About Historic Events in 1994
Elections, unprecedented racially motivated violence and celebrity murder trials dominated the historic events in 1994. Throughout the world, government overhauls promised to bring about real change, colonial interests continued to affect a continent's history and the sports world saw some major shockers. The historic events in 1994 all earned their spot in the history books and continue to spark discussion today.
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History
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One of the major international historic events in 1994 occurred in April when Nelson Mandela was elected the first black president of South Africa, ending years of apartheid in that country. All races were allowed to vote in the 1994 elections, bringing full democracy to South Africa for the first time and an end to the legalized racial segregation that plagued South Africa for decades. Nelson Mandela's presidency was more than just a historic event in 1994, it was a historical event that was symbolic of Africa's centuries-long plight to regain control over its land and people from European interests.
Geography
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A tragic historic event of 1994 also occurred in Africa in April--the Rwandan Genocide that led to the deaths of nearly one million Tutsis at the hands of Hutu militia. This struggle, like many in Africa, was created or promoted by the centuries-long intervention of European powers in the continent, and the Rwandan Genocide allowed the world to see the implications of long-term foreign interests in the area. Africa continues to receive billions of dollars in aid from developed countries worldwide attempting to help the continent peacefully prosper in modern times.
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Effects
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Several United States happenings became historic events in 1994 with long-term effects, including the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson, ex-wife of former professional football player O.J. Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman outside her Los Angeles home in June. News coverage of the murders and the subsequent murder trial of O.J. Simpson was extensive, setting precedents for news stories of celebrity crimes and courtroom drama that would significantly change the norms of future media coverage.
In November, former president Ronald Reagan released a letter informing the American public that he was suffering from the degenerative mental disease Alzheimer's. This historic event in 1994 led to more open discussion about the disease and increased pursuits in seeking out treatment options and possible cures for the debilitating illness.
Time Frame
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In November of 1994 the U.S. held a historic mid-term election, bringing Republicans into control of both the House of Representatives and Senate for the first time in decades. Republicans winning the majority of seats in both houses of Congress marked the first time in 40 years that Democrats did not control at least one branch of Congress.
Considerations
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The U.S. sports world saw two significant historic events in 1994, beginning with the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan in January as she trained to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic Team in the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Kerrigan's leg was injured after the ex-husband of her rival, Tonya Harding, ordered the attack. Kerrigan was able to skate at the Olympics and earned a silver medal, while Harding was later banned from the sport. In August of 1994 Major League Baseball players went on strike, causing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.
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