TODAY IN HISTORY: MARCH 18

 

March 18

March 18 is a significant date that marks various events throughout history. From political milestones to cultural celebrations, this day has left its mark in different parts of the world. In this essay, we will explore some of the most notable events that took place on March 18 and their impact on society.

One of the most significant events that occurred on March 18 is the signing of the Treaty of London in 1871. This treaty brought an end to the Franco-Prussian War, which had erupted in 1870. This conflict had severe consequences for both France and Germany, leading to the formation of a new German Empire. The Treaty of London established peace and set the terms for France's surrender, including the payment of a large indemnity. This treaty reshaped the political landscape of Europe and had far-reaching consequences for future international relations.

Moving on to a more recent event, on March 18, 1965, the Soviet astronaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to carry out a spacewalk. This extraordinary feat marked a crucial milestone in space exploration, demonstrating the capability of humans to operate outside the confines of their spacecraft. Leonov spent 12 minutes and 9 seconds floating in space, attached to the Voskhod 2 spaceship by a tether. This achievement paved the way for future spacewalks and contributed to our understanding of the possibilities and challenges of manned space missions.

In the realm of literature, March 18 holds significance as the birthdate of the acclaimed French writer, Jules Renard. Born in 1864, Renard is best known for his novel \Poil de Carotte\ (Carrot Top) and his diaries. His works often depicted the struggles and emotions of everyday life, capturing the human experience with precision and sensitivity. Renard's writings continue to resonate with readers, allowing them to connect with the universal themes of love, family, and self-discovery.

On a more somber note, March 18 also bears witness to tragic events. In 1996, a terrorist group detonated a bomb in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, targeting a Jewish community center called AMIA. The blast killed 85 people and injured hundreds more. This act of terrorism shocked the world and highlighted the ongoing struggle against hate crimes and extremism.

Moving away from geopolitics, March 18 has also been a day of celebration for various cultural events. In many countries, March 18 is celebrated as National Awkward Moments Day. This lighthearted observance encourages people to embrace their embarrassing or awkward moments with humor and grace. It serves as a reminder that these moments of vulnerability are part of being human and that they can often lead to growth and connection.

In conclusion, March 18 has been a witness to significant events that have shaped history, science, arts, and culture. From the signing of treaties that reshaped nations to groundbreaking achievements in space exploration, this date holds a diverse range of milestones. However, it is important to remember that not all events on this day are positive, as tragic acts of terrorism have also occurred. March 18 serves as a reminder that history is multifaceted, consisting of both moments of triumph and moments of tragedy.

Here are more events from this day:

37 – Roman Senate annuls Tiberius' will and proclaims Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (aka Caligula = Little Boots) emperor.

1068 – An earthquake in the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula leaves up to 20,000 dead.

1229 – Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, declares himself King of Jerusalem in the Sixth Crusade.

1241 – First Mongol invasion of Poland: Mongols overwhelm Polish armies in Kraków in the Battle of Chmielnik and plunder the city.

1314 – Jacques de Molay, the 23rd and final Grand Master of the Knights Templar, is burned at the stake.

1438 – Albert II of Habsburg becomes King of the Romans.

1571 – Valletta is made the capital city of Malta.

1608 – Susenyos is formally crowned Emperor of Ethiopia.

1644 – The Third Anglo-Powhatan War begins in the Colony of Virginia.

1673 – English lord John Berkeley sold his half of New Jersey to the Quakers

1741 – New York governor George Clarke's complex at Fort George is burned in an arson attack, starting the New York Conspiracy of 1741.

1766 – American Revolution: The British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act.

1793 – The first modern republic in Germany, the Republic of Mainz, is declared by Andreas Joseph Hofmann.

1793 – Flanders Campaign of the French Revolution, Battle of Neerwinden.

1834 – Six farm labourers from Tolpuddle, Dorset, England are sentenced to be transported to Australia for forming a trade union.

1848 – The premiere of Fry's Leonora in Philadelphia is the first known performance of an grand opera by an American composer.

1865 – American Civil War: The Congress of the Confederate States adjourns for the last time.

1871 – Declaration of the Paris Commune; President of the French Republic, Adolphe Thiers, orders the evacuation of Paris.

1874 – The Hawaiian Kingdom signs a treaty with the United States granting exclusive trade rights.

1899 – Phoebe, a satellite of Saturn, becomes the first to be discovered with photographs, taken in August 1898, by William Henry Pickering.

1902 – Macario Sakay issues Presidential Order No. 1 of his Tagalog Republic.

1913 – King George I of Greece is assassinated in the recently liberated city of Thessaloniki.

1915 – World War I: During the Battle of Gallipoli, three battleships are sunk during a failed British and French naval attack on the Dardanelles.

1921 – The second Peace of Riga is signed between Poland and the Soviet Union.

1921 – The Kronstadt rebellion is suppressed by the Red Army.

1922 – In India, Mohandas Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience, of which he serves only two.

1925 – The Tri-State Tornado hits the Midwestern states of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.

1937 – The New London School explosion in New London, Texas, kills 300 people, mostly children.

1937 – Spanish Civil War: Spanish Republican forces defeat the Italians at the Battle of Guadalajara.

1938 – Mexico creates Pemex by expropriating all foreign-owned oil reserves and facilities.

1940 – World War II: Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at the Brenner Pass in the Alps and agree to form an alliance against France and the United Kingdom.

1942 – The War Relocation Authority is established in the United States to take Japanese Americans into custody.

1944 – Mount Vesuvius in Italy erupts, killing 26 people, causing thousands to flee their homes, and destroying dozens of Allied bombers.

1948 – Soviet consultants leave Yugoslavia in the first sign of the Tito–Stalin Split.

1953 – An earthquake hits western Turkey, killing at least 1,070 people.

1959 – The Hawaii Admission Act is signed into law.

1962 – The Évian Accords end the Algerian War of Independence, which had begun in 1954.

1965 – Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, becomes the first person to walk in space.

1966 – United Arab Airlines Flight 749 crashes on approach to Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, killing 30 people.

1967 – The supertanker Torrey Canyon runs aground off the Cornish coast.

1968 – Gold standard: The U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve to back US currency.

1969 – The United States begins secretly bombing the Sihanouk Trail in Cambodia, used by communist forces to infiltrate South Vietnam.

1970 – Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

1971 – Peru: A landslide crashes into Yanawayin Lake, killing 200 people at the mining camp of Chungar.

1974 – Güzel İstanbul, a nude sculpture by Gürdal Duyar in Istanbul is torn down in the middle of the night

1980 – A Vostok-2M rocket at Plesetsk Cosmodrome Site 43 explodes during a fueling operation, killing 48 people.

1990 – Germans in the German Democratic Republic vote in the first democratic elections in the former communist dictatorship.

1990 – In the largest art theft in US history, 12 paintings, collectively worth around $500 million, are stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

1994 – Bosnia's Bosniaks and Croats sign the Washington Agreement, ending war between the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and establishing the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

1996 – A nightclub fire in Quezon City, Philippines kills 162 people.

1997 – The tail of a Russian Antonov An-24 charter plane breaks off while en route to Turkey, causing the plane to crash and killing all 50 people on board.

2014 – The parliaments of Russia and Crimea sign an accession treaty.

2015 – The Bardo National Museum in Tunisia is attacked by gunmen. Twenty-three people, almost all tourists, are killed, and at least 50 other people are wounded.