The last Soviet troops left Afghanistan, Roosevelt’s plan to increase Supreme Court justices was met with resistance, Roger Williams arrived in America and founded Rhode Island, United Artists was created by famous actors, the Immigration Act barred Asian workers, the Greenwich Time signal began broadcasting, King Leopold II claimed the Congo as his own, General MacArthur returned to the Philippines, the swine flu epidemic of 1976 began, and Mexico’s constitution was proclaimed.
The last Soviet troops left Kabul. (1989) The USSR fought in Afghanistan for nearly a decade trying to prop up the nation’s pro-Soviet government against Muslim rebels with little success. When Gorbachev finally withdrew his troops, it had little impact on Afghanistan, but it was a sign of the USSR’s waning power.
US President Franklin Roosevelt proposed his “courtship” plan. (1937) The plan, which proposed to increase the number of Supreme Court justices, met with extreme resistance. Opponents said Roosevelt was trying to “pack” the court with his own supporters to support his New Deal legislation.
Roger Williams has arrived in America. (1631) Williams became extremely unpopular in the Puritan colony of Massachusetts when he advocated separation of church and civil matters, leading him to leave and found Rhode Island. The colony became known as a free zone for radical thinkers, including feminist Anne Hutchinson.
United Artists was born. (1919) Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and DW Griffith combine to create one of the first major motion picture studios. The studio is known for its films West Side Story, Last Tango in Paris, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, among others.
Congress passed the Immigration Act. (1917) The act provided a required literacy test for immigrants and barred Asian workers. Despite President Wilson’s veto, Congress passed the act with a two-thirds majority, signaling America’s strong xenophobic tendencies before World War I.
The Royal Greenwich Observatory began broadcasting the time on the hour. (1924) The Greenwich Time signal, also known as BBC pips, continued to be broadcast well into the 21st century.
King Leopold II claimed the Congo as his personal possession. (1885) Leopold brutally drove the Congo through mercenaries and enslaved much of the native population. He made a fortune off the ivory and rubber of the area before finally being forced to hand it over to the Belgian state.
General MacArthur returned to the Philippines. (1945) He was recalled by President Roosevelt after the Japanese occupied the island, and in a famous historical moment, he promised the Filipino people, “I’m out of Bataan and I’ll be back.” The second campaign ran more smoothly than the first and paved the way for Allied victory in the Pacific theater.
The swine flu epidemic of 1976 began. (1976) Several cases of swine flu were discovered in Fort Dix, prompting fears of a widespread pandemic. The outbreak is best remembered for initiating one of the most massive vaccination campaigns in US history.
The constitution of Mexico is proclaimed. (1917) The constitution came in the wake of seven years of infighting and revolution, and was extremely politically advanced for its time. In addition to guaranteeing the separation of church and state, the constitution also promised the return of land to the indigenous people and a series of educational reforms.
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