TODAY IN HISTORY: MARCH 11

 

March 11

 

March 11 holds a significant place in history, marked with both joyous and tragic events that have impacted the world on various levels. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to devastating natural disasters, this date stands as a reminder of the diverse and often unpredictable nature of life.

One notable event that occurred on March 11 was the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. This devastating disaster, also known as the Tōhoku earthquake, struck the northeastern coast of Japan, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.0, triggered a massive tsunami, which inundated coastal areas, causing massive damage to infrastructure, homes, and claiming the lives of thousands of people.

The disaster also led to a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, further exacerbating the already dire situation. The significant impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami remains palpable even a decade after the tragedy, as the affected area continues to recover and rebuild.

March 11 is also significant due to several groundbreaking scientific discoveries and advancements that took place on this date. For instance, in 1851, the French physicist Étienne Léon Foucault demonstrated his experiment to prove the rotation of the Earth. Using a pendulum suspended from the dome of the Panthéon in Paris, Foucault observed the pendulum's movement, which eventually revealed the Earth's rotation. This experiment marked a significant milestone in understanding and confirming the rotation of our planet.

In the field of medicine, an essential milestone occurred on March 11, 1890, when Dr. Emil von Behring successfully tested a vaccine for diphtheria. Behring's discovery paved the way for vaccination against this deadly disease, saving countless lives in the process.

Another significant event that occurred on March 11 was the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020. This declaration marked the global recognition of the severity and global impact of the COVID-19 virus, which has since affected millions of people worldwide and led to various societal changes and precautions like lockdowns, travel restrictions, and social distancing.

Beyond disasters and scientific breakthroughs, March 11 is also associated with numerous cultural and historical events. In 1959, Tibet's spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese occupation. This event marked a turning point for Tibetan Buddhism and had significant implications for the Tibetan people.

On a more joyous note, March 11 is celebrated as World Plumbing Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of proper plumbing and its impact on health and sanitation.

In the realm of sports, March 11 carries significance. In 1990, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the hosting rights for the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta, Georgia. This decision marked Atlanta's second time hosting the prestigious event, after the city's successful organization of the 1996 Games.

Lastly, March 11 also holds personal significance for many individuals around the world. Birthdays, anniversaries, and various personal celebrations fill this date's pages, making it special for those directly involved.

In conclusion, March 11 is a day filled with a multitude of historic, tragic, and magnificent events that have shaped our world and continue to be remembered. From the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami to groundbreaking scientific discoveries and significant cultural occurrences, this date serves as a reminder of both the fragility and resilience of human life. It is a day that highlights the dynamic nature of our existence and the powerful impact certain moments can have on the course of history.

Here are some more events from this day:

222 – Roman emperor Elagabalus is murdered alongside his mother, Julia Soaemias. He is replaced by his 14-year old cousin, Severus Alexander.

843 – Triumph of Orthodoxy: Empress Theodora II restores the veneration of icons in the Orthodox churches in the Byzantine Empire.

1343 – Arnošt of Pardubice becomes the last Bishop of Prague (3 March 1343 O.S.), and, a year later, the first Archbishop of Prague.

1387 – Battle of Castagnaro: Padua, led by John Hawkwood, is victorious over Giovanni Ordelaffi of Verona.

1641 – Guaraní forces living in the Jesuit reductions defeat bandeirantes loyal to the Portuguese Empire at the Battle of Mbororé in present-day Panambí, Argentina.

1649 – The Frondeurs and the French government sign the Peace of Rueil.

1702 – The Daily Courant, England's first national daily newspaper, is published for the first time.

1708 – Queen Anne withholds Royal Assent from the Scottish Militia Bill, the last time a British monarch vetoes legislation.

1784 – The signing of the Treaty of Mangalore brings the Second Anglo-Mysore War to an end.

1795 – The Battle of Kharda is fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the Nizam of Hyderabad, resulting in Maratha victory.

1845 – Flagstaff War: Unhappy with translational differences regarding the Treaty of Waitangi, chiefs Hone Heke, Kawiti and Māori tribe members chop down the British flagpole for a fourth time and drive settlers out of Kororareka, New Zealand.

1848 – Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin become the first Prime Ministers of the Province of Canada to be democratically elected under a system of responsible government.

1851 – The first performance of Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi takes place in Venice.

1861 – American Civil War: The Constitution of the Confederate States of America is adopted.

1864 – The Great Sheffield Flood kills 238 people in Sheffield, England.

1872 – Construction of the Seven Sisters Colliery, South Wales, begins; it is located on one of the richest coal sources in Britain.

1879 – Shō Tai formally abdicates his position of King of Ryūkyū, under orders from Tokyo, ending the Ryukyu Kingdom.

1888 – The Great Blizzard of 1888 begins along the eastern seaboard of the United States, shutting down commerce and killing more than 400 people.

1917 – World War I: Mesopotamian campaign: Baghdad falls to Anglo-Indian forces commanded by General Frederick Stanley Maude.

1927 – In New York City, Samuel Roxy Rothafel opens the Roxy Theatre.

1941 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act into law, allowing American-built war supplies to be shipped to the Allies on loan.

1945 – World War II: The Imperial Japanese Navy attempts a large-scale kamikaze attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet anchored at Ulithi atoll in Operation Tan No. 2.

1945 – World War II: The Empire of Vietnam, a short-lived Japanese puppet state, is established.

1946 – Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops.

1977 – The 1977 Hanafi Siege: Around 150 hostages held in Washington, D.C., by Hanafi Muslims are set free after ambassadors from three Islamic nations join negotiations.

1978 – Coastal Road massacre: At least 37 are killed and more than 70 are wounded when Fatah hijack an Israeli bus, prompting Israel's Operation Litani.

1981 – Hundreds of students protest in the University of Pristina in Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia, to give their province more political rights. The protests then became a nationwide movement.

1982 – Fifteen people are killed when Widerøe Flight 933 crashes into the Barents Sea near Gamvik, Norway.

1983 – Bob Hawke is appointed Prime Minister of Australia.

1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev is elected to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, making Gorbachev the USSR's de facto, and last, head of state.

1990 – Lithuania declares independence from the Soviet Union.

1990 – Patricio Aylwin is sworn in as the first democratically elected President of Chile since 1970.

2003 – The International Criminal Court holds its inaugural session in The Hague.

2004 – Madrid train bombings: Simultaneous explosions on rush hour trains in Madrid, Spain kill 191 people.

2006 – Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as the first female president of Chile.

2009 – Winnenden school shooting: Sixteen are killed and 11 are injured before recent graduate Tim Kretschmer shoots and kills himself, leading to tightened weapons restrictions in Germany.

2010 – Economist and businessman Sebastián Piñera is sworn in as President of Chile. Aftershocks of the 2010 Pichilemu earthquake hit central Chile during the ceremony.

2011 – An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people. This event also triggered the second largest nuclear accident in history, and one of only two events to be classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

2012 – A U.S. soldier kills 16 civilians in the Panjwayi District of Afghanistan near Kandahar.

2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the COVID-19 virus epidemic a pandemic.

2021 – US President Joe Biden signs the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law.

2023 – The Burmese military kills at least 30 villagers, including 3 Buddhist monks, during the Pinlaung massacre in Shan State, Myanmar.