1890
War & Conflict
Wounded Knee Massacre
US Army soldiers killed over 250 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The massacre marked the tragic end of the American Indian Wars.
On This Day in History
1845
Politics
Texas Becomes 28th State
Texas was admitted to the Union as the 28th state, nine years after declaring independence from Mexico. Its annexation contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.
1170
Religion
Thomas Becket Murdered
Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights who believed they were following King Henry II's wishes. Becket was quickly canonized and Canterbury became a major pilgrimage site.
1940
War & Conflict
London Blitz's Worst Night
The German Luftwaffe conducted its most devastating bombing raid on London, causing massive fires across the city. The raid created a firestorm that destroyed much of the area around St. Paul's Cathedral.
1778
War & Conflict
British Capture Savannah
British forces captured Savannah, Georgia, opening a new Southern front in the Revolutionary War. The port city's fall shifted the war's focus to the Southern colonies.
1989
Politics
Vaclav Havel Elected President
Dissident playwright Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia, completing the Velvet Revolution. His election symbolized the triumph of democratic values over communist oppression.
1911
Politics
Sun Yat-sen Elected President of China
Sun Yat-sen was elected the first provisional president of the Republic of China. His Three Principles of the People—nationalism, democracy, and livelihood—shaped Chinese political thought.