Major Events of May 1990: 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 May 1990 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of May 1990: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 May 1990 Bicesse Accords signed in Portugal to end Angolan Civil War: On May 31, 1991, the Angolan government and UNITA signed the Bicesse Accords in Estoril, Portugal, aiming to end the civil war and establish a multi-party democracy. The agreement included a ceasefire, integration of forces into a unified national army, and plans for elections under UN supervision. Despite initial optimism, the accords faced challenges in implementation, leading to renewed conflict in subsequent years. source: africa-press.net
- 02 May 1990 South African government and ANC begin negotiations to end apartheid: On May 2, 1990, the South African government and the African National Congress (ANC) initiated formal negotiations aimed at ending apartheid. The meeting took place at the Groote Schuur presidential residence in Cape Town, marking the first direct talks between the two parties in 78 years. The discussions focused on establishing a framework for future negotiations toward a new constitution and the dismantling of apartheid policies. source: washingtonpost.com
- 03 May 1990 No significant global events recorded on May 3, 1990: On May 3, 1990, no major political, social, or technological developments of widespread historical importance were recorded, marking a moment of relative calm during the late Cold War period.
- 04 May 1990 Latvia declares independence from the Soviet Union: On May 4, 1990, Latvia's Supreme Soviet adopted the 'Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia,' marking the country's move towards independence from the Soviet Union. The declaration passed with 138 votes in favor, 1 abstention, and 57 deputies absent. This event is now celebrated annually as the Day of the Restoration of Latvian Independence. source: latvia.eu
- 05 May 1990 Unbridled wins 116th Kentucky Derby: On May 5, 1990, Unbridled, trained by Carl Nafzger and ridden by jockey Craig Perret, won the 116th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The 92-year-old owner, Frances A. Genter, celebrated her first Derby victory as Unbridled surged past the field to win by 3½ lengths in a time of 2:02. source: upi.com
- 06 May 1990 P.W. Botha resigns from the National Party: On May 6, 1990, former South African President P.W. Botha resigned from the National Party, citing dissatisfaction with President F.W. de Klerk's reform proposals, including negotiations with the African National Congress (ANC). Botha had previously resigned as state president on August 14, 1989, amid political instability and economic challenges. His departure marked a significant shift in South African politics during the transition away from apartheid. source: washingtonpost.com
- 07 May 1990 Hubble Space Telescope launched into orbit: The Hubble Space Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31). It has since provided invaluable data and stunning images of the universe, significantly advancing our understanding of astronomy. The launch marked a pivotal moment in space exploration and scientific research. source: nasa.gov
- 08 May 1990 Estonia reestablishes independence by restoring 1938 Constitution: On May 8, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR abolished the Soviet-era name, reinstated the Republic of Estonia, and restored the 1938 Constitution, marking a significant step toward full independence from the Soviet Union. source: upi.com
- 09 May 1990 South Korean anti-government protests escalate: On May 9, 1990, tens of thousands of students, dissidents, and radicals engaged in violent anti-government protests across South Korea, demanding the ouster of President Roh Tae Woo. The demonstrations led to clashes with riot police in over a dozen cities, resulting in numerous injuries and the arrest of more than 900 individuals. In Seoul, protesters set fire to a U.S. diplomatic building and engaged in intense confrontations with police forces. source: washingtonpost.com
- 10 May 1990 French TGV train reaches 510.6 km/h on May 10, 1990: On May 10, 1990, during high-speed testing on the TGV Atlantique line, a French TGV train achieved a speed of 510.6 km/h (317.3 mph). This was part of a series of tests conducted by SNCF to push the limits of high-speed rail technology. The official world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.3 mph) was set on May 18, 1990, during the same testing campaign. source: liquisearch.com
- 11 May 1990 Yankees trade Dave Winfield to Angels for Mike Witt: On May 11, 1990, the New York Yankees traded outfielder Dave Winfield to the California Angels in exchange for pitcher Mike Witt. Winfield, a 12-time All-Star, had been with the Yankees since 1981 but had a contentious relationship with owner George Steinbrenner. After missing the 1989 season due to a back injury, Winfield returned in 1990 but struggled, leading to the trade. The deal was finalized after Winfield agreed to a new contract with the Angels on May 16, 1990. source: upi.com
- 12 May 1990 WHO removes homosexuality from mental disorders list: On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), acknowledging that it is not a mental disorder. This decision marked a significant shift in global health perspectives, aligning with earlier actions by other medical organizations. The change was officially adopted by the Forty-third World Health Assembly on May 17, 1990. source: dw.com
- 13 May 1990 Two U.S. Airmen killed near Clark Air Base in the Philippines: On May 13, 1990, U.S. Air Force Airmen John Raven, 21, and James Green, 22, were shot and killed by suspected communist guerrillas outside the Holiday Lodge hotel in Angeles City, near Clark Air Base. The attack occurred just hours before critical talks on the future of U.S. military facilities in the Philippines were set to begin. The New People's Army (NPA) claimed responsibility for the killings, warning of continued attacks unless the U.S. dismantled its bases in the country. source: washingtonpost.com
- 14 May 1990 Dow Jones Industrial Average reaches record high on May 14, 1990: On May 14, 1990, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high of 2,821.53, surpassing its previous record of 2,810.15 set on January 2, 1990. The day's trading saw the index rise by 19.95 points, with an intraday high of 2,822.95. This milestone was achieved amid strong investor enthusiasm and favorable economic indicators, including a decline in April producer prices, which bolstered confidence in the market. source: latimes.com
- 15 May 1990 Torreón massacre: Between May 13 and 15, 1911, during the Mexican Revolution, revolutionary forces led by Francisco I. Madero's brother, Emilio Madero, captured the city of Torreón, Coahuila. The Maderistas, along with local residents, initiated a massacre against the Chinese community, resulting in the deaths of approximately 303 individuals, including 5 Japanese nationals. The victims were accused of collusion with the government of Porfirio Díaz. This event led to a diplomatic crisis between Mexico and Qing China, which demanded reparations. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 16 May 1990 Deaths of Jim Henson and Sammy Davis Jr.: On May 16, 1990, two prominent figures in the entertainment industry passed away. Jim Henson, the American puppeteer and creator of The Muppets, died at age 53 due to toxic shock syndrome caused by pneumonia. Sammy Davis Jr., the American singer, dancer, and actor, died at age 64 from throat cancer. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 17 May 1990 WHO removes homosexuality from mental illness classification: On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), no longer classifying it as a mental disorder. This decision marked a significant shift in the global understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, aligning with earlier actions by the American Psychiatric Association, which had declassified homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. The WHO's move was based on the consensus that same-sex attractions and behaviors are normal variations of human sexuality and not indicative of mental health issues. source: firstpost.com
- 18 May 1990 Treaty establishing monetary, economic, and social union between East and West Germany: On May 18, 1990, East and West Germany signed a treaty to create a monetary, economic, and social union, effective July 1, 1990. This agreement replaced the East German mark with the Deutsche Mark as East Germany's official currency, marking a significant step toward reunification. The treaty was signed by finance ministers Theodor Waigel of West Germany and Walter Romberg of East Germany, with Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Prime Minister Lothar de Maizière present at the ceremony. source: washingtonpost.com
- 19 May 1990 Romania holds first post-communist elections: On May 20, 1990, Romania conducted its first free elections since the fall of the communist regime in December 1989. The National Salvation Front (FSN), led by Ion Iliescu, secured a decisive victory, with Iliescu winning the presidency with 85% of the vote. The FSN also dominated parliamentary seats, obtaining 67% in the Assembly of Deputies and 77% in the Senate. Voter turnout was approximately 86%. source: washingtonpost.com
- 20 May 1990 Hubble Space Telescope captures first image of star cluster NGC 3532: On May 20, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope took its first photograph of the binary star HD96755 in the open cluster NGC 3532, located about 1,300 light years away. This initial image was unremarkable and smudgy, but significant as it marked Hubble's first successful light test. Later, engineers discovered Hubble's famously flawed mirror, which was confirmed nearly a month after the first photo. Despite the initial disappointment due to out-of-focus images, it wasn't until the December 1993 mission that corrective optics were installed to rectify the issue. This pivotal moment led to 25 years of awe-inspiring, clear images of the cosmos, capturing the universe's history in unparalleled detail. source: nasa.gov
- 21 May 1990 Burma's 1990 democratic election results annulled by military junta: In May 1990, Burma held its first multi-party elections since 1960, resulting in a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which secured 392 of the 492 seats. However, the military junta, known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), refused to honor the election results, maintaining control and suppressing opposition figures. This led to international condemnation and the imprisonment of many NLD members. source: britannica.com
- 22 May 1990 Microsoft Windows 3.0 launch: Microsoft launched Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990, introducing a new graphical user interface with clickable icons and improved memory management. The event was held at the New York City Center Theater, attended by 6,000 people, and broadcast live to multiple cities. Windows 3.0 sold over 100,000 copies in its first two weeks, marking a significant milestone for Microsoft. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 23 May 1990 U.S. Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady estimates S&L bailout cost at $90–130 billion: On May 23, 1990, Treasury Secretary Nicholas F. Brady informed Congress that the government would need to borrow between $90 billion and $130 billion to resolve the savings and loan crisis, a significant increase from the previous estimate of $50 billion. This revision was attributed to a weaker economy and declining real estate prices, which were expected to lead to the failure of between 722 and 1,030 institutions. source: latimes.com
- 24 May 1990 Pipe bomb injures environmental activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney in Oakland, California: On May 24, 1990, environmental activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney were injured when a pipe bomb exploded under the driver's seat of Bari's car in Oakland, California. Both were en route to promote the Redwood Summer campaign, aiming to halt logging of old-growth redwood forests. The FBI and Oakland Police initially arrested them, suspecting they were transporting the bomb, but charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. In 2002, a jury awarded $4.4 million in damages to Bari's estate and Cherney for civil rights violations by the FBI and Oakland Police Department. source: washingtonpost.com
- 25 May 1990 Unification of Yemen: On May 22, 1990, the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) unified to form the Republic of Yemen. Ali Abdullah Saleh, president of North Yemen, became the new country's president, and Ali Salem al-Beidh, leader of the South Yemeni Socialist Party, became vice president. This unification ended 150 years of division between the two regions. source: britannica.com
- 26 May 1990 China conducts underground nuclear test at Lop Nor: On May 26, 1990, China conducted an underground nuclear test at the Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The test was part of a series of nuclear explosions conducted by China at this site between 1964 and 1996. The specific yield and details of this particular test are not publicly disclosed. source: globalsecurity.org
- 27 May 1990 1990 Myanmar general election: On May 27, 1990, Myanmar held its first multi-party elections since 1960, resulting in a landslide victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, which secured 392 of the 492 seats. Despite this, the military junta refused to recognize the results and continued its rule until 2011. Voter turnout was 73%. source: en.wikipedia.org
- 28 May 1990 Eugenia Charles leads Dominica Freedom Party to victory in 1990 general election: On May 28, 1990, Dominica held general elections in which the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), led by Prime Minister Eugenia Charles, secured 11 of the 21 seats in the House of Assembly, retaining a majority. The United Workers' Party (UWP) won 6 seats, and the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) obtained 4 seats. This outcome marked Charles's third consecutive term as Prime Minister. source: electoraloffice.gov.dm
- 29 May 1990 Boris Yeltsin elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR: On May 29, 1990, Boris Yeltsin was elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) by the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia, defeating Alexander Vlasov with 535 votes to 467. This position made him the de facto leader of the RSFSR, marking a significant step in his political career. source: washingtonpost.com
- 30 May 1990 Gorbachev arrives in Washington for summit with Bush: On May 30, 1990, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev arrived in Washington, D.C., for a three-day summit with U.S. President George H.W. Bush. The summit focused on issues such as German reunification and European security. Gorbachev's visit was part of ongoing efforts to improve U.S.-Soviet relations during a pivotal period in the Cold War. source: history.com
- 31 May 1990 Seinfeld TV series premiere: The American television sitcom 'Seinfeld' premiered on NBC on July 5, 1989, as 'The Seinfeld Chronicles'. After initial low ratings, NBC ordered four more episodes, which began airing on May 31, 1990, marking the start of the show's first season. The episode 'The Stake Out' attracted a Nielsen rating of 16.2/24, indicating a strong viewership. The series concluded on May 14, 1998, after nine successful seasons. source: en.wikipedia.org