2003 History

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What Events Happened in 2003

  • The new United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation
  • United States plans for an invasion of Iraq due to an imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction
  • The United States and the United Kingdom start with their shock and awe campaign with a massive air strikes on military targets in Baghdad before the invasion of Iraq by Land Forces.
  • Saddam Hussein, former President of Iraq, is captured in Tikrit by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.
  • A major severe weather outbreak spawned more tornadoes than any week in U.S. history. 393 tornadoes were reported in 19 states
  • Earthquake in Boumerdès region of northern Algeria - 2,200 killed
  • Lance Armstrong wins his fifth Tour De France
  • Do Not Call List starts providing consumers with an opportunity to limit telemarketing calls.
  • Armed undercover "sky marshals" are used on Aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks following 9/11
  • Americans rename "French Fries" to "Freedom Fries" in protest to France's stand on Iraq
  • The last old-style Volkswagen Beetle rolls off its production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
  • The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - 38.5°C (101.3°F) at Brogdale near Faversham in Kent
  • Voters recall Governor Gray Davis from office and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to succeed him.
  • The wanted terrorist Abul Abbas is captured in Baghdad
  • Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch is amongst those captured US Troops free her 9 days later
  • A massive earthquake devastates southeastern Iran. Over 40,000 killed
  • Dafur Rebels begin attacking Sudanese government targets, bringing a swift military and police campaign to Darfur causing millions to flee their homes.
  • President George W. Bush on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln announces major combat in Iraq is over

Popular Culture 2003

  • The ABC's 20/20 airs the controversial Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson
  • Michael Jackson is booked on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation ( later acquitted )
  • JK Rowling's fifth Harry Potter book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is released

Popular Films

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  • Finding Nemo
  • The Matrix Reloaded
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Bruce Almighty
  • The Last Samurai
  • Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
  • The Matrix Revolutions
  • X2: X-Men United
  • Bad Boys II
  • Lost in Translation

Popular Musicians

  • Amanda Perez
  • Elton John
  • Beyoncé
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Travis
  • David Gray
  • Limp Bizkit
  • Evanescence
  • Coldplay
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Hilary Duff
  • Norah Jones
  • blink-182
  • Pink
  • Shania Twain
  • Madonna
  • Avril Lavigne
  • 50 Cent
  • Clay Aiken
  • Kylie Minogue
  • Stereophonics
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • Blur
  • Ashanti
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Fleetwood Mac
  • Eminem
  • Nelly
  • P. Diddy

Technology 2003

  • The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard.
  • The highly infectious disease SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) spreads from China, Singapore and Vietnam, Worldwide nearly 9,000 People are effected in 15 countries and over 800 die from the effects.
  • Human Genome Project successfully completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to 99.99% accuracy.
  • Secretary of State Colin Powell urges the U.N. Security Council to move against Iraq due to possession of weapons of mass destruction
  • In the biggest blackout in the history of the north America some 50 million people in the northeastern states of US and southern Canada lose power.
  • The birth of Prometea, the first cloned horse by Italian scientists.
  • The space probe Galileo makes a fiery dive into Jupiter's atmosphere it was launched in 1989 and is one of the most successful NASA Projects.
  • Justice Roy Moore, is suspended when he refused to take down the Ten Commandments from an Alabama state justice building.
  • Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to a close, at least for the time being
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger is elected Governor of California
  • Libya agrees to give Up Chemical Weapons
  • Saddam Hussein is captured by U.S. forces
  • Concerns continue to grow over possible Asian bird flu outbreak also known as avian influenza.


Research for this year is provided by The People History.
See History By Year and Decade for more prices and information.
Find out more about the 2000s at ThePeopleHistory.com.