The Maastricht Treaty created the European Union and Euro (1992), The Beatles arrived in the US (1964), the Bonfire of the Vanities took place in Florence (1497), Dr. Josef Mengele died (1979), Monopoly was invented (1935), the Mud March was organized by British suffragettes (1907), astronauts made the first free spacewalk (1984), Pinocchio debuted (1940), Frederick Douglass was born (1817), and the US banned Cuban goods (1962).
The European Union was created. (1992) The Maastricht Treaty was signed on this day, creating the European Union and setting the stage for the Euro. It took over a year to enter into force, but by the time it came into force, the treaty had been ratified by 12 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
The Beatles have arrived in the United States. (1964) Their arrival in New York almost caused a riot among the more than 3,000 fans who came to see them. It was the beginning of Beatlemania in the United States and a sign of their growing global popularity.
The Bonfire of the Vanities took place in Florence. (1497) The radical priest Savonarola burned a huge pile of cosmetics, objets d’art and books as an act of punishment and penance for the citizens. Florence was an important cultural and artistic center at the time, and Savonarola’s bonfire, combined with his vehement preaching against luxury, soon made him an unpopular figure.
Dr. Josef Mengele is dead. (1979) Mengele was known as the Angel of Death because he was in charge of deciding which prisoners lived and died upon arrival at Auschwitz. He died of natural causes in secret in Brazil, where he had fled after the war, and his death was not confirmed until 1985.
Monopoly has been invented. (1935) Parker Brother board game was invented on this day. It has become one of the most played board games in the world, with nearly 2,000 versions (and parodies) in nearly 40 languages.
The Mud March was organized by British suffragettes. (1907) This was one of the first major women’s rights marches and consisted of more than 3,000 women marching through London. Many people were shocked by the march, and it was a major turning point in the visibility of the suffragist movement.
Astronauts made the first free spacewalk. (1984) Robert L. Stewart and Bruce McCandless II were the first to perform a free spacewalk using a device called a manned maneuvering unit, somewhat like a jet pack. The spacewalk also produced one of the most iconic images of astronauts: McCandless floating in his white suit above the Earth.
“Pinocchio” debuted. (1940) Pinocchio was Walt Disney’s second feature film and one of the first full-color animated features ever produced.
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass is born. (1817) Douglass was one of the leaders of the early civil rights movement and was a hugely influential figure on both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
The United States has banned the import and export of Cuban goods. (1962) The United States has had an uneasy relationship with Cuba since Castro came to power and tensions were only exacerbated by the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. The US embargo would continue into the 21st century.
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