238
Ancient
Gordian I and Gordian II Proclaimed Emperors
Gordian I and his son Gordian II were proclaimed Roman Emperors in Africa, rebelling against the unpopular Emperor Maximinus. Their revolt lasted only three weeks before being crushed.
On This Day in History
1622
War & Conflict
Powhatan Confederacy Attacks Virginia Settlers
The Powhatan Confederacy launched a coordinated attack on English settlements in Virginia, killing about a quarter of the colony's population. The attack led to decades of retaliatory warfare.
1765
Politics
Stamp Act Passed by British Parliament
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, imposing a direct tax on the American colonies. Colonial outrage over 'taxation without representation' helped ignite the American Revolution.
1882
Politics
Edmunds Act Bans Polygamy
Congress passed the Edmunds Act, making polygamy a felony in U.S. territories. The law was primarily aimed at the Mormon practice of plural marriage in Utah.
1895
Invention
Lumiere Brothers Show First Film to Audience
Auguste and Louis Lumiere showed their first motion picture to a private audience in Paris. Their Cinematographe is generally considered the birth of cinema.
1933
Politics
FDR Signs Beer-Wine Revenue Act
President Roosevelt signed the Beer-Wine Revenue Act, legalizing the sale of beer and wine with 3.2% alcohol. It was the first step toward the full repeal of Prohibition.
2010
Politics
Affordable Care Act Signed into Law
President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, the most significant overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system in decades. The law extended health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.