The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, Prohibition began in 1919, Italy became fascist in 1922, Greece joined the Allies in 1940, and the Cuban Missile Crisis ended in 1962. Argentina elected its first female leader in 2007, and the Gateway Arch was completed in 1965. The first porcelain toilet was invented in 1885, and the first university in the Americas was established in 1538, while Harvard opened as the first US university in 1636.
The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor. (1886) US President Grover Cleveland dedicated the statue, which was a gift from France to celebrate America’s independence from Great Britain in 1783. The statue quickly became a symbol of US freedom.
The Volstead Act was passed by the US Congress, enforcing Prohibition. (1919) US President Woodrow Wilson tried to veto an act banning the use of alcohol in the United States, but his veto was overridden. Prohibition ended up having devastating effects on the US economy and its citizens. Eventually, it resulted in toxic, bootlegged alcohol that killed more people than legal alcohol had. Prohibition ended in 1933.
Italy became a fascist nation. (1922) Benito Mussolini took control of the country during the “March on Rome” and established his National Fascist Party. The power was handed over to him by King Vittorio Emanuele III. Mussolini was removed from power in 1943.
Greece joined the allied forces in World War II. (1940) Italy invaded Greece in an ill-conceived military move – even Hitler called the action a “major strategic blunder”. Greece solidly defeated Italy, giving the Allies their first victory of the war.
The world’s first porcelain toilet is born. (1885) Thomas Twyford, an English manufacturer, built the one-piece toilet using state-of-the-art flush technology developed by JG Jennings in 1852.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is officially over. (1962) Nikita Khrushchev formally agreed to dismantle Soviet missiles and remove them from Cuba. In return, the United States agreed not to invade Cuba and to respect its sovereignty. The world breathed a sigh of relief when the tense situation that nearly caused a nuclear war came to an end.
Argentina has elected its first female leader. (2007) Christina Fernandez assumed office December 10. She had previously also been the First Lady of the country.
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri was completed, making it the tallest monument in the United States. (1965) The famous arch is 603 feet (about 184 meters) high and 630 feet (about 192 meters) wide. The memorial symbolizes the expansion of the United States from East to West.
The first university in the Americas was established. (1538) Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, founded in the Dominican Republic, was the first institution of higher learning to open in the New World. Students continue to study there today.
Harvard University opened as the first university in the United States. (1636) Harvard was founded by a vote of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Great and General Court. The court initially met on Sept. 8 to consider the vote but was postponed until today. They voted to provide an allocation of £400 in British pounds to start the school.
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