What Happened in 1992?

For many of us, 1992 does not feel like it was that far back – but, not to make you feel too old, it was over 30 years ago!

1992 was a pretty big year politically, and it was a dramatic one behind the scenes for the British Royal Family, with then-Queen Elizabeth II referring to it as her “Annus Horribilis.”

However, as it happens, there was plenty of joy as well as drama that unfolded in 1992. If you weren’t around to witness it, or simply don’t recall what went down, here’s everything you need to know, month by month!

In this year

1January

The El Salvador Peace Agreement took place. More specifically, the Chapultepec Peace Accords were signed, thus ending the civil war across the country. It was a bloody conflict that endured 12 years and claimed over 75,000 lives.

2February

In a rare moment of candor between America and Russia, then-US President of the US George HW Bush addressed Russian Premier Boris Yeltsin via Camp David on February 1st, 1992. There, they officially declared the end of the Cold War – after decades of tension and potential threat of nuclear war.

3March

Apartheid started coming to an end with monumental steps in South Africa as of March 1992. It was during this time that white South Africans finally voted in favor of political reforms. In doing so, they helped to create a multiracial government for the first time. This moment would lead the way for the first-ever multiracial elections in the country and the eventual election of legendary activist Nelson Mandela as President.

4April

A year after his tragic death, a concert held in honor of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was held on April 20th, 1992. London’s Wembley Stadium played host to what became known as the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert – with more than a billion people tuning in worldwide. The concert helped to raise millions of dollars to help fund research into AIDS. Thanks to efforts like these, we’re closer than ever to developing a fully working vaccine.

5May

Protests against the government of General Suchinda Kraprayoon unfolded in Bangkok, Thailand. A few days later, he agreed to resign. However, the protests were still met with violent and severe crackdowns.

6June

The first World Oceans Day was held in an effort to discuss sustainable measures to protect the Earth’s oceans. It coincided with the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 3rd to June 14th.

7July

July 1992 was a tumultuous month for the Iraq disarmament crisis. UN inspectors were refused access to the country’s agriculture ministry – and claims regarding alleged illegal weapons emerged. UN inspectors would sit-in as a protest for 17 days before leaving for safety reasons. As of July 26th, inspectors were finally admitted – with no evidence of suspicious weapons. Some believe records were removed.

8August

Amid ongoing tensions in the Gulf, British Prime Minister John Major announced on August 18th that the UK would establish no-fly zones across Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch.

9September

Mae Jemison made US space exploration history as the very first African-American woman to travel in space as part of NASA’s Endeavour mission this month. She would leave NASA in 1993, going on to form an educational nonprofit.

10October

After performing a protest through song against alleged child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, Irish musician Sinéad O’Connor tore up a photograph of then-Pope John Paul II on the US television program Saturday Night Live. The act caused huge controversy around the world, and would lead to O’Connor effectively facing blacklisting.

11November

The Church of England voted to allow women to become priests – a huge moment for equal rights in British religious practice that’s still upheld to this day.

12December

Hindu extremists in India destroyed Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque in the region of Ayodhya, as of December 6th, 1992. Its demolition spurred on mass violence that would spill into the Bombay Riots and eventually lead to more than 1,500 deaths.

1992 was the year of the…monkey!

Like 1956, 1968, 1980, 2004, and 2016, 1992 was a year to celebrate the Monkeys in your life, at least, according to the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Monkey years are usually very intelligent, funny, witty, and thoughtful. The next Monkey year won’t be until 2028.

Celebrity Births in 1992

• John Boyega, British actor, born March 17th, 1992
• Daisy Ridley, British actor, born April 10th, 1992
• Joe Keery, American actor, born April 24th, 1992
• Selena Gomez, American actor and singer, born July 22nd, 1992
• Josh Hutcherson, American actor, born October 12th, 1992

Famous People We Lost in 1992

• Alex Haley, American author, died aged 70
• Chuck Connors, American actor, died aged 71
• José Ferrer, Puerto Rican actor and director, died aged 80
• Marlene Dietrich, German-American actor, died aged 90
• Robert Beatty, Canadian actor, died aged 82