1990
Politics
German Reunification
East and West Germany officially reunited as one nation, ending 45 years of division. Celebrations in Berlin marked the end of the Cold War's most visible symbol of ideological conflict.
On This Day in History
1863
Culture
Lincoln Proclaims Thanksgiving
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November. The tradition, advocated by Sarah Josepha Hale, became a permanent American institution.
1952
War & Conflict
Britain Tests First Nuclear Weapon
The United Kingdom detonated its first atomic bomb at the Monte Bello Islands off Western Australia, becoming the third nuclear power. The test maintained Britain's status as a major global power.
1929
Politics
Kingdom of Yugoslavia Formed
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was officially renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The multiethnic state would face constant tension until its violent dissolution in the 1990s.
1849
Culture
Edgar Allan Poe Found Dying
Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore and died four days later. The mysterious circumstances of his death have never been satisfactorily explained.
1995
Culture
O.J. Simpson Found Not Guilty
O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in a verdict watched by over 100 million Americans. The trial exposed deep racial divisions and became the most publicized criminal case in American history.
42
War & Conflict
Battle of Philippi
The forces of Brutus and Cassius were defeated by Octavian and Mark Antony at Philippi in Greece. The battle avenged Julius Caesar's assassination and determined the future of the Roman Empire.