Germany violated treaties by reoccupying the Rhineland in 1936. Civil rights protesters were disbanded in Selma, Alabama in 1965. “We Are the World” was released in 1985. Emperor Constantine declared Sunday a day of rest in 321. Bangladesh elected its first democratic leader in 1973. Robert Frost’s poem was published in 1923. The US Senate revised its filibuster rule in 1975. Aristotle died in 322 BC. The US Supreme Court ruled on fair use in 1994. Piet Mondrian was born in 1872.
Germany reoccupied the Rhineland. (1936) Hitler and his troops marched into the Rhineland today, violating both the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. It was one of the first truly aggressive moves by Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II.
A group of more than 600 civil rights protesters was disbanded in Selma, Alabama. (1965) Coverage of the riot, which was broken up by law enforcement with tear gas and whips, was one of the first to gain major coverage in the civil rights movement and thrust the issue into the national spotlight.
“We Are the World” was released internationally. (1985) The anthem focused on world unity, which was still a contentious issue in the 1980s. The song was recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa, which included Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Bette Midler, among others.
“Dies Sol invicti” – “Sun-day” – has been declared a public holiday in Rome. (321) The day of the Sun, or “Sunday”, was declared a day of rest by the emperor Constantine. Although other religious traditions had previously adopted a day of rest during the week, this was one of the first times that a day had been set aside regularly by a secular authority.
Bangladesh had its first democratic leader. (1973) Sheikh Mujib Rahman wins the country’s first general election after years of pressure and attacks from Pakistan. Rahman was overwhelmingly elected prime minister of Bangladesh after spending a year in prison in Pakistan.
Stopping the Woods on a Snowy Evening has been released. (1923) Robert Frost’s popular poem was first published on this day in The New Republic. It was an instant classic, and many people still remember the lines: “The woods are lovely and dark and deep / But I’ve got promises to keep / And miles to go before I sleep / And miles to go before I sleep.”
The US Senate has revised its filibuster rule. (1975) Previously, senators could filibuster almost indefinitely, or until a two-thirds majority was found to vote to stop them. With the new rule, however, 75 votes were enough to invoke closure and stop the filibuster.
Aristotle is said to be dead. (322 BC) Founding father of Greek philosophy, Aristotle’s work has continued to influence philosophers throughout the 21st century. His work was among the first to create a complete system of philosophy, rather than focusing on a specific aspect of life.
The US Supreme Court has ruled that parodies made to mock original songs do not require copyright clearance. (1994) This greatly expanded the notion of “fair use” and was a major turning point in copyright law.
Piet Mondrian is born. (1872) Mondrian was a Dutch painter famous for his abstract works characterized by strong, straight lines and blocks of primary colors. He, along with fellow artists Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, was hugely influential to later modern and postmodern artists.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
