Year retrospective · 1970s

1971

1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1971st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 971st year of the 2nd millennium, the 71st year of the 20th century, and the 2nd year of the 1970s decade.

Recorded events

10

top entries

Notable births

30

Notable deaths

30

Decade

1970s

Timeline

Defining events of 1971

  1. 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army massacre more than a thousand people in Keraniganj Upazila, Bangladesh.

    1971 Bangladesh–Pakistan armed conflict

    The Bangladesh Liberation War, also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which resulted in the independence of Bangladesh with the help of India. The war began when the Pakistani military junta based in West Pakistan—under the orders of Yahya Khan—launched Operation Searchlight against East Pakistanis on the night of 25 March 1971, initiating the Bangladesh genocide.

  2. 1971 The Provisional Government of Bangladesh is formed.

    1st Government of Bangladesh (1971–1972)

    The Provisional Government of Bangladesh, popularly known as the Mujibnagar Government and also known as the Bangladeshi government-in-exile, was the first and founding government of Bangladesh that was established following the proclamation of independence of East Pakistan as Bangladesh on 10 April 1971. Headed by prime minister Tajuddin Ahmad, it was the supreme leadership of the liberation movement, comprising a cabinet, a diplomatic corps, an assembly, an armed force, and a radio service. It operated as a government-in-exile from Kolkata.

  3. 1971 Sierra Leone becomes a republic, and Siaka Stevens the president.

    Country in West Africa

    Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the west coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is 73,252 km2 (28,283 sq mi).

  4. 1971 Launch of Salyut 1, the first space station.

    Soviet space station (1971)

    Salyut 1, also known as DOS-1, was the world's first space station. It was launched into low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on April 19, 1971. The Salyut program subsequently achieved five more successful launches of seven additional stations.

  5. 1971 Charles Manson is sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment) for conspiracy in the Tate–LaBianca murders.

    American criminal and cult leader (1934–2017)

    Charles Milles Manson was an American criminal, cult leader, and musician who was the founder of the Manson Family. He gained notoriety for ordering the Tate–LaBianca murders, where his followers murdered nine people around Los Angeles in 1969.

  6. 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army and Razakars massacre approximately 3,000 Hindu emigrants in the Jathibhanga area of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

    1971 Bangladesh–Pakistan armed conflict

    The Bangladesh Liberation War, also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, was an armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Bengali nationalist and self-determination movement in East Pakistan, which resulted in the independence of Bangladesh with the help of India. The war began when the Pakistani military junta based in West Pakistan—under the orders of Yahya Khan—launched Operation Searchlight against East Pakistanis on the night of 25 March 1971, initiating the Bangladesh genocide.

  7. 1971 In Sri Lanka, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna launches a revolt against the United Front government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
  8. 1971 Vietnam War: President Richard Nixon announces his decision to quicken the pace of Vietnamization.
  9. 1971 The Concert for Bangladesh, organized by former Beatle George Harrison, is held at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
  10. 1971 The Society for American Baseball Research is founded in Cooperstown, New York.

Arrivals

Born in 1971

Franck Esposito 1971– French swimmer (born 1971)
Danie Mellor 1971– Australian artist (born 1971)
Bo Outlaw 1971– American basketball player (born 1971)
Cameron Blades 1971– Australian rugby union player
Selena 1971– American singer-songwriter (1971–1995)
Seigo Yamamoto 1971– Japanese drift driver
Natasha Zvereva 1971– Belarusian tennis player
David Tennant 1971– Scottish actor (born 1971)
Allan Houston 1971– American basketball player (born 1971)
Mikey Welsh 1971– American musician and painter (1971–2011)
Michael Turner 1971– American comics artist (1971–2008)
Sara Baras 1971– Spanish flamenco dancer and choreographer

Farewells

Died in 1971

Michel Brière Canadian ice hockey player (1949–1971)
Juhan Smuul Estonian writer
Gurgen Boryan Armenian poet and playwright (born 1915)
Friedebert Tuglas Estonian writer and critic
Luigi Piotti Italian racing driver (1913–1971)
François Duvalier President of Haiti from 1957 to 1971
Paul Lukas Hungarian-American actor (1894–1971)
Bennett Cerf American publisher, author (1898–1971)
Margaret Bourke-White American photographer (1904–1971)
Maurice McDonald American fast food company founders
Paul Lévy French mathematician (1886-1971)
Roy O. Disney American entrepreneur (1893–1971)

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Culture of 1971

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