On this day in history, various significant events took place. Let’s delve into some of these remarkable moments:
1707: The British Parliament convened after the Treaty of Union that dissolved the individual parliaments of England and Scotland and established the Kingdom of Great Britain. This parliament eventually evolved into the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
1915: Approximately 25,000 women participated in a march across New York City, demanding women’s suffrage and the right to vote throughout the United States.
1942: The British Eighth Army initiated an offensive in El Alamein, Egypt, against the Germans during World War II. This battle ultimately led to the expulsion of German forces from North Africa.
1945: A groundbreaking moment occurred when the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Jackie Robinson, the first Black baseball player, to a major league team. Initially assigned to their Montreal farm team, Robinson later moved up to the Dodgers in 1947, becoming one of the sport’s greatest stars.
1946: The United Nations General Assembly convened for the first time at an auditorium in Flushing, Queens, New York City.
1962: President John F. Kennedy issued Proclamation 3504, authorizing a naval blockade of Cuba after the discovery of Soviet missiles on the island.
1972: Devastating earthquakes struck Nicaragua, resulting in the tragic loss of over 10,000 lives.
1983: Tragedy struck when suicide bomb attacks targeted peacekeeping troops in Beirut, claiming the lives of 241 U.S. Marines and 58 French soldiers.
1987: The U.S. Senate rejected President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court by the largest margin in history, with a vote of 58-42.
1989: Hungary declared an end to 40 years of communist rule, proclaiming itself a republic and paving the way for the establishment of a Western-style democracy in the Eastern Bloc state.
1998: Dr. Barnett Slepian, an obstetrician performing abortions, was fatally shot by a sniper in Amherst, New York. James Kopp, the shooter, was later sentenced to life imprisonment plus 10 years.
2005: A Nigerian plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Lagos, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 117 individuals on board.
2006: An overwhelming majority of Panamanian citizens voted in favor of a proposal to expand the Panama Canal, allowing larger ships to navigate through.
2008: Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testified before a U.S. House committee, describing the United States as being “in the midst of a once-in-a-century credit tsunami” that left him in a state of “shocked disbelief.”
2018: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, the longest sea bridge in the world, spanning 34 miles.
2019: The Hong Kong government officially withdrew a controversial extradition bill that triggered months of protests and unrest in the region.
2020: Bruce Springsteen released his 20th studio album, titled “Letter to You,” recorded in collaboration with the E Street Band.
These historical events have left an indelible mark on our world, shaping the course of history and providing valuable lessons for future generations.
