World History
1564 – Galileo Galilei Born
Why it matters: His astronomical discoveries reshaped humanity’s understanding of the universe.
1942 – Fall of Singapore to Japanese Forces
Why it matters: One of Britain’s greatest military defeats in World War II.
1989 – Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan Begins
Why it matters: Marked the winding down of a decade-long conflict with global Cold War implications.
U.S. History
1898 – Explosion of the USS USS Maine in Havana Harbor
Why it matters: Sparked the Spanish-American War and expanded U.S. global influence.
1933 – Assassination Attempt on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt
Why it matters: Highlighted political tensions during the Great Depression era.
1879 – Law Signed Allowing Female Attorneys to Argue Before the U.S. Supreme Court
Why it matters: Advanced women’s rights in the American legal profession.