Post by MacBeth on Mar 31, 2009 5:53:10 GMT -5
In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabel expel all of the Jews from Spain. Even with the infusions of gold and silver arriving during the 16th century from the Americas, this is an act from which Spain never recovers. By expelling their merchant and banking class, Jews and Muslims, the country is left ill-equipped to process the new wealth, which ultimately winds up in the coffers of other countries and squandered on disastrous military campaigns.
In 1880, Wabash, Ind., became the first town in the world to be illuminated by electrical lighting.
In 1889, French engineer Gustave Eiffel unfurled the French tricolor from atop the Eiffel Tower, officially marking its completion.
In 1917, the United States took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark.
In 1933, Congress approved, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed, the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" opened on Broadway.
In 1945, the Tennessee Williams play "The Glass Menagerie" opened on Broadway.
In 1949, Newfoundland (now called Newfoundland and Labrador) entered confederation as Canada's 10th province.
In 1959, The Dalai Lama is forced to leave Tibet, after the Red Communists make it very unpleasant for him to stay. He accuses the Chinese of making genocide against the Tibetan people, by systematic destruction of Tibetan culture and execution of thousands of prominent citizens.
In 1968, at the conclusion of a nationally broadcast address, President Lyndon B. Johnson shocked his listeners by announcing he would not seek another term of office.
In 1976, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Karen Ann Quinlan, who was in a persistent vegetative state, could be disconnected from her respirator. (Quinlan, who remained unconscious, died in 1985.)
In 1992, the U.N. Security Council voted to ban flights and arms sales to Libya, branding it a terrorist state for shielding six men accused of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 and a French airliner.
In 1999, three U.S. Army soldiers were captured by Serb forces near the Yugoslav-Macedonia border. (Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone and Spec. Steven M. Gonzales were released more than a month later.) Four New York City police officers were charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in a hail of bullets. (The officers were acquitted in February 2000.)
FIn 2004, Air America, intended as a liberal voice in network talk radio, made its debut on five stations.
In 2008, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced his resignation amid the wreckage of the national housing crisis. A Bahamas jury ruled that Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel, died from an accidental drug overdose, just like his mother.
In 1880, Wabash, Ind., became the first town in the world to be illuminated by electrical lighting.
In 1889, French engineer Gustave Eiffel unfurled the French tricolor from atop the Eiffel Tower, officially marking its completion.
In 1917, the United States took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark.
In 1933, Congress approved, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed, the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1943, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" opened on Broadway.
In 1945, the Tennessee Williams play "The Glass Menagerie" opened on Broadway.
In 1949, Newfoundland (now called Newfoundland and Labrador) entered confederation as Canada's 10th province.
In 1959, The Dalai Lama is forced to leave Tibet, after the Red Communists make it very unpleasant for him to stay. He accuses the Chinese of making genocide against the Tibetan people, by systematic destruction of Tibetan culture and execution of thousands of prominent citizens.
In 1968, at the conclusion of a nationally broadcast address, President Lyndon B. Johnson shocked his listeners by announcing he would not seek another term of office.
In 1976, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Karen Ann Quinlan, who was in a persistent vegetative state, could be disconnected from her respirator. (Quinlan, who remained unconscious, died in 1985.)
In 1992, the U.N. Security Council voted to ban flights and arms sales to Libya, branding it a terrorist state for shielding six men accused of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 and a French airliner.
In 1999, three U.S. Army soldiers were captured by Serb forces near the Yugoslav-Macedonia border. (Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone and Spec. Steven M. Gonzales were released more than a month later.) Four New York City police officers were charged with murder for killing Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant, in a hail of bullets. (The officers were acquitted in February 2000.)
FIn 2004, Air America, intended as a liberal voice in network talk radio, made its debut on five stations.
In 2008, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced his resignation amid the wreckage of the national housing crisis. A Bahamas jury ruled that Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel, died from an accidental drug overdose, just like his mother.