On September 22, 1957, Haitian women exercised their right to vote for the first time in history, a monumental 153 years after Haiti’s independence. This pivotal moment coincided with the election of François Duvalier as president, marking a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape. The event symbolized both progress and the long struggle for gender equality in a country shaped by revolutionary ideals.
Also on this date:
– In 1776, during the height of the Revolutionary War, 21-year-old Capt. Nathan Hale was executed by the British for espionage in New York. His famous last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country,” immortalized him as a symbol of American patriotism and sacrifice.
– In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This groundbreaking declaration announced that all enslaved people in Confederate states would be free as of January 1, 1863, if those states did not surrender and rejoin the Union. The document marked a decisive shift in the moral and legal standing of slavery in the United States, paving the way for its eventual abolition.
– In 1975, Sara Jane Moore made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate President Gerald R. Ford. Firing two shots outside a San Francisco hotel, she narrowly missed the president by inches. This event highlighted the security threats faced by American presidents during a time of political unrest and upheaval.
– In 1980, the long-simmering tensions between Iran and Iraq exploded into full-scale war. The conflict would drag on for nearly eight years, becoming one of the most brutal and devastating wars of the 20th century, with far-reaching consequences for both nations and the entire Middle East.
– In 1985, rock and country music legends united for “Farm Aid,” a benefit concert held in Champaign, Illinois, to raise awareness and funds for struggling American farmers. The event, spearheaded by musicians like Willie Nelson and Neil Young, reflected growing concern over the economic pressures facing rural communities.
– In 1993, tragedy struck when an Amtrak passenger train derailed near Mobile, Alabama, after it plunged off a bridge into Big Bayou Canot. The accident claimed the lives of 47 people and remains one of the deadliest train accidents in U.S. history.
– In 2014, the United States, along with five Arab nations, launched a coordinated airstrike campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria. This operation, using waves of planes and Tomahawk missiles, marked a major escalation in the global fight against terrorism and the efforts to dismantle ISIS’s strongholds.
– In 2017, the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico became starkly clear. Officials reported that more than half of the island’s communities were out of contact due to widespread destruction, and the island’s entire population of 3.4 million was left without power. The disaster revealed critical vulnerabilities in the island’s infrastructure and led to a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Today in History: December 20
A Look Back At Today, December 20
The Louisiana Purchase was completed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause.
The United States Space Force was established.
Today in History: December 19
Today in History: December 19
In 1777, General George Washington led an army of more than 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge.
In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, concluding the Apollo program.
In 2011, North Korean announced the death of Kim Jong Il and proclaimed Kim Jong Un as the leader.
In 2022, the House Jan. 6 Committee urged the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against the previous president
Today in History: December 18
Today in History: December 18
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was proclaimed in effect.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.
In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)
In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.
Today in History: December 17
Today in History: December 17
In 1903 The Wright brothers’ flight redefined the possibilities of travel and opened the skies to human exploration.
In 1933 The first NFL championship laid the foundation for professional football’s evolution into a national pastime.
In 1989 “The Simpsons” redefined animated television, blending humor with social commentary to leave an indelible mark on entertainment.
In 1992 NAFTA reshaped North American trade, fostering economic ties while sparking debates on globalization.
In 2014 The U.S.-Cuba rapprochement signaled a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War world, rekindling hopes for reconciliation.
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