This week in history, spanning from March 18 to March 24, has witnessed numerous significant events that have shaped the course of nations, cultures, and scientific advancements. Here’s a look back at some of these pivotal moments:
March 18:
• 1965 – First Spacewalk: Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first person to conduct a spacewalk, spending 12 minutes outside the Voskhod 2 spacecraft.
• 1937 – New London School Explosion: A natural gas explosion in a school in Texas killed nearly 300 students and teachers, one of the worst school disasters in U.S. history.
• 1850 – American Express Founded: Henry Wells and William G. Fargo founded American Express in Buffalo, New York.
March 19:
• 2003 – Iraq War Begins: The United States, along with coalition forces, launched a military invasion of Iraq.
• 1931 – Gambling Legalized in Nevada: The state of Nevada officially legalized gambling, which would later shape Las Vegas into a global entertainment hub.
• 1953 – First Academy Awards Televised: The Oscars were broadcast on television for the first time.
March 20:
• 1852 – Uncle Tom’s Cabin Published: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel was published and had a profound impact on attitudes toward slavery in the U.S.
• 2003 – Invasion of Iraq continues: Coalition ground forces surged into Iraq following air strikes the day before.
• 1916 – Albert Einstein Publishes General Theory of Relativity: His groundbreaking work forever changed the world of physics.
March 21:
• 1960 – Sharpeville Massacre: South African police opened fire on peaceful anti-apartheid protesters, killing 69 people.
• 1685 – Birth of Johann Sebastian Bach: One of the greatest composers in classical music history was born in Germany.
• 1965 – Selma to Montgomery March: Civil rights activists began their historic march in Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr.
March 22:
• 1765 – Stamp Act Passed: British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, sparking colonial unrest that contributed to the American Revolution.
• 1963 – Beatles Release First Album: Please Please Me was released in the UK, launching Beatlemania.
• 1997 – Tara Lipinski Wins World Title: At 14, she became the youngest women’s world figure skating champion.
March 23:
• 1775 – “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”: Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech at the Virginia Convention.
• 1983 – Reagan Proposes “Star Wars”: President Ronald Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative to defend against Soviet missiles.
• 2001 – Russian Space Station Mir Deorbited: After 15 years in orbit, the space station was brought down into the Pacific Ocean.
March 24:
• 1989 – Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: The tanker spilled millions of gallons of crude oil in Alaska, causing environmental disaster.
• 1999 – NATO Bombs Yugoslavia: NATO launched air strikes during the Kosovo conflict, marking the first major use of force without UN approval.
• 1958 – Elvis Presley Inducted into Army: The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll began his military service, causing a media frenzy.
