1932 – Federal troops forcibly dispersed the “Bonus Army” of World War I veterans who had gathered in Washington, DC. They were demanding money they were not scheduled to receive until 1945.
1148 – Second Crusade: Crusaders abandon their siege of Damascus
1540 – King Henry VIII of England’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, was executed and Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard.
1586 – Sir Thomas Harriot introduces potatoes to Europe on return to England
1794 – “Terror is nothing more than speedy, severe and inflexible justice” – Robespierre, one of the leading figures of the French Revolution, was sent to the guillotine.
1821 – Peru declared its independence from Spain.
1858 – First use of fingerprints as a means of identification is made by Sir William James Herschel of the Indian Civil Service
1865 – The American Dental Association proposed its first code of ethics.
1866 – The metric system was legalized by the U.S. Congress for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the United States.
1868 – The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was declared in effect. The amendment guaranteed due process of law.
1893 – A petition organised by Kate Sheppard, demanding women’s suffrage, is delivered to New Zealand’s parliament; signed by over 25,000 women, a 5th of the adult European female population
1900 – Hamburger created by Louis Lassing in Connecticut
1904 – Interior Minister of Russia, Vyacheslav Plehve is assassinated; as leader of the most reactionary elements of government, he was hated for his repressive policies
1914 – World War I officially began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
1915 – Because of virtual anarchy, US Marines go ashore in Haiti on orders from President Woodrow Wilson; this will lead to an occupation that will last until 1934
1917 – Silent Parade organised by James Weldon Johnson of 10,000 African-Americans who march on 5th Ave in NYC to protest against lynching
1932 – Federal troops forcibly dispersed the “Bonus Army” of World War I veterans who had gathered in Washington, DC. They were demanding money they were not scheduled to receive until 1945.
1942 – Nazis liquidate 10,000 Jews in Minsk Belorussia Ghetto
1943 – US President FDR announces end of coffee rationing in US
1945 – A U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York City’s Empire State Building. 14 people were killed and 26 were injured.
1951 – The Walt Disney film “Alice in Wonderland” was released.
1958 – National Aeronautics and Space Act is passed by the US Congress – The act established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
1959 – Hawaii’s 1st US election sends 1st Asian-Americans to Congress
1965 – U.S. President Johnson announced he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.
1977 – 1st oil through the TransAlaska Pipeline System reach Valdez, Alaska
1982 – San Francisco, CA, became the first city in the U.S. to ban handguns.
1986 – Bomb attack in East Beirut, 25 killed
1986 – NASA releases transcript from doomed Challenger, pilot Michael Smith could be heard saying, “Uh-oh!” as spacecraft disintegrated
1995 – Art Modell’s rep begins secrets talks to move team to Baltimore
1995 – Norwegian Finance Minister Sigbjorn Johnsen says that Norway should not lower its crude oil production in an attempt to boost world oil prices
1998 – Monica Lewinsky received blanket immunity from prosecution to testify before a grand jury about her relationship with U.S. President Clinton.
2002 – Nine Pennsylvania coal miners were rescued after 77 hours of being trapped in a mine shaft.
2005 – IRA Army Council Announces End to Armed Campaign – The Provisional Irish Republican Army, also known as IRA, announced an end to its armed campaign in the group’s effort to free Northern Ireland from United Kingdom’s rule.
2006 – Researchers announced that two ancient reptiles had been found off Australia. The Umoonasaurus and Opallionectes were the first of their kind to be found in the period soon after the Jurassic era.
2014 – UN Security Council hold emergency meeting calling for an immediate and indefinite humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
2014 – Missiles strike near Gaza’s main hospital and a nearby refugee camp Monday, leaving 10 dead and many wounded; Israeli Defence Force say they are not responsible
2017 – US Senate vote for “skinny” repeal of Obamacare fails 51-49 when John McCain casts deciding vote against
2020 – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak found guilty of corruption, sentenced to 12 years and fined nearly $50 million
REFERENCE: history.net, onthisday.com, thepeopleshistory.com, timeanddate.com, scopesys.com, on-this-day.com
