first time the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. The Christian People's Party (CVP) emerged as the largest party, securing 43 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, a significant decrease from their previous 57 seats. The Socialist Party (PS) and the Party for Freedom and Progress (PVV) also gained seats, while the Liberal Reformist Party (PRL) and the Flemish nationalist party VU made notable gains. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 09 Nov 1981 Mauritania abolishes slavery in 1981: On November 9, 1981, Mauritania became the last country to officially abolish slavery. Despite the legal abolition, the practice persisted in various forms, leading to ongoing human rights concerns. The government has faced criticism for not effectively enforcing the law against slavery and for the continued existence of bonded labor in some communities. source: bbc.com
  • 10 Nov 1981 Disney and Westinghouse announce family-oriented cable service: On November 10, 1981, Walt Disney Productions and Westinghouse Broadcasting announced a partnership to launch a family-oriented cable television service. This collaboration led to the creation of The Disney Channel, which began broadcasting in April 1983. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 11 Nov 1981 Gulf Cooperation Council established: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established on November 11, 1981, to foster economic, political, and security cooperation among its member states: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The formation aimed to enhance regional stability and promote collaboration in various sectors, including trade and defense. source: britannica.com
  • 12 Nov 1981 Space Shuttle Columbia's second launch on November 12, 1981: The Space Shuttle Columbia launched for its second mission, STS-2, on November 12, 1981. This mission marked the first time a reusable spacecraft was flown a second time, demonstrating the shuttle's capabilities for future missions. The flight lasted nearly 3 days, with a successful landing on November 14, 1981. source: nasa.gov
  • 13 Nov 1981 First use of Canadarm in space during STS-2 mission: The Canadarm, a robotic arm designed for use in space, was first deployed on November 13, 1981, during NASA's STS-2 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. This innovative technology played a crucial role in satellite deployment and retrieval, marking a significant advancement in space exploration capabilities. source: nasa.gov
  • 14 Nov 1981 Assassination of Robert Bradford, Ulster Unionist MP: On November 14, 1981, Robert Bradford, a 40-year-old Ulster Unionist Party Member of Parliament for South Belfast, was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) during a constituency surgery at Finaghy Community Centre. Kenneth Campbell, the centre's caretaker, was also killed in the attack. Bradford was known for his hardline unionist views and support for more vigorous security measures in Northern Ireland. source: britannica.com
  • 15 Nov 1981 Abdus Sattar confirmed as President of Bangladesh: On November 15, 1981, Abdus Sattar was elected as the President of Bangladesh, succeeding the assassinated Ziaur Rahman. He secured approximately 66% of the vote, defeating his main opponent, Kamal Hossain of the Awami League. The election was marred by allegations of voter intimidation and electoral fraud. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 16 Nov 1981 Reagan authorizes covert actions against Nicaragua and El Salvador: On November 16, 1981, President Ronald Reagan approved a plan of covert actions aimed at blocking Cuban aid to Nicaragua and El Salvador. This decision was part of a broader strategy to prevent the spread of communism in Central America. The plan involved supporting anti-Sandinista forces in Nicaragua and countering leftist guerrillas in El Salvador. source: reaganfoundation.org
  • 17 Nov 1981 Birth of Sarah Harding, British pop singer: Sarah Harding, a member of the British girl group Girls Aloud, was born on November 17, 1981. She gained fame in the early 2000s and became known for her contributions to pop music and television. Harding's career included various solo projects and appearances in reality TV shows. source: bbc.com
  • 18 Nov 1981 Reagan proposes 'Zero Option' for nuclear arms reduction: On November 18, 1981, President Ronald Reagan proposed the 'Zero Option,' offering to cancel the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missiles in Europe if the Soviet Union dismantled its SS-4, SS-5, and SS-20 missiles targeting Western Europe. This proposal aimed to eliminate an entire class of nuclear missiles from Europe, marking a significant shift from traditional arms control to arms reduction. The Soviet Union dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, and it did not lead to immediate negotiations. source: reaganlibrary.gov
  • 19 Nov 1981 Assassination of Griffiths Mxenge: On November 19, 1981, Griffiths Mxenge, a prominent South African civil rights lawyer and anti-apartheid activist, was assassinated in Umlazi township, Durban. He was abducted, stabbed 45 times, and had his throat slit. The perpetrators were later identified as members of the Vlakplaas death squad, led by Dirk Coetzee. In 1989, Butana Almond Nofomela, a former member of the squad, confessed to his involvement in the murder. Despite this, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission granted amnesty to the perpetrators, and the case remains a significant example of the apartheid regime's covert operations against its opponents. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 20 Nov 1981 Bulelani Ngcuka arrested in 1981: In November 1981, Bulelani Ngcuka, a young attorney and anti-apartheid activist, was arrested under the Terrorism Act. He was detained for eight months in solitary confinement and later sentenced to three years in prison for refusing to testify at a high-treason trial. During his imprisonment, he completed his LLB degree through the University of South Africa. source: iol.co.za
  • 21 Nov 1981 Mass anti-nuclear missile protest in Amsterdam: On November 21, 1981, approximately 400,000 to 450,000 people participated in a large demonstration in Amsterdam against the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe. Organized by the Interkerkelijk Vredesberaad (Interdenominational Peace Council) in collaboration with political parties, unions, and peace groups, the protest was the largest in the Netherlands since World War II. Demonstrators marched to express opposition to NATO's plans to station 572 nuclear missiles in Western Europe, including 48 cruise missiles in the Netherlands. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 22 Nov 1981 Hans Adolf Krebs, Nobel laureate biochemist, dies at 81: Hans Adolf Krebs, the German-born British biochemist renowned for discovering the citric acid cycle, passed away on November 22, 1981, in Oxford, England, at the age of 81. source: britannica.com
  • 23 Nov 1981 Reagan vetoes fiscal year 1982 appropriations resolution: On November 23, 1981, President Ronald Reagan vetoed House Joint Resolution 357, a continuing resolution providing appropriations for fiscal year 1982. Reagan cited concerns over excessive government spending and its impact on inflation and interest rates. The veto led to a partial government shutdown, affecting approximately 241,000 federal employees. Congress subsequently passed a temporary extension to resume government operations. source: reaganlibrary.gov
  • 24 Nov 1981 Typhoon Irma strikes Philippines, causing significant damage and fatalities: Typhoon Irma, known locally as Super Typhoon Anding, struck the Philippines on November 24, 1981, with winds up to 150 mph. The typhoon caused widespread damage, including a 50-foot tidal wave that devastated villages in Camarines Sur province, resulting in at least 259 fatalities. Approximately 482,678 people were affected, with nearly 40,000 rendered homeless. The total damage was estimated at $63.3 million (1981 USD). source: upi.com
  • 25 Nov 1981 Coup attempt at Seychelles Airport on November 25, 1981: On November 25, 1981, a coup attempt occurred in Seychelles, targeting the government of President France-Albert RenĂ©. The plot was orchestrated by mercenaries and aimed to overthrow the government, leading to a violent confrontation at the airport. The coup was ultimately unsuccessful, and the event had significant implications for the political landscape of Seychelles. source: bbc.com
  • 26 Nov 1981 Spain officially joins NATO: Spain became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on November 26, 1981. This accession marked a significant step in Spain's integration into Western defense structures following the end of Franco's regime. Spain's membership was aimed at enhancing collective security in Europe during the Cold War. source: nato.int
  • 27 Nov 1981 Discovery of Buddha's Bone Relics near Beijing in 1981: In November 1981, archaeologists rediscovered two tiny pellets of ash, believed to be the cremated remains of Buddha, in a cave near Beijing's Yunju Temple. These relics, known as sartras, are among the holiest in Buddhism and were found in a cave used to store scriptures on Shijing Mountain. The discovery was announced in April 1987 after researchers confirmed their authenticity. source: upi.com
  • 28 Nov 1981 Bear Bryant becomes college football's winningest coach: On November 28, 1981, Paul 'Bear' Bryant surpassed Amos Alonzo Stagg's record of 314 wins by achieving his 315th career victory as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, defeating Auburn 28-17 in the Iron Bowl. source: si.edu
  • 29 Nov 1981 1981 Azbakiyah bombing in Damascus: On November 29, 1981, a car bomb exploded in the al-Azbakiyah neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, near a military police office, killing at least 64 people and wounding 135. The Syrian government blamed the Muslim Brotherhood, while a group called the Organisation for the Liberation of Lebanon from Foreigners claimed responsibility. The attack destroyed three five-story apartment buildings and was the fourth bomb attack in the capital since August. source: csmonitor.com
  • 30 Nov 1981 U.S. and Soviet Union begin nuclear arms negotiations in Geneva: On November 30, 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union commenced formal negotiations in Geneva aimed at limiting medium-range nuclear weapons in Europe. This marked a significant step in arms control discussions during the Cold War era. source: washingtonpost.com