On November 11, 1918, World War I hostilities officially ceased when the Allies and Germany signed an armistice in a historic railway car in the Forest of Compiègne, northern France. This marked the end of a conflict that had cost over 16 million lives, reshaping Europe’s political landscape and leading to the formation of the League of Nations. The armistice’s influence extended worldwide, and November 11 later became known as Armistice Day, commemorating peace and the sacrifices made by millions.
On this same date in 1620, aboard the Mayflower anchored off the coast of Massachusetts, 41 Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, establishing one of the earliest frameworks for self-governance in the New World. With the words “civil body politick,” the Compact aimed to unify the settlers and ensure cooperation in their new settlement. This agreement laid the groundwork for democratic principles that would eventually underpin the governance of the United States.
In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American soldier were enshrined in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. President Warren G. Harding presided over the ceremony, honoring the countless sacrifices made during World War I. This symbolic grave represents all unidentified fallen soldiers, establishing a revered site where Americans can honor those who served and sacrificed without recognition.
Then, in 1966, NASA launched Gemini 12, the final crewed mission of the Gemini program, with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. on board. This mission’s success set a new standard for space travel, proving that astronauts could perform complex tasks in space and paving the way for future Apollo missions to the Moon. The Gemini program’s advancements became fundamental to America’s space exploration and set the stage for NASA’s greatest achievements.
Looking Back At January 8
Looking Back At January 8
President Lyndon B. Johnson declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.”
President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address
Black men in the District of Columbia were given the right to vote
Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress
Looking Back At January 7
Looking Back At January 7
Galileo discovers 4 moons orbiting Jupiter
Marian Anderson becomes first Black American to sing at the Met
Vietnamese forces overthrow the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia
Islamist terrorists kill 12 employees of Charlie Hebdo
Looking Back At January 6
Looking Back At January 6
President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined a goal of “Four Freedoms” for the world
Donald Trump incited a violent insurrection in which his supporters attacked Capitol Police
Looking Back At January 5
Excerpt: Looking Back At January 5
“Eisenhower proposed that the US would assist other countries in their resistence to Communist Aggression. Today, leaders from Eisenhower’s own political party support Russian aggression.”
Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge
Discovery of X-rays was reported
Nellie Tayloe Ross took office as America’s first female governor
The Eisenhower Doctrine was proposed
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