On October 10, 1911, Chinese revolutionaries launched the Wuchang Uprising, which sparked the collapse of the Qing Dynasty. This marked the beginning of the 1911 Revolution, or Xinhai Revolution, which brought an end to over two millennia of imperial rule in China. It led to the establishment of the Republic of China, a pivotal shift in Chinese history that forever changed its political landscape. The revolutionaries’ success not only dismantled the dynasty but also paved the way for modernization efforts that still influence China today.
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In 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland, with an inaugural class of 50 students. This institution became the foundation for training future Navy and Marine Corps officers, playing a crucial role in shaping U.S. military leadership. Today, the Naval Academy continues to uphold its reputation for excellence in developing military leaders.
In 1935, George Gershwin’s groundbreaking opera *Porgy and Bess*, featuring an all-Black cast, opened on Broadway, initiating a 124-performance run. The opera, which depicted African-American life in the South, was revolutionary for its time, showcasing Black performers in serious operatic roles, a rare feat in early 20th-century American theater. Over time, *Porgy and Bess* became an American classic, influencing the future of musical theater.
In 1964, the Summer Olympics began in Tokyo, Japan, marking the first time the event was telecast worldwide. These Olympics symbolized Japan’s post-war recovery and emerging role as a global power. The games also introduced innovations like satellite broadcasting and new technologies in athletics, setting the stage for the modern global spectacle we know today.
In 1966, The Beach Boys released their single “Good Vibrations,” written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The song became an instant hit, showcasing the band’s innovative approach to music production, including its use of unconventional instruments like the theremin. The track is often hailed as one of the greatest pop songs of all time and cemented The Beach Boys’ legacy in music history.
In 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned after being accused of accepting bribes during his time as governor of Maryland. He pled no contest to one count of federal income tax evasion, marking the first time a sitting U.S. vice president resigned due to criminal charges. This scandal was a precursor to the Watergate scandal, which would soon further rock the Nixon administration.
In 2001, just a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, U.S. jets launched airstrikes on the Afghan capital of Kabul as part of the War on Terror. On the same day, President George W. Bush revealed a list of 22 most-wanted terrorists, including Osama bin Laden. This marked the beginning of a global manhunt and the long-term U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, reshaping international politics for decades to come.
In 2014, Malala Yousafzai, a 17-year-old Pakistani advocate for girls’ education, and Kailash Satyarthi, a 60-year-old Indian child rights activist, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Both risked their lives fighting for the rights of children to be educated and protected from exploitation. Their work continues to inspire global movements advocating for children’s rights and education equality.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael struck Florida, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. mainland in 26 years. With winds reaching up to 160 mph, it caused widespread devastation, particularly in the Florida Panhandle, resulting in billions of dollars in damage. The storm highlighted the increasing intensity of Atlantic hurricanes, raising further concerns about climate change’s impact on extreme weather patterns.
Today in History: November 14
Today in History: November 14. On November 14, 1889, journalist Nellie Bly began an attempt to travel around the world in 80 days; she would successfully complete the journey in just over 72 days. In 1851, Herman Melville’s novel ‘Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale’ was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain. In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first Black child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. In 1965, the U.S. Army’s first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang.In 1993, Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula became the NFL’s all-time winningest coach with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Today in History: November 13
Today in History: November 13:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris at the national stadium, in a crowded concert hall, in restaurants and on streets, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II. In 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling which found Alabama bus segregation laws were illegal. In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city. In 2001, U.S.-backed Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan entered Kabul as Taliban forces retreated from the capital city.
Today in History: November 12
Today in History: On November 12: 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. In 1927, Josef Stalin became the undisputed ruler of the Soviet Union as Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party. In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in Washington, D.C., and gave the green light to traffic. In 1948, former Japanese premier Hideki Tojo and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by a war crimes tribunal. In 1970, the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The deadliest tropical cyclone on record claimed the lives of an estimated 300,000-500,000 people.
Today in History: November 11
Today in History: November 11: On Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ended as the Allies and Germany signed an armistice aboard a railroad car in the Forest of Compiègne in northern France. In 1620, 41 Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower, anchored off Massachusetts, signed the Mayflower Compact, calling for a “civil body politick, for our better ordering and preservation.” In 1921, the remains of an unidentified American service member were interred in a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding. In 1966, Gemini 12 blasted off on a four-day mission with astronauts James A. Lovell and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. aboard; it was the tenth and final crewed flight of NASA’s Gemini program.
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