1990 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s – 1990s – 2000s 2010s 2020s
Years:	1987 1988 1989 – 1990 – 1991 1992 1993

1990 was the first year of the 1990s decade. It was a common year that started on a Monday. Many important events happened around the world in 1990, from big political changes to new movies and hit songs.

Major Events of 1990

January Highlights

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed for safety in January 1990.

January 7 – The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy was closed. This was done because it was leaning too much and was not safe.
January 15 – Thousands of people in Berlin, Germany, went into the Stasi headquarters. The Stasi was East Germany's secret police. People wanted to see government records.
January 20 – Soviet troops entered Baku, Azerbaijan. They were sent by Mikhail Gorbachev. Many people were hurt or killed during protests for independence.
January 31 – The very first McDonald's restaurant opened in Moscow, Russia. This was a big event for many people there.

February Highlights

February 11 – In a big boxing match, James "Buster" Douglas beat Mike Tyson. Douglas won the heavyweight boxing championship.
February 11 – Nelson Mandela was set free from prison in South Africa. He had been a political prisoner for 27 years. His release was a huge step for freedom in South Africa.
February 14 – The Rolling Stones played their first concert ever in Japan. They performed in Tokyo.
February 27 – The music group Milli Vanilli faced controversy. One of their "singers," Rob Pilatus, claimed they were more talented than famous musicians like Bob Dylan.

March Highlights

Patricio Aylwin became President of Chile in March 1990.

March 11 – Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union. This was a very important moment for the country.
March 11 – Patricio Aylwin became the new President of Chile. This ended the long rule of Augusto Pinochet.
March 15 – Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen as the first executive President of the Soviet Union.
March 21 – Namibia became an independent country. It had been ruled by South Africa for 75 years.
March 18 – 12 valuable paintings were stolen from a museum in Boston. This was the biggest art theft in US history.

April Highlights

April 7 – Many famous musicians played at Farm Aid IV in Indiana. These included Neil Young, Elton John, and Willie Nelson. Elton John dedicated a song to Ryan White, a young man with AIDS, who passed away that evening.
April 25 – Jimi Hendrix's famous guitar was sold at an auction in London. He used this guitar to play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock.

May Highlights

May 4 – Latvia also declared its independence from the Soviet Union.
May 22 – The two parts of Yemen united. They formed the new country called the Republic of Yemen.

June Highlights

June 12 – The parliament of Russia declared its sovereignty. This meant Russia was taking more control over its own laws.
June 21 – A strong earthquake hit Manjil, Iran. It caused the deaths of thousands of people.

July Highlights

Washington National Cathedral was finished in September 1990.

July 2 – A large crowd of people in Mecca caused a stampede. More than 1,400 people died.
July 8 – West Germany won the FIFA World Cup. They beat Argentina 1-0 in the final match.
July 16 – A powerful earthquake struck the Philippines. It killed over 1,600 people.
July 27 – Belarus declared its sovereignty.

August Highlights

Germany was reunited in October 1990.

August 2 – Iraq invaded Kuwait. This event led to the Gulf War in 1991.
August 23 – East Germany and West Germany announced they would reunite. They planned to become one country on October 3.

September Highlights

September 9 – Liberian President Samuel Doe was executed.
September 11 – Singer Céline Dion released her first English-language album, Unison.
September 18 – The city of Atlanta, Georgia, was chosen to host the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
September 29 – The Washington National Cathedral was finally completed.

October Highlights

October 3 – Germany was officially reunited. This was a very important historical moment.
October 14 – Famous composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein passed away at age 72.

November Highlights

Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister in November 1990.

November 1 – Mary Robinson was elected President of Ireland.
November 12 – Akihito was officially crowned as the Emperor of Japan.
November 22 – Margaret Thatcher announced she would resign. She was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
November 27 – The music group Milli Vanilli admitted they had lip-synched their songs. They later had their Grammy award taken away.
November 28 – John Major became the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

December Highlights

December 1 – Workers from the United Kingdom and France met deep under the English Channel. They were building the Channel Tunnel.
December 16 – Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected President of Haiti.
December 22 – The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia became independent countries.
December 25 – The first successful test of the World Wide Web system happened. This was the start of the internet as we know it.
December 31 – Chess player Garry Kasparov won the World Chess Championship. He beat Anatoly Karpov.

Famous People Born in 1990

Kristen Stewart, born April 9, 1990.

Soulja Boy, born July 28, 1990.

Yuna Kim, born September 5, 1990.

Mao Asada, born September 25, 1990.

January 4 – Toni Kroos, German footballer
January 7 – Liam Aiken, American actor
February 3 – Sean Kingston, American singer
March 23 – Princess Eugenie of York
April 9 – Kristen Stewart, American actress
April 15 – Emma Watson, British actress
April 23 – Dev Patel, British actor
May 16 – Thomas Brodie-Sangster, English actor
May 27 – Chris Colfer, American actor
July 11 – Caroline Wozniacki, Danish tennis player
July 28 – Soulja Boy, American rapper
August 15 – Jennifer Lawrence, American actress
September 5 – Kim Yu-Na, South Korean figure skater
September 25 – Mao Asada, Japanese figure skater
October 21 – Ricky Rubio, Spanish basketball player
October 22 – Jonathan Lipnicki, American actor
November 30 – Magnus Carlsen, Norwegian chess player
December 20 – Joanna Noelle Levesque, American singer
December 28 – David Archuleta, American singer

Famous People Who Passed Away in 1990

Roman Vishniac (1897-1990).

Greta Garbo (1905-1990).

Bruno Kreisky (1911-1990).

Roald Dahl (1916-1990).

January 20 – Barbara Stanwyck, American actress
January 25 – Ava Gardner, American actress
February 8 – Del Shannon, American musician
February 24 – Sandro Pertini, Italian President
March 20 – Lev Yashin, Russian footballer
April 15 – Greta Garbo, Swedish actress
May 16 – Sammy Davis Jr., American actor and singer
May 16 – Jim Henson, American puppeteer and movie maker
June 2 – Rex Harrison, British actor
July 29 – Bruno Kreisky, Austrian chancellor
August 17 – Pearl Bailey, American singer and actress
August 27 – Stevie Ray Vaughan, American Blues guitarist
September 9 – Samuel Doe, Liberian President
October 14 – Leonard Bernstein, American composer
November 23 – Roald Dahl, British writer
December 2 – Aaron Copland, American composer
December 7 – Joan Bennett, American actress

Nobel Prizes in 1990

Mikhail Gorbachev (pictured with Ronald Reagan) won the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize.

Physics – Awarded to Jerome Isaac Friedman, Henry Way Kendall, and Richard E. Taylor for their work on tiny particles inside atoms.
Chemistry – Given to Elias James Corey for developing new ways to create complex chemicals.
Physiology or Medicine – Shared by Joseph Murray and E. Donnell Thomas for their discoveries about organ and cell transplants.
Literature – Won by Octavio Paz, a Mexican writer.
Nobel Peace Prize – Awarded to Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, for his efforts to bring peace.
Economics – Given to Harry Markowitz, Merton Miller, and William Sharpe for their work on how financial markets work.