History & Politics | Music | Television | Movies | Sports
The shakeup and change started in 1990 continues into 1991 with violence on both the world stage as well as at home (USA). The Gulf War both starts and ends with Operation Desert Storm, Rodney King’s brutal beating is caught on tape and sets off riots in L.A, and Jeffrey Dahmer (cannibal and serial killer) is arrested.
Music had a new sound with the release of Nirvana’s album Smells Like Teen Spirit, setting off the grunge movement both in music and fashion. Other popular music had us losing our religion, talking about sex and down with OPP. Unbelievable.
So, here it is – 1991. Right here, right now.
• The United States enacts Operation Desert Storm, destroying the Iraqi army and ending the Gulf War in a few short weeks. • IRA forces attack the residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain with mortars. • 6 Irish nationals are released from prison after 16 years when a court of appeals ruled that police officers and officials involved in the IRA bombing case fabricated evidence in order to get the original convictions. • French citizens elect their first ever female premier, Edith Cresson. • The first apartheid legislation is finally struck from the books in South Africa, marking the beginning of the end for racial segregation in that country. • The Warsaw Pact, the European Communist version of NATO, ceases to exist as all parties involved voluntarily withdraw from the treaty holding them together. • Boris Yeltsin is elected as president of Russia in the first ever public vote held in the formerly Soviet nation. • Cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s arrest makes sensational headlines as the details of his gruesome acts are revealed. • A video is released of driver Rodney King being beaten by L.A. police officers following a traffic stop, igniting a national controversy. • Communist elements within Russia attempt a coup to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev’s and Boris Yeltsin’s policies of reform, but they were defeated by an overwhelming show of support from the Russian people for their change-inducing leaders. This event would catalyze the dissolution of the old Soviet Union over the next few months. • Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am, declares bankruptcy. • The Dead Sea Scrolls, an important historical document detailing the same period of time as the Bible’s Old Testament, are exhibited to the public. • Jean-Bertrand Aristide is deposed as President of Haiti. • Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Philippines, killing over 300 people in one of the largest volcanic events ever recorded. |
Boris Yeltsin elected president of Russia Rodney King being beating by L.A. police Jeffrey Dahmer, cannibal & serial killer, is arrested |
What was big on TV in 1991? Get the 411 on the highlights of TV in 1991 here. Believe or not, a few of these shows are still going strong.
![]() |
Dinosaurs (1991-1994) |
![]() |
Baywatch (1989-2001) |
![]() |
The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present) |
![]() |
Full House (1987-1995) |
![]() |
Home Improvement (1991-1999) |
![]() |
Unsolved Mysteries (1987-present) |
![]() |
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) |
![]() |
Coach (1989-1997) |
![]() |
Terminator 2: Judgment Day |
![]() |
The Silence of the Lambs |
![]() |
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves |
![]() |
The Addams Family |
![]() |
Beauty and the Beast |
![]() |
City Slickers |
![]() |
Father of the Bride |
![]() |
Sleeping with the Enemy |
![]() |
Hook |
![]() |
The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear |
![]() |
Backdraft |
![]() |
Boyz N the Hood |
![]() |
The Doors |
![]() |
JFK |
![]() |
Thelma and Louise |
• Dale Earnhardt makes it two NASCAR Winston Cup Championship in a row. • A tight-fought World Series sees the Minnesota Twins prevail over the Atlanta Braves in a 7-game nail biter. • The Pittsburgh Penguins pound the Minnesota North Stars into submission 8-0 in the last game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. • Rick Mears wins the Indianapolis 500 for the fourth and final time in his career. • Dennis Martinez pitches only the 13th perfect game ever to be recorded in Major League Baseball when the Montreal Expos defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0. • NBA star Magic Johnson announces he has contracted HIV and retires from professional basketball. • The New York Giants take Super Bowl XXV, beating the Buffalo Bills 20-19. • Strike the Gold wins the Kentucky Derby, but Hansel takes both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. • Michael Jordan leads the Bulls to their first NBA championship over the L.A. Lakers. • Aryton Senna repeats as Formula 1 champion. • Michael Stich and Steffi Graf make it an all-German Wimbledon as they take the male and female championships respectively. |
Pittsburg Penguins take the Magic Johnson announces his retirement due to HIV |