Major Events of March 1982: 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 March 1982 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of March 1982: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Mar 1982 5th Emmy Sports Award presentation: The 5th Emmy Sports Award presentation took place on March 1, 1982, recognizing outstanding achievements in sports television. This annual event honors excellence in sports broadcasting across various categories. source: brainyhistory.com
- 02 Mar 1982 Assault of Ayacucho prison by Shining Path guerrillas: On March 2, 1982, approximately 150 members of the Shining Path guerrilla group attacked the Ayacucho prison in Peru, freeing 255 inmates, including 80 of their comrades. The assault resulted in a five-hour gun battle, leaving 16 people dead, including two prison guards, and 12 wounded. The attackers used dynamite to breach the prison walls and engaged in simultaneous assaults on local police stations. This event marked a significant escalation in the internal conflict in Peru. source: upi.com
- 03 Mar 1982 US Senate debates expulsion of Senator Harrison Williams: On March 3, 1982, the U.S. Senate began debating the expulsion of Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr. (D-NJ) following his conviction in the Abscam corruption case. The Senate Ethics Committee had unanimously recommended his expulsion, citing his unethical conduct that brought dishonor to the Senate. Williams, who had served 23 years in the Senate, maintained his innocence and argued that he was a victim of government misconduct. The debate was postponed several times to allow Williams more time to prepare his defense. Ultimately, Williams resigned from the Senate on March 11, 1982, before a vote on expulsion could take place. source: senate.gov
- 04 Mar 1982 Bertha Wilson appointed as first woman on Canada's Supreme Court: On March 4, 1982, Bertha Wilson was appointed as the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Her appointment marked a significant milestone in Canadian history, breaking gender barriers in the judiciary. Wilson's contributions to law and advocacy for women's rights have had a lasting impact on the legal landscape in Canada. source: thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- 05 Mar 1982 Soviet Venera 14 spacecraft lands on Venus: On March 5, 1982, the Soviet Union's Venera 14 spacecraft successfully landed on Venus, four days after its twin, Venera 13. The lander transmitted data and images of the Venusian surface for approximately 57 minutes before succumbing to the planet's extreme conditions. source: space.com
- 06 Mar 1982 Death of Ayn Rand: Ayn Rand, the Russian-American novelist and philosopher known for her works such as 'Atlas Shrugged' and 'The Fountainhead', passed away on March 6, 1982. Her philosophy of Objectivism and her advocacy for individualism and capitalism have had a lasting impact on American culture and politics. Rand's death marked the end of a significant era in literary and philosophical discourse. source: britannica.com
- 07 Mar 1982 NCAA Tournament Selection Show first live TV broadcast: On March 7, 1982, CBS Sports broadcast the NCAA Tournament Selection Show live for the first time, marking a significant milestone in sports television. This inaugural live broadcast allowed fans and teams to learn about the tournament bracket simultaneously, enhancing the excitement and anticipation surrounding the event. The live broadcast of the selection show has since become a cherished tradition in college basketball. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 09 Mar 1982 John Belushi's funeral held on March 9, 1982: Comedian John Belushi was buried in Abel's Hill Cemetery on Martha's Vineyard on March 9, 1982. The private ceremony was attended by approximately 100 friends and family members, including Dan Aykroyd, who led the procession on his motorcycle. The service featured Armenian Orthodox Church ceremonies at the West Tisbury Congregational Church. source: upi.com
- 10 Mar 1982 US imposes total ban on Libyan oil imports in response to terrorism support: On March 10, 1982, President Ronald Reagan ordered a total ban on Libyan oil imports and cut off virtually all U.S. sales to Libya, citing the country's support for international terrorism. The sanctions were expected to cost Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi approximately $150 million per month in hard currency, though the impact on U.S. consumers was anticipated to be negligible due to the small volume of Libyan oil imports. source: washingtonpost.com
- 11 Mar 1982 Egypt and Israel sign peace treaty in 1982: On March 11, 1982, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty, formally ending decades of conflict between the two nations. This agreement followed the Camp David Accords of 1978 and marked a significant step towards peace in the Middle East, with Egypt becoming the first Arab country to recognize Israel. The treaty included provisions for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Sinai Peninsula, which had been occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War. source: state.gov
- 12 Mar 1982 Courtney Walsh's first-class cricket debut for Jamaica: Courtney Walsh made his first-class debut for Jamaica on March 12, 1982, against the Leeward Islands. He was 19 years old at the time and took 15 wickets in the Shell Shield that season, averaging 25.20 runs per wicket. source: onthisday.com
- 13 Mar 1982 Elaine Zayak wins 1982 World Figure Skating Championship: On March 13, 1982, American figure skater Elaine Zayak clinched the World Figure Skating Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark. After placing seventh in the short program, she delivered a flawless free skate, landing six triple jumps, to secure the gold medal. This victory marked a significant comeback, as she had previously finished third at the 1982 U.S. Nationals. source: upi.com
- 14 Mar 1982 South African government bombs ANC headquarters in London: On March 14, 1982, the South African government bombed the African National Congress (ANC) headquarters in London, causing significant damage but no fatalities. The attack was intended to demoralize the ANC and signal disapproval of the British government's support for the liberation movement. In 1998, former South African security police admitted responsibility for the bombing during a Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing. source: theguardian.com
- 15 Mar 1982 Nicaragua declares state of emergency, suspending citizens' rights: On March 15, 1982, the Sandinista government in Nicaragua declared a state of emergency in response to attacks by counter-revolutionary forces. This measure suspended several civil liberties, including the freedom to organize demonstrations, the inviolability of the home, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and the freedom to strike. The state of emergency lasted six years, until January 1988, when it was lifted. source: cia.gov
- 16 Mar 1982 Claus von Bülow convicted of attempted murder in 1982: On March 16, 1982, Claus von Bülow was convicted by a jury in Newport, Rhode Island, of two counts of attempted murder for allegedly injecting his wife, Martha "Sunny" von Bülow, with insulin, leading to her comatose state. The prosecution argued that von Bülow sought to inherit his wife's fortune and marry his mistress. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The case attracted significant media attention and was later depicted in the film "Reversal of Fortune." source: csmonitor.com
- 17 Mar 1982 Dutch journalists killed in El Salvador during civil war: On March 17, 1982, four Dutch journalists—Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Hans ter Laag, and Joop Willemsen—were ambushed and killed by Salvadoran soldiers in Chalatenango, El Salvador, while reporting on the civil war. The journalists were working for the Dutch public broadcaster IKON and had been detained by Salvadoran police days prior for alleged contact with guerrillas. A United Nations Truth Commission in 1993 concluded that Colonel Mario Reyes Mena orchestrated the ambush, with knowledge from other officials. In June 2025, a Salvadoran court convicted three former military officers—José Guillermo García, Francisco Antonio Morán, and Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena—for their roles in the killings, sentencing them to 15 years in prison each. source: aljazeera.com
- 18 Mar 1982 Judge halts 'obscenity' trial: On March 18, 1982, a judge halted the trial of National Theatre director Michael Bogdanov, who had been prosecuted by Mary Whitehouse for alleged gross indecency in the play 'Romans in Britain'. The Attorney-General intervened, leading to the withdrawal of the case after the prosecution withdrew its evidence. Both parties claimed victory, with Whitehouse asserting that an important legal point had been established regarding the applicability of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 to theatrical performances. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 19 Mar 1982 Argentine flag hoisted on South Georgia Island: On March 19, 1982, a group of Argentine workers landed at Leith Harbour on South Georgia Island and raised the Argentine flag. This act was perceived as a provocative step in the ongoing dispute between Britain and Argentina over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and their dependencies. source: news.bbc.co.uk
- 20 Mar 1982 Formation of the Conservative Party in South Africa: The Conservative Party was formed in South Africa on March 20, 1982, as a response to the policies of the National Party, particularly its approach to racial integration and reform. The party aimed to represent the interests of Afrikaners and promote a return to more traditional apartheid policies. It gained significant support among those opposed to the National Party's reforms during the 1980s. source: britannica.com
- 21 Mar 1982 1982 Urakawa earthquake in Hokkaido, Japan: On March 21, 1982, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Urakawa, Hokkaido, Japan, causing 167 injuries and damage in Tomakomai and Sapporo. The earthquake generated a tsunami with a maximum height of 1.3 meters, observed in Urakawa. This event remains the largest recorded earthquake in the region. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 22 Mar 1982 NASA Space Shuttle Columbia STS-3 mission launch: The STS-3 mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia launched on March 22, 1982. This mission marked the third flight of the Space Shuttle program and included a number of significant experiments and tests. The shuttle orbited the Earth 120 times before landing on April 5, 1982, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. source: nasa.gov
- 23 Mar 1982 Guatemala military coup of 1982: On March 23, 1982, a military coup in Guatemala led to the overthrow of President Fernando Romeo Lucas García. The coup was orchestrated by General Efraín Ríos Montt, who subsequently established a military dictatorship marked by severe human rights abuses during the Guatemalan Civil War. This event significantly impacted the political landscape of Guatemala and intensified the conflict that lasted for decades. source: britannica.com
- 24 Mar 1982 Bangladesh military coup ousts President Abdus Sattar: On March 24, 1982, Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad led a bloodless military coup in Bangladesh, deposing President Abdus Sattar. Ershad declared martial law, suspended the constitution, dissolved Parliament, and assumed the role of Chief Martial Law Administrator. He appointed retired Supreme Court Justice A.F.M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury as interim president. Ershad justified the coup by citing corruption and inefficiency within the civilian government. source: cia.gov
- 25 Mar 1982 Wayne Gretzky becomes first NHL player to score 200 points in a single season: On March 25, 1982, Wayne Gretzky achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player in NHL history to surpass 200 points in a single season. Playing for the Edmonton Oilers against the Calgary Flames, Gretzky assisted on Pat Hughes' goal at 9:16 of the first period, reaching his 200th point. He added another assist on Dave Semenko's goal later in the period and scored two shorthanded goals 27 seconds apart in the second period, contributing to the Oilers' 7-2 victory. Gretzky finished the season with 212 points, a record that still stands. source: nhl.com
- 26 Mar 1982 Vietnam Veterans Memorial groundbreaking: On March 26, 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was officially groundbreaking in Washington, D.C. The memorial, designed by Maya Lin, features two black granite walls inscribed with the names of over 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War. Construction was completed in late October 1982, and the memorial was dedicated on November 13, 1982. source: cga.ct.gov
- 27 Mar 1982 Imran Khan's record-breaking bowling performance against Sri Lanka in 1982: On March 27, 1982, during the third Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Imran Khan delivered a remarkable bowling performance, taking 14 wickets for 116 runs. This achievement remains the best Test match bowling figures for a Pakistani cricketer. Pakistan won the match by an innings and 102 runs. source: geo.tv
- 28 Mar 1982 José Napoleón Duarte's Christian Democratic Party leads Salvadoran elections: In the Salvadoran elections held on March 28, 1982, José Napoleón Duarte's Christian Democratic Party (PDC) secured 24 of the 60 seats in the Constitutional Assembly, leading the vote. The Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) followed with 19 seats, and the National Conciliation Party (PCN) obtained 14 seats. Despite the PDC's lead, no party achieved an absolute majority, leading to the formation of a coalition government. Álvaro Magaña was subsequently elected president by the National Congress on April 29, 1982, and inaugurated on May 2, 1982. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 29 Mar 1982 Canada Act 1982 receives Royal Assent: On March 29, 1982, Queen Elizabeth II granted Royal Assent to the Canada Act 1982, marking a pivotal moment in Canadian history. This legislation patriated Canada's constitution, ending the British Parliament's authority to amend it and formally ending the 'request and consent' provisions of the Statute of Westminster 1931. The act also included the Constitution Act, 1982, which introduced the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 30 Mar 1982 Space Shuttle Columbia lands at White Sands Missile Range: On March 30, 1982, Space Shuttle Columbia completed its third mission (STS-3) by landing at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This was the only time a Space Shuttle landed at White Sands, as the planned landing site at Edwards Air Force Base was unavailable due to adverse weather conditions. The landing marked a significant milestone in the Space Shuttle program. source: nasa.gov
- 31 Mar 1982 U.S. Gold Commission recommends gold bullion coins: On March 31, 1982, the U.S. Gold Commission, established by President Ronald Reagan, released its report recommending the U.S. Treasury issue gold bullion coins. These coins were to be manufactured from existing gold reserves, without dollar denomination or legal tender status, and sold at a small markup over the market value of the gold content. The proposal aimed to provide a gold investment option to the public without returning to the gold standard. source: coinworld.com