TODAY’S HISTORY LESSON: MAY 26
1521 Martin Luther’s writings were banned by the Edict of Worms.
1647 A new law bans Catholic priests from the colony of Massachusetts. The penalty is banishment or death for a second offense.
1670 Charles II and Louis XIV sign a secret treaty in Dover, England, ending hostilities between England and France.
1691 Jacob Leisler, leader of the popular uprising in support of William and Mary’s succession to the throne, is executed for treason.
1736 Battle of Ackia (Louisiana), British & Chickasaw Indians defeat the French
1790 Territory South of River Ohio created by Congress
1835 A resolution is passed in the U.S. Congress stating that Congress has no authority over state slavery laws.
1836 The U.S. House of Representatives adopted what has been called the Gag Rule.
1864 The territory of Montana is organized.
1868 President Andrew Johnson avoided conviction for impeachment charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors” by one vote.
1896 The last czar of Russia, Nicholas II, is crowned.
1908 At Masjed Soleyman (مسجد سليمان) in southwest Persia, the first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East is made, rights acquired by the United Kingdom
1923 Inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race for cars starts through public roads around Le Mans, France
1924 President Coolidge signs Immigration Law (restricting immigration)
1930 Supreme Court rules buying liquor does not violate the Constitution
1938 The House Committee on Un-American Activities begins its work of searching for subversives in the United States.
1940 The evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk begins.
1946 A patent is filed in the United States for the H-bomb.
1959 The word “Frisbee” became a registered trademark of Wham-O.
1972 The Soviet Union and the United States sign the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
1978 The first legal casino to be operated in the United States outside of Nevada was opened in Atlantic City.
1994 U.S. President Clinton renewed trade privileges for China, and announced that his administration would no longer link China’s trade status with its human rights record.
1998 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Ellis Island was mainly in New Jersey, not New York.
1998 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police officers in high-speed chases are liable for bystander injuries only if their “actions shock the conscience.”
2003 Rwandans voted to approve a new constitution that instituted a balance of power between Hutu and Tutsi.
2004 The United States Army veteran Terry Nichols is found guilty of 161 state murder charges for helping carry out the Oklahoma City bombing.
2011 After more than 50 years of struggle, South Sudan declares independence and becomes Africa’s 54th state.
REFERENCE: history.net, onthisday.com, thepeopleshistory.com, timeanddate.com, scopesys.com, on-this-day.com
