http://www.historyguy.com/government_shutdown_history.htm
Below is a chart showing the last 18 shutdowns of the United States Federal Government since 1976
| Year | Date Government Shutdown Began | Full day(s) of Government Shutdown | Date Government Shutdown Ended |
| of gaps | |||
| 1976 | Thursday 09-30-76 | 10 | Monday 10-11-76 |
| 1977 | Friday 09-30-77 | 12 | Thursday 10-13-17 |
| 1977 | Monday 10-31-77 | 8 | Wednesday 11-09-77 |
| 1977 | Wednesday 11-30-77 | 8 | Friday 12-09-77 |
| 1978 | Saturday 09-30-78 | 17 | Wednesday 10-18-78 |
| 1979 | Sunday 09-30-79 | 11 | Friday 10-12-79 |
| 1981 | Friday 11-20-81 | 2 | Monday 11-23-81 |
| 1982 | Thursday 9-30-82 | 1 | Saturday 10-2-82 |
| 1982 | Friday 12-17-82 | 3 | Tuesday 12-21-82 |
| 1983 | Thursday 11-10-83 | 3 | Monday 11-14-83 |
| 1984 | Sunday 9-30-84 | 2 | Wednesday 10-3-84 |
| 1984 | Wednesday 10-3-84 | 1 | Friday 10-5-84 |
| 1986 | Thursday 10-16-86 | 1 | Saturday 10-18-86 |
| 1987 | Friday 12-18-87 | 1 | Sunday 12-20-87 |
| 1990 | Friday 10-5-90 | 3 | Tuesday 10-9-90 |
| 1995 | Monday 11-13-95 | 5 | Sunday 11-19-95 |
| 1995-1996 | Friday 12-15-95 | 21 | Saturday 1-6-96 |
As of Friday, April 8, 2011, President Obama and the Republican leadeship in the House of Representatives had failed to reach a budget agreement that would prevent the first Federal Government Shutdown of the 21st Century. Stay tuned for more details.
Source: The Congressional Research Service Report 98-844: Shutdown of the Federal Government: