Queen Elizabeth I was excommunicated by Pope Pius V in 1570. Samuel Colt patented the Colt revolver in 1836. Adolf Hitler obtained German citizenship in 1932. The legal tender law was passed in 1862. Mohammed Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world in 1964. Oregon imposed the first gasoline tax in 1919. Hiram Rhoades Revels became the first African American congressman in 1870. Prussia ceased to exist in 1947. President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines in 1986. Glacier Bay National Monument was established in 1925.
Queen Elizabeth I was excommunicated. (1570) Pope Pius V issued a bull on this day to excommunicate Elizabeth, whom he called “the pretended queen of England and the servant of crime”. He had done so under the belief that her staunchly Catholic half-sister, Mary, had staged a successful coup and would soon be in power. When news of Mary’s bankruptcy reached him, the bull had already been issued, stirring up strong anti-Catholic feelings in England.
Samuel Colt patented the Colt revolver. (1836) Colt firearms were the first handguns to be widely used in America, where the knife had previously been the weapon of choice.
Adolf Hitler obtained German citizenship. (1932) Although Hitler is best remembered as the leader of Nazi Germany, he was actually born in Austria. He obtained German citizenship by naturalization so that he could run for president of the Reich, the German head of state in the Weimar Republic.
The legal tender law has been passed. (1862) This act allowed the government to pay its bills in paper money, as opposed to silver or gold, which was previously the only legal tender. Many people were very skeptical of the act, which allowed 150 million US dollars (USD) to be printed, as it was not backed by gold or silver.
Mohammed Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world. (1964) Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, became the heavyweight champion of the world for the first time to this day when he beat Sonny Liston. Ali went on to become the first person to win the heavyweight title three times.
The first gasoline tax was imposed. (1919) Oregon imposed a one cent per gallon tax on gasoline today, making it the first state to levy a gas tax and the first time a gas tax was levied in America.
First African American Congressman sworn in. (1870) Hiram Rhoades Revels, a Representative from Mississippi, became the first African American congressman when he was sworn in to finish the term of Jefferson Davis, which had been left vacant when Davis left to become President of the Confederacy.
Prussia ceased to exist. (1947) Although Prussia had been an incredibly strong empire in the 17 and 1800s, it was actually incorporated into the Weimar Republic during WWII and officially ceased to exist. Once the Allies won World War II, they officially dissolved the state of Prussia as part of their war goals.
President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines. (1986) Mass unrest has forced the notoriously corrupt president to flee the country with his wife, Imelda Marcos. Both Marcos remained in exile in Hawaii until Ferdinand’s death in 1989.
Glacier Bay National Monument was established. (1925) The monument, which was later known as Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, was an early national park. Although it is almost completely inaccessible except by boat or plane, it still receives up to 30,000 visitors a year.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
