In 1979, the following things happened...
World events
*The
United Nations declared this year,
The International Year of the Child
*
China establishes their
one child policy. Also, the country establishes diplomatic ties with the
United States.
*The regime of
Pol Pot comes to an end in
Cambodia.
*The Emperor of the
Central African Republic, Bokassa I is overthrown.
*
Joe Clark succeeds long-standing
Pierre Trudeau to become
Canada's youngest
Prime Minister.
*
Margaret Thatcher becomes
Prime Minster of the United Kingdom.
*
Saddam Hussein becomes
President of Iraq.
*
Brenda Ann Spencer starts shooting at kids at a school near her house because she "
Didn't Like Mondays".
*
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to
Iran after years in exile, where he seizes power. Following this, the country becomes an Islamic republic and overthrows the
Shah. Later protesters raid the
US Embassy and take 90 people, including 52 Americans, hostage.
*
Egypt and
Israel sign a
Peace Treaty
*
John Paul II become the first
Pope to visit a
communist country, his homeland of
Poland. He also visits the
United States.
*Bill Stewart, a reporter for ABC News is killed while covering the violence in
Nicaragua.
*
Afghanistan is invaded by the
Soviet Union
*
Mother Teresa wins the
Nobel Peace Prize.
*
CompuServe introduces the first commercial
E-mail.
Science
*
Voyager I reaches
Jupiter
*
Pioneer 11 reaches
Saturn.
*
Skylab returns to Earth.
*The
smallpox virus is declared
extinct.
*A nuclear meltdown occurs at the
power plant on
Three Mile Island.
Entertainment
*
Disco Demolition Night, a radio publicity stunt turns into a riot at a baseball game in Chicago.
*In
Cincinnati, 11 young fans are killed during a scramble for seats at a concert by
The Who.
The
Sugarhill Gang release
Rapper's Delight.
*
Michael Jackson releases his album
Off The Wall.
*
Nickelodeon goes on the air.
*Films released this year include:
Apocalypse Now,
Star Trek: The Motion Picture,
Kramer vs. Kramer,
Mad Max,
All That Jazz,
Quadraphenia,
The Warriors, and
Meatballs.
Miscellaneous
*The
Susan B. Anthony dollar coin issued.
*
McDonald's debuts the
Happy Meal
*
Reebok debuts their running shoes.
*The
Rubik's Cube becomes available.
*
Sony creates the
Walkman.
These People Were Born...
*Singers,
Aaliyah,
Lance Bass,
Brandy,
Pete Doherty,
Norah Jones,
Pink,
Andrew W.K.,
Ne-Yo
*Actors,
Shawn Ashmore,
Adam Brody,
Rachael Leigh Cook,
Rosario Dawson,
Jennifer Love Hewitt,
Kate Hudson,
Keshia Knight Pulliam,
Brandon Routh,
Mena Suvari,
Heath Ledger,
Claire Danes
*TV personality and Skateboarder,
Bam Margera
These People and Animals Died...
*
Bamboo Harvester, horse who played
Mr. Ed
*Actors,
John Wayne,
Mary Pickford,
Jack Haley,
Vivian Vance,
Zeppo Marx,
*Composer,
Richard Rodgers
*Hotel mogul,
Conrad Hilton
*Punk Rocker,
Sid Vicious
*Former US Vice President and New York Governor,
Nelson Rockefeller
*Film director,
Jean Renoir
*Clown,
Emmett Kelly
*Animator,
Dave Fleischer,
*Dancer,
Sally Rand
*Former First Lady,
Maime Eisenhower
*Oscar streaker,
Robert Opel
1978-
1980