Important events include the Battle of Saratoga leading to French aid in the American Revolutionary War, OPEC’s oil embargo in 1973, Al Capone’s imprisonment in 1931, King Cyrus the Great’s Declaration of Human Rights in 539 BC, Einstein’s move to the US in 1933, the London Beer Flood in 1814, RCA’s founding in 1919, Mother Teresa’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the completion of the Taipei 101 Skyscraper in 2003, the US population exceeding 300 million in 2006, and the stripping of Olympic medals in 1968. The Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco in 1989.
The British surrendered to US military forces at the Battle of Saratoga. (1777) The surrender was the major turning point in the American Revolutionary War which led to the French government recognizing America’s independence and officially offering military aid to US forces. French assistance was a key part of America’s victory in the war.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has begun an embargo on oil exports to Western countries. (1973) The embargo was a protest against countries alleged to have aided Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo lasted until March 1974, causing an energy crisis in several countries, including the United States.
Al Capone was sent to prison for tax evasion. (1931) Famous mobster served eight years of an 11-year sentence in US federal prison.
The world’s first recorded Declaration of Human Rights was made. (539 BC) Persian leader King Cyrus the Great entered Babylon and freed the Jews who had been in exile in captivity for 70 years.
Albert Einstein left Nazi Germany and moved to the United States. (1933) Einstein, who was one of the world’s leading physicists, moved to the United States after learning that his name was listed as an assassination target in Nazi Germany.
Nine people were killed in the London Beer Flood. (1814) A 135,000-gallon (about 610,000 litres) vat of ale at the Meux and Company Brewery in London exploded, causing several other vats to explode in unison. More than 323,000 gallons (nearly 1.5 million litres) of beer exploded in the street, killing nine people and destroying two houses and the wall of a nearby pub.
The Radio Corporation of America (RCA) electronics company is founded. (1919) RCA operated in the United States until 1986, when General Electric took over the company. The brand is now owned by Technicolor SA, an electronics conglomerate in France.
Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. (1979) Her Award recognized her work to alleviate hardship and poverty around the world.
The construction of the tallest skyscraper in the world has been completed. (2003) The Taipei 101 Skyscraper was completed, becoming the tallest skyscraper in the world at 1,671 feet (about 509.2 meters). The record held until 2010, when the Burj Khalifa skyscraper was inaugurated in Dubai.
The population in the United States has exceeded 300 million. (2006) In 2010, the population cleared 310 million.
Two Olympic medalists were stripped of their medals by performing a black power salute. (1968) Bronze medalist John Carlos and gold medalist Tommie Smith were protesting racial discrimination, a violation of Olympic policy against introducing politics into the games.
The Loma Prieta earthquake hit San Francisco. (1989) The damaging earthquake was the first in history to be broadcast live on TV: the World Series was taking place there at the time and cameras covering the live event were able to capture the devastating scenes.
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