1996⚡ Event
Kizlyar hostage crisis
Chechen separatists launched raids in Kizlyar, Dagestan, initiating the Kizlyar hostage crisis during the First Chechen War. Thousands of civilians were involved.
warpolitics
What Happened in 1996?
Explore 175 historical moments from 1996 — 27 events, 148 birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
Events in 1996(27)
1996⚡ Event
Rhode Island oil spill
A tank barge and a tug grounded on a beach in Rhode Island, causing a spill of an estimated 828,000 U.S. gallons of home heating oil.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Niger coup d'état
Mahamane Ousmane, Niger's first democratically elected president, was deposed in a military coup on January 27, 1996.
politicslaw
1996⚡ Event
Copernicium First Created
Researchers at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany, successfully created the chemical element copernicium. This marked a significant achievement in scientific discovery.
sciencetechnology
1996⚡ Event
London Docklands Bombing
The Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a truck bomb in the London Docklands, breaking a seventeen-month ceasefire. The attack killed two people and injured over a hundred others.
warpolitics
1996⚡ Event
Deep Blue vs. Kasparov
On February 10, 1996, the chess-playing computer Deep Blue defeated World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov in a game. This marked the first time a computer beat a reigning world champion under tournament conditions.
technologysports
1996⚡ Event
Silver Spring train collision
Eleven people died in a train collision in Silver Spring, Maryland, leading to new federal rules for passenger car design.
disasterlawtechnology
1996⚡ Event
New Guinea Trench Earthquake and Tsunami
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in the New Guinea Trench on February 17, 1996, generating a tsunami that killed 108 people.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Pokémon launched
The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green.
entertainmenttechnology
1996⚡ Event
Faucett Flight 251 Crash
In the deadliest aviation accident in Peruvian history, Faucett Flight 251 crashed on approach to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport. All 123 people aboard were killed.
disasterlaw
1996⚡ Event
Dunblane massacre
A mass shooting at a primary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killed 16 children and a teacher. The event led to tighter gun control in the United Kingdom.
law
1996⚡ Event
Quezon City Nightclub Fire
The deadliest fire in Philippine history occurred at a nightclub in Quezon City, causing 162 fatalities.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Lee Teng-hui Elected President of Taiwan
Lee Teng-hui was elected President of the Republic of China. This marked Taiwan's first direct presidential election.
politicslaw
1996⚡ Event
Qana Shelling During Operation Grapes of Wrath
On April 18, 1996, Israeli forces shelled Qana, Lebanon, during Operation Grapes of Wrath. The attack on a United Nations compound killed at least 100 civilians.
warpolitics
1996⚡ Event
Ireland Wins Eurovision
Ireland won the Eurovision song contest for the seventh time. This was the highest number of wins for any country until Sweden tied it in 2023.
musicentertainment
1996⚡ Event
Romer v. Evans
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Colorado constitutional amendment preventing protected legal status for homosexuals or bisexuals.
lawpolitics
1996⚡ Event
Montana Freemen standoff
After an 81-day standoff sparked by their refusal to be evicted from their foreclosed property in Jordan, Montana, the Christian Patriot group Montana Freemen surrendered to the FBI on June 14, 1996.
lawpolitics
1996⚡ Event
Manchester bombing
The Provisional Irish Republican Army detonated a truck bomb in Manchester, England, injuring more than 200 people and causing widespread damage.
wardisaster
1996⚡ Event
TWA Flight 800 explodes
TWA Flight 800 exploded in mid-air and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crash
Vnukovo Airlines Flight 2801 crashed on approach to Svalbard Airport, Norway. All 141 people on board were killed.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Tupac Shakur shot
American rapper Tupac Shakur was shot by an unknown assailant in Las Vegas. He died from his injuries six days later.
entertainmentlaw
1996⚡ Event
Defense of Marriage Act passed
The Defense of Marriage Act was passed by the United States Congress. It prohibited federal recognition of same-sex marriage, while allowing states to adopt any marital definition of their choosing.
politicslaw
1996⚡ Event
Taliban Seize Kabul
The Taliban drove Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani out of Kabul, murdered former president Mohammad Najibullah, and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
politicswar
1996⚡ Event
Abdullah Çatlı killed in car crash
Abdullah Çatlı, a leader of the ultra-nationalist Grey Wolves, was killed in a car crash near Susurluk, Turkey. The incident sparked a scandal exposing state complicity in organized crime.
politicslaw
1996⚡ Event
Mars Global Surveyor Launched
NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
sciencespacetechnology
1996⚡ Event
Mid-air collision near New Delhi
A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 collided in mid-air near New Delhi. The crash killed 349 people, making it the deadliest such collision in history.
disaster
1996⚡ Event
Oakland AAVE Resolution
The school board of Oakland, California, passed a controversial resolution on December 18, 1996, officially declaring African-American Vernacular English to be a separate language or dialect.
law
Born in 1996(148)
1996🎂 Birth
Braeden Lemasters
American actor, musician, and singer born on January 27, 1996.
entertainmentmusic
1996🎂 Birth
Chris Godwin
Chris Godwin, an American football player, was born. He is a wide receiver in the NFL.
sports
1996🎂 Birth
Ten
Ten, a Thai singer and dancer, was born. He is a member of the K-pop group NCT.
musicentertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Cherprang Areekul
Cherprang Areekul, a Thai singer, was born on May 2, 1996.
musicentertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Birth of Yoon Chae-kyung
Yoon Chae-kyung, a South Korean singer and actress, was born.
musicentertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Kevin Abstract
Kevin Abstract, American rapper and singer-songwriter, was born.
musicentertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Alexandra Andresen
Alexandra Andresen is a Norwegian heiress and a professional equestrian.
sportseconomics
1996🎂 Birth
Trevor Jackson
Trevor Jackson, American actor and singer-songwriter, was born.
entertainmentmusicarts
1996🎂 Birth
Stefanie Scott
American actress and singer Stefanie Scott was born on December 6, 1996.
entertainment
1996🎂 Birth
Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.
artsentertainment
Deaths in 1996(0)
No deaths recorded for 1996.
Dates in 1996
January 9January 16January 19January 25January 27February 6February 8February 9February 10February 16February 17February 21February 22February 23February 27February 29March 8March 11March 13March 18March 19March 23March 28March 29March 30April 3April 7April 10April 12April 14April 16April 18April 25May 2May 8May 9May 10May 14May 16May 18May 19May 20May 24May 26June 1June 6June 7June 12June 14June 15June 18June 20June 22June 24June 25July 2July 3July 5July 7July 8July 11July 16July 17July 18July 20July 23July 24July 26July 28July 30August 3August 9August 13August 16August 17August 20August 21August 23August 28August 29August 30September 2September 4September 7September 9September 12September 13September 14September 19September 20September 21September 23September 27September 28October 2October 4October 10October 13October 17October 18October 19October 26October 27October 29October 30November 3November 4November 7November 9November 11November 12November 15November 19November 23November 27December 6December 9December 10December 11December 12December 16December 18December 19December 21December 23December 25December 28
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened in 1996?
- 1996 saw 175 notable historical moments, including 27 events, 148 famous birthdays, and 0 notable deaths.
- What were the biggest events of 1996?
- Key events of 1996 include: Kizlyar hostage crisis, Rhode Island oil spill, Niger coup d'état.
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