The People History Home

The Year 1998 From The People History

What happened in 1998 Major News Stories include Search Engine Google is founded, FDA approves Viagra, Apple unveils the iMac, Maastricht Treaty comes into force, Yangtze River breaks it's banks more than 10 thousand, 66-day blackout in Auckland, Terrorist Bombing attacks on two US Embassies. After many years of troubles in Northern Ireland both sides agree to the Good Friday peace agreement. The US President Bill Clinton denies he had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, but later admits it. The Soviet Union Banking system suffers a meltdown when the Rouble lost 70% of its value against US dollar in 6 months with several of the largest Russians banks collapsing. U.N.I.C.E.F. reports there are approximately 250 million child laborers worldwide .


What Events Happened in 1998

United States - Google Founded

The search engine Google is incorporated as a private company in Menlo Park, California by Larry Page and Sergey Brin during September. Page and Brin were still Ph.D students at Stanford University and had previously created the website as a research project starting in 1996. The company grew rapidly and received investments early on from the co-founder of Sun Microsystems and the founder of Amazon. It was successful due to its unique algorithm that calculated a website’s relevance to a search by analyzing links back to the site rather than connections to the search terms, producing higher quality results.

Ireland - Good Friday Agreement Referendums

Citizens of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland vote in referendums on the Good Friday Agreement in May. The Good Friday Agreement was signed in the previous month and dealt with issues like sovereignty, de-escalation of violence, and justice between the two Irelands. The referendum in Northern Ireland asked if voters approved of the ratification of the agreement and the vote came out 71 percent in favor and 28 percent against with a turnout of 81 percent. The referendum held in the Republic of Ireland asked voters if they approved a change to the Constitution, creating the Nineteenth Amendment which would accommodate the agreement. The vote came out as 94 percent in favor and 5 percent against with a 56 percent turnout.

Ireland -- Good Friday Agreement

The United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland sign the Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, on April 10th. The agreement marked the beginning of the peace process between Ireland and the Britain as it outlined how the government would work in Northern Ireland, defined the UK and Ireland’s roles in Northern Ireland, and encouraged demilitarization of the region. It established that Northern Ireland would have its own assembly and run a devolved multi-party democratic government with the United Kingdom. The citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland approved the agreement in referendums held during the following month and it became effective in December of 1999 .

France - World Cup

France Wins 1998 World Cup in France.

More Information for the 1998 World Cup

The 16th FIFA World Cup began during June of 1998 and was held in France. A total of 32 teams qualified for the tournament and the matches were held across ten different cities in the country. During the 64 matches a total of 165 goals were scored. The final title match was played between Brazil and France, with France winning 3 to 0, marking the sixth time a World Cup championship team had won at home. Over 2.7 million people attended the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Europe -- European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is established as a permanent fixture during November of 1998. The ECHR was originally created in 1959 as a temporary judiciary to help enforce the European Convention on Human Rights. The ECHR was tasked with upholding the observance of basic rights like freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial within the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. It was made permanent in 1998 to help handle the increasing number of cases that were being submitted. The ECHR is also known as the Strasbourg Court as it is located in Strasbourg, France.

Space - International Space Station

Assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) begins during December 4th when NASA sends a six person crew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour to attach the American Unity node to the Russian Zarya module (also known as the Functional Cargo Block or FGB). The mission, known as STS-88, carried the node up to Zarya module which had already been launched. The crew completed three spacewalks to connect the first two building blocks of the ISS. The final pressurized module of the space station was attached in 2011. It is primarily used for scientific research, has hosted visitors from 17 different countries, and has been continually manned since November 2nd, 2000 .

Japan Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympic Games are held in Nagano, Japan.

More Information for the 1998 Winter Olympics

The XVIII Winter Olympics were held during February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. These games saw the introduction of snowboarding and women’s ice hockey as new sports, along with the re-introduction of curling. Also during the Nagano Olympics, U.S. figure skater Tara Lipinski became the youngest person to be a champion in an individual event in the history of the Winter Olympics at the age of 15. These were also the first games in which Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Kenya, Venezuela, and Uruguay participated. At the end of the games, the countries that won the most medals were Germany, Norway, and Russia.

South Africa -- Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission began to release its final report during October of 1998. The commission was originally established in 1995 by the South African government as a means to help heal the country after the end of the apartheid era. It investigated human rights issues that took place between 1960 and 1994 during apartheid and heard statements from thousands of people. It also worked on granting amnesty for individuals who qualified. Some parties believed the commission went too far while others believed it did not do enough, but was ultimately heralded as a successful effort in transparency and reconciliation by the international community.

Cost of Living 1998

How Much things cost in 1998

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.55%

Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 9181

Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 8.25%

Average Cost of new house $129,300.00

Average Income per year $38,100.00

Average Monthly Rent $619.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.15

Average cost of new car $17,200.00

US Postage Stamp 32 cents

1 LB of Bacon $2.53

1 LB Hamburger meat $1.40

Loaf of Bread $1.26

Dozen Eggs 88 cents

Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling

Average House Price 75,806

Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.4%

Interest Rates Year End Bank of England 7.25%

FTSE 100 Average 5500

2 examples from Childrens Toys From The 1998 Page

Nickelodeon AM/FM CD Blast Box From The 1990s AM/FM CD Blast Box
Manufacturer: Nickelodeon
Price: $129.99
Description This CD player comes with an AM/FM stereo receiver, two 4" speakers, LED track display, stereo headphone jack, volume limit safety feature, telescoping FM antenna, and fold-away handle. It comes with a free Gakulator, a dual-powered calculator with eight digit LCD display and a pair of Blast Pads-Deluxe stereo headphones with adjustable green slime headbands.




Talking Barney From The 1990s Talking Barney
Price: $24.99
Description Soft, cuddly 18" Barney says hundreds of different and delightful phrases! Kids squeeze his right hand or his tummy to make him talk.

Other Major Events From 1998

Canada - Canadian Supreme Court Case on Secession

The legality of the potential secession of Quebec is argued in the Canadian Supreme Court.

More Information for Quebec Court Case

1. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled on the legality of Quebec’s potential secession from the country.

2. The court ruled that Quebec could not secede from Canada on its own.

3. They also made it clear that if a referendum was held on the question it would lead to negotiations between Quebec and the rest of Canada regarding the terms of the secession.

4. The court also stated that any act of secession would need a constitutional amendment to be completed.

5. The ruling was important in that it provided more clarity regarding the question of Quebec’s independence and could be potentially important to future discussions on referendums in international law.

Financial Crisis South East Asia

Financial Crisis hits much of South East Asia

Hong Kong Worlds biggest airport

Worlds biggest airport in the world opens in Hong Kong

Kenya Terrorist Bombing

Terrorist Bombing attacks at two US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam killing 250 people

Good Friday peace agreement

Good Friday peace agreementis accepted by Sinn Fein the leader of the political wing of the republican IRA on May 10 in Northern Ireland

Monica Lewinsky

Bill Clinton denies he had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. starting the Lewinsky scandal and investigations

Afghanistan earthquake

An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale in northeast Afghanistan kills more than 5,000.

Afghanistan cruise missile strikes

US launch cruise missile strikes against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan

Azores Earthquake

A 5.9 Earthquake strikes the Azores killing at least 10 with many more still missing in the rubble

Sudan famine

Official famine Southern Sudan declared with estimates that over 1 million people could die from starvation

Iceland Free Willy star

Free Willy star Keiko goes to Iceland for eventual release back into the wild.

James Byrd Jr

James Byrd Jr, a 49-year-old African-American man is dragged to his death behind a pickup truck

New Zealand blackout

66-day blackout begins in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dow Jones drops over 500 points

Dow Jones drops over 500 points on August 31st on the New York Stock Exchange

U.S. budget surplus

US Announces first budget surplus in 30 years

U.S. Tornadoes

Tornadoes in central Florida destroy or damage 2,600 structures and kill 42

Forest Fires in Florida

Forest Fires in Florida force 120,000 to flee their homes

Afghanistan Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden publishes fatwa declaring jihad against all Jews and Crusaders.

Belfast Agreement

The Belfast Agreement is signed between the Irish and British governments and most Northern Ireland political parties ending many years of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland and mainland Britain

IRA Bombing

The splinter terrorist organisation "The Real IRA" plant massive car bomb on August 15 Omagh, Northern Ireland killing 27

Papua New Guinea tsunami

A tsunami triggered by an undersea earthquake destroys 10 villages in Papua New Guinea killing an estimated 1,500,

Yangtze River Flooding

In China the Yangtze River breaks through the main bank. The death toll was more than 12,000 injuring many thousands more.

Russia rouble Devaluation

Devaluation of the rouble. The ruble lost 70% of its value against US dollar in 6 months . Several of the largest Russians banks collapsed, and millions of people lost their savings.

Russia $22bn loan

IMF offers $22bn loan to Russia to stabilize economy with strict conditions

Honduras Hurricane Mitch

Hurricane Mitch makes landfall in Central America on October 26th killing an estimated 18,000 people

Japan recession

The Japanese economy enters a recession due to the collapse of land and property prices

Japan rescue package banks

The Japanese government implements a rescue package for Japanese banks following the collapse of the property market and $500bn in bad debts

Algeria massacre

Islamic extremists attack two villages in Algeria and massacre 400 local villagers

European Union single currency

Europeans agree on a single currency the Euro

European Union Court of Human Rights

European Court of Human Rights becomes a permanent court with full-time judges

European Union Maastricht Treaty

The Maastricht Treaty comes into force

President Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton Impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice.

U.S. Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement

Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) is signed between Tobacco Companies and US States becoming the largest civil settlement in United States history,

U.S. Jonesboro

Two boys Mitchell Johnson ( 13 yrs old ) and Andrew Golden ( 11 Years Old ) shoot and kill four fellow students in Jonesboro, Arkansas .

European Central Bank

The European Central Bank is Established in Frankfurt Germany

World

U.N.I.C.E.F. reports over 130 million children worldwide do not attend school and their is approximately 250 million child laborers worldwide

Exxon and Mobil merge

The two oil companies Exxon and Mobil merge to create the worlds largest petroleum company

$20.00 bills

New harder to counterfeit $20.00 bills enter circulation

Philippines Typhoon Babs

Typhoon Babs strikes the Philippines killing 100 people

Canada Quebec

Quebec demands independence from Canada

Microsoft

Microsoft becomes biggest Company in the World valued at $261bn on the New York Stock Exchange

US Military jet severs the cable of a ski lift

Low Flying US Military jet severs the cable of a ski lift in Italy and 20 people plunge to their death

Israel 50th Anniversary

Israel celebrates it's 50th Anniversary of it's founding

Yugoslavia Kosova

Serbian troops in Yugoslavia target villages occupied by ethnic Albanians in Kosova

Nigeria oil pipeline

An oil pipeline running through a village in Nigeria, explodes killing 700 people with the resulting fire burning for nearly a week.

Worlds Longest Suspension Bridge

The Worlds Longest Suspension Bridge ( as of 2007 ) in Akashi, Japan is Completed

Iraq UN weapons inspectors

Iraq prevents UN weapons inspectors from conducting a search and President Bill Clinton orders a series of air strikes against Iraq

Canada ice storm

A severe ice storm in Canada and Northern United States leaves millions without power

UK MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorders

UK Reports of a link between the MMR vaccine and autism spectrum disorders in the UK are answered by The World Health Organisation who say no link exists and that thanks to the use of the MMR vaccine death from diseases like measles and diphtheria have almost been eradicated

Rolls-Royce

BMW buys Rolls-Royce cars for $570 million

France Wins World Cup

France Wins 1998 World Cup in France

Winter Olympic Games

The Winter Olympic Games are held in Nagano, Japan

Technology 1998

Worlds first Digital Terrestrial Television Service launched in the UK

Windows 98 released by Microsoft on June 26th

United States Department of Justice (DOJ) brings Anti-Trust Case against Microsoft Corp.

During 1998 with the technology maturing e-commerce started to take off as more and more companies decided to create a presence on the Internet with their own web sites.

The Search Engine Google is founded.

The Worlds largest suspension Bridge 1.234 miles in Japan opens

19 European nations agree to forbid human cloning.

Data sent from the Galileo probe indicates that Jupiter's moon Europa has a liquid ocean under a thick crust of ice

The FDA approves Viagra for use as a treatment for male impotence, becoming the first pill to be approved to treat this condition in the United States.

Apple Computer unveils the iMac.

Danish Catamaran Cat Link V sets new record for fastest crossing of the north Atlantic Blue Ribband in 2 days 17.59 hours

India and Pakistan test nuclear weapons

Popular Culture 1998

The concert by the Three Tenors ( Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti ) For the opening of the World Cup In France is seen by 100,000 live and 3 billion around the world.

Popular Films

Armageddon

Titanic

Saving Private Ryan

Godzilla

There's Something About Mary

A Bug's Life

Deep Impact

Mulan

Dr. Dolittle

Shakespeare in Love

Lethal Weapon 4

The Avengers

The Mask of Zorro

The Wedding Singer

Popular Musicians

All Saints

Céline Dion

Madonna

Chumbawamba

Jennifer Paige

Marilyn Manson

Green Day

Metallica

The Offspring

Spice Girls

Aerosmith

Alanis Morissette

Shania Twain

Natalie Imbruglia

Sublime

Janet Jackson

Popular TV

Law & Order

America's Funniest Home Videos

One Foot in the Grave (UK)

The Jerry Springer Show

Dateline NBC

Frasier

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

NYPD Blue

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

The Late Show with David Letterman

The Nanny

The X-Files

ER

Friends

JAG

Star Trek: Voyager

The Drew Carey Show

7th Heaven

Everybody Loves Raymond

Judge Judy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Dharma & Greg

King of the Hill

South Park

Stargate SG-1

The Practice

Teletubbies (UK)

Simpsons

1998 Calendar

Major World Political Leaders 1998

Australia Prime Minister John Howard

Brazil President Fernando Henrique Cardoso

Canada Prime Minister Jean Chrétien

China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin

France President Jacques Chirac

Germany Chancellor Helmut Kohl Till 27 October

Germany Chancellor Gerhard Schröder From 27 October

India Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral Till 19 March

India Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee From 19 March

Italy Prime Minister Romano Prodi Till 21 October

Italy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema From 21 October

Japan Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto Till 30 July

Japan Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi From July 30th

Mexico President Ernesto Zedillo

Russia / Soviet Union

General Secretary of the CPSU Boris Yeltsin

South Africa State President Nelson Mandela

United States President Bill Clinton

United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair