1377
War & Conflict
Cesena Massacre by Papal Forces
Papal forces led by Robert of Geneva massacred an estimated 4,000 civilians in Cesena, Italy. The atrocity contributed to the growing crisis of authority in the medieval Catholic Church.
On This Day in History
1690
Politics
Colony of Massachusetts Issues First Paper Money in Americas
The Massachusetts Bay Colony issued the first paper money in the Western Hemisphere to pay soldiers fighting in King William's War. This experiment in fiat currency was controversial but widely imitated.
1783
Politics
Spain Recognizes American Independence
Spain officially recognized the independence of the United States, becoming one of the early European nations to do so. Spain had provided crucial financial and military support during the Revolution.
1870
Civil Rights
15th Amendment Ratified
The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, prohibiting the denial of the right to vote based on race or color. In practice, however, many states would implement barriers to Black voting for decades.
1913
Politics
16th Amendment Ratified
The 16th Amendment was ratified, granting Congress the power to levy a federal income tax. This fundamentally changed the fiscal relationship between the federal government and American citizens.
1959
Culture
The Day the Music Died
A plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed rock and roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson. Don McLean later immortalized the tragedy in 'American Pie.'
1966
Space
Soviet Luna 9 Makes First Soft Landing on Moon
The Soviet Union's Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and transmit photographs from the surface. The images showed a barren, rocky landscape.