1984 facts for kids

This page is about the year 1984. For the book by George Orwell, see Nineteen Eighty-Four.

1984 (also written as MCMLXXXIV in Roman numerals) was a leap year starting on Sunday in the Gregorian calendar. It was a year filled with many important events around the world, from new laws and inventions to major sports and entertainment moments.

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s – 1980s – 1990s 2000s 2010s
Years:	1981 1982 1983 – 1984 – 1985 1986 1987

Key Events of 1984
- January to June Highlights
- July to December Highlights
Famous People Born in 1984
- January to June Births
- July to December Births
Famous People Who Died in 1984
Popular Movies of 1984
Hit Songs of 1984
New Books Released in 1984
Images for kids
See also

Key Events of 1984

January to June Highlights

March 22 – In Manhattan Beach, California, there were claims that teachers at the McMartin preschool had harmed children. However, after a long investigation, police found that these claims were not true.
March 23 – Sarah Tisdall was sent to prison for six months. She had shared secret information with The Guardian newspaper about cruise missiles coming to Britain.
March 24 – The Wran Government in New South Wales, Australia, was re-elected for a fourth time.
March 28 – The 1984 Carolinas tornado outbreak caused a lot of damage and sadly, some people died in North and South Carolina.
April 4 – President Ronald Reagan spoke out against the use of chemical weapons, saying they should never be used.
April 12 – Four Palestinians took an Israeli bus hostage. Israeli special forces rescued the passengers. This event led to a big investigation known as the Kav 300 affair.
April 13 – India started Operation Meghdoot and took control of most of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir.
April 17 – WPC Yvonne Fletcher was tragically shot outside the Libyan Embassy in London during the 1984 Libyan Embassy Siege.
April 19 – Advance Australia Fair was officially named Australia's national anthem. Green and gold were also chosen as the national colours.
April 25 – Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah finished his time as the 7th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
April 26 – Baginda Almutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, the Sultan of Johor, became the 8th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
May 2 – The Liverpool Garden Festival opened in Liverpool.
May 8 – The Soviet Union announced that it would not participate in the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.
May 8 – Denis Lortie caused a tragic incident by killing three government workers in the National Assembly of Quebec building.
May 11 – The planet Earth could be seen passing in front of the Sun from Mars. This is called an astronomical transit.
May 14 – The one dollar coin was introduced in Australia.
May 19 – Game show contestant Michael Larson won $100,000 on the show Press Your Luck. People later found out he had found a pattern in the game board.
May 22 – Helen Branch, who disappeared in 1977, was officially declared legally dead.
May 27 – Fluminense won the Brazilian soccer league against C.R. Vasco da Gama.
June 5 – The Indian government began Operation Blue Star, a planned action at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
June 6 – Indian troops entered the Golden Temple at Amritsar, which is a very holy place for Sikhs. About 10,000 people were killed.
June 8 – A powerful tornado almost destroyed Barneveld, Wisconsin. It killed nine people, injured nearly 200, and caused over $25 million in damage.
June 8 – The movie Ghostbusters was released in theaters and became a huge summer hit. The song "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. also became very popular.

July to December Highlights

October 26 – The movie The Terminator was first shown in movie theaters.
October 26 – The 1984-85 NBA regular season began.
November 4 – Ronald Reagan won the presidential elections against Walter Mondale in one of the biggest victories in United States history.
November 29 – West Hollywood, California, a city known for its large gay community, officially became a city.