1994
Rwandan genocide begins
A plane carrying Rwanda's Hutu president was shot down over Kigali…
NAFTA and the Zapatista uprising
The North American Free Trade Agreement took effect, binding the US, Canada, and Mexico into a single commercial zone.
Channel Tunnel opens
Queen Elizabeth II and President Mitterrand met in the middle and inaugurated the thirty-one-mile rail tunnel under the English Channel…
Mandela elected
In South Africa's first multiracial elections, Black voters stood in lines that stretched for miles, some waiting an entire day to cast their first ballot.
Republican Revolution
In the midterm elections, Republicans led by Newt Gingrich won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in forty years, picking up…
Comet Shoemaker-Levy hits Jupiter
Fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, torn apart by Jupiter's gravity, slammed into the giant planet over six days in a series of impacts visible from Earth.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1994?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1994. The most significant is Rwandan genocide begins: A plane carrying Rwanda's Hutu president was shot down over Kigali.
What era was 1994 part of?
1994 falls within the Modern Era (1901-2000). World wars, cold war, and the splitting of the atom.
Which regions saw notable events in 1994?
The events from 1994 span Africa, North America and Europe.