|
Date
|
Year
|
Clue
|
Answer
|
|
Jan 1
|
2002
|
Currency which entered circulation for the first time
|
Euro
|
|
Jan 2
|
1492
|
Country whose "reconquest" was completed by the capture of Granada
|
Spain
|
|
Jan 3
|
1959
|
State which joined the US, the 49th to do so
|
Alaska
|
|
Jan 4
|
2010
|
City where Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, was opened
|
Dubai
|
|
Jan 5
|
1914
|
Manufacturing company which doubled pay to $5 a day
|
Ford
|
|
Jan 6
|
1066
|
King of England who was crowned. The last Anglo-Saxon king of England, he would die at the Battle of Hastings 10 months later. |
Harold Godwinson
|
|
Jan 7
|
1610
|
Scientist who discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter
|
Galileo Galilei
|
|
Jan 8
|
1959
|
President of France who was inaugurated, the first of the Fifth Republic |
Charles de Gaulle
|
|
Jan 9
|
1349
|
Pandemic which the population of Basel blamed on their Jewish residents, who were rounded up and burned alive |
Black Death
|
|
Jan 10
|
49 BC
|
General who crossed the Rubicon
|
Julius Caesar
|
|
Jan 11
|
1964
|
Activity which the U.S. Surgeon General warned may be hazardous to one's health |
Smoking
|
|
Jan 12
|
2010
|
Country struck by an earthquake which killed over 100,000 people
|
Haiti
|
|
Jan 13
|
1968
|
Singer who performed at Folsom State Prison
|
Johnny Cash
|
|
Jan 14
|
1953
|
Country where Josip Broz Tito was inaugurated as President
|
Yugoslavia
|
|
Jan 15
|
1892
|
Game whose rules were published by James Naismith
|
Basketball
|
|
Jan 16
|
27 BC
|
Title granted to Octavian by the Roman Senate, an event usually considered to mark the start of the Roman Empire |
Augustus
|
|
Jan 17
|
1929
|
Spinach-guzzling cartoon character who appeared for the first time
|
Popeye
|
|
Jan 18
|
1778
|
British sea captain who "discovered" Hawaii
|
James Cook
|
|
Jan 19
|
1981
|
Country which released U.S. hostages after 444 days
|
Iran
|
|
Jan 20
|
2009
|
President of the U.S. who was inaugurated
|
Barack Obama
|
|
Jan 21
|
1793
|
Device used to execute Louis XVI of France
|
Guillotine
|
|
Jan 22
|
1901
|
Queen who died after a reign of 63 years
|
Queen Victoria
|
|
Jan 23
|
1368
|
Dynasty which came to power in China
|
Ming
|
|
Jan 24
|
41
|
Depraved Roman emperor who was assassinated
|
Caligula
|
|
Jan 25
|
1533
|
Woman who married Henry VIII, the second of his six wives
|
Anne Boleyn
|
|
Jan 26
|
1924
|
City renamed Leningrad
|
Petrograd
|
|
Jan 27
|
1984
|
Pop singer whose hair caught fire while filming a Pepsi commercial
|
Michael Jackson
|
|
Jan 28
|
1986
|
Space shuttle which exploded
|
Challenger
|
|
Jan 29
|
1820
|
"Mad" king who died after a reign of nearly 60 years
|
George III
|
|
Jan 30
|
1969
|
Band which performed on the roof of Apple Records in their final concert
|
The Beatles
|
|
Jan 31
|
2010
|
Film which became the first to gross $2 billion worldwide
|
Avatar
|
|
Feb 1
|
2004
|
Singer who had a "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl halftime show |
Janet Jackson
|
|
Feb 2
|
1922
|
Author whose novel "Ulysses" was first published
|
James Joyce
|
|
Feb 3
|
1959
|
Musician who died in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (known as the "Day the Music Died") |
Buddy Holly
|
|
Feb 4
|
2004
|
Website founded by Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard dorm room
|
Facebook
|
|
Feb 5
|
1939
|
Generalísimo who became leader of Spain
|
Francisco Franco
|
|
Feb 6
|
1819
|
City founded by Sir Stamford Raffles near the Strait of Malacca |
Singapore
|
|
Feb 7
|
2009
|
Country where 173 people were killed by the "Black Saturday" wildfires
|
Australia
|
|
Feb 8
|
1950
|
Country which established the Stasi, its secret police force
|
East Germany
|
|
Feb 9
|
1964
|
Rock band that appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" |
The Beatles
|
|
Feb 10
|
2005
|
Country which announced that is has nuclear weapons
|
North Korea
|
|
Feb 11
|
1990
|
Boxer defeated by Buster Douglas in a shocking upset
|
Mike Tyson
|
|
Feb 12
|
1832
|
Country which annexed the Galápagos Islands
|
Ecuador
|
|
Feb 13
|
1913
|
Country whose independence was proclaimed by the 13th Dalai Lama
|
Tibet
|
|
Feb 14
|
1876
|
Device patented by Alexander Graham Bell
|
Telephone
|
|
Feb 15
|
1898
|
City where the USS Maine exploded, sparking the Spanish-American War
|
Havana
|
|
Feb 16
|
1923
|
Pharaoh whose tomb was unsealed by Howard Carter
|
Tutankhamun
|
|
Feb 17
|
1972
|
German car model which passed the Model T to become the best-selling in history to that point |
Volkswagen Beetle
|
|
Feb 18
|
1930
|
Dwarf planet discovered at the Lowell Observatory in New Mexico
|
Pluto
|
|
Feb 19
|
1986
|
Space station launched by the Soviet Union (its name means "peace" in Russian) |
Mir
|
|
Feb 20
|
1877
|
Tchaikovsky ballet which premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow
|
Swan Lake
|
|
Feb 21
|
1848
|
Manifesto published by Marx and Engels
|
The Communist
Manifesto
|
|
Feb 22
|
2011
|
City in New Zealand where 185 people died in an earthquake
|
Christchurch
|
|
Feb 23
|
1455
|
Printer who published his first Bibles
|
|
|
Feb 24
|
1989
|
Author whose death was called for by Ayatollah Khomeini, who offered a $3 million bounty |
Salman Rushdie
|
|
Feb 25
|
1956
|
Soviet leader who gave his so-called "secret speech" denouncing Stalin
|
Nikita Khrushchev
|
|
Feb 26
|
1815
|
General who escaped from the island of Elba
|
Napoleon Bonaparte
|
|
Feb 27
|
1933
|
Building in Berlin which suffered heavy damage in an arson attack
|
Reichstag building
|
|
Feb 28
|
202 BC
|
Dynasty which began in China with the ascension of Liu Bang as emperor |
Han
|
|
Feb 29
|
2004
|
Country where Jean-Bertrand Aristide was deposed by a coup
|
Haiti
|
|
Mar 1
|
1998
|
This film becomes the first to gross $1 billion worldwide
|
Titanic
|
|
Mar 2
|
1946
|
Ho Chi Minh is elected President of this country
|
North Vietnam
|
|
Mar 3
|
1861
|
Serfdom is abolished in this country
|
Russia
|
|
Mar 4
|
1980
|
Robert Mugabe begins his long and disastrous reign as ruler
of this African nation
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
Mar 5
|
1770
|
British troops massacre five Americans in this city
|
Boston
|
|
Mar 6
|
1869
|
Dmitri Mendeleev presents this table to the Russian Chemical Society
|
Periodic Table
|
|
Mar 7
|
1912
|
Roald Amundsen's discovery of this location is announced
|
South Pole
|
|
Mar 8
|
1957
|
This canal is re-opened following a crisis which had shut it down
|
Suez Canal
|
|
Mar 9
|
141 BC
|
Emperor Wu, of this dynasty, begins his 54 year reign
as ruler of China
|
Han
|
|
Mar 10
|
1969
|
James Earl Ray pleads guilty to the assassination of this leader
|
Martin Luther
King, Jr.
|
|
Mar 11
|
2011
|
A 9.0 earthquake strikes this country
|
Japan
|
|
Mar 12
|
1938
|
In an event known as the Anschluss, this country is annexed by Germany
|
Austria
|
|
Mar 13
|
2013
|
This Pope is elected
|
Francis
|
|
Mar 14
|
1794
|
Eli Whitney is granted a patent for this invention, increasing the
profitability of plantations in the American South
|
Cotton gin
|
|
Mar 15
|
44 BC
|
This leader is assassinated on the floor of the Roman Senate
|
Julius Caesar
|
|
Mar 16
|
597 BC
|
Jerusalem is captured by this empire
|
Babylon
|
|
Mar 17
|
1969
|
This woman becomes the first female Prime Minister of Israel
|
Golda Meir
|
|
Mar 18
|
1992
|
South Africans pass a referendum to end this practice
|
Apartheid
|
|
Mar 19
|
1882
|
Construction begins on the Sagrada Familia church in this city
(It's still under construction today)
|
Barcelona
|
|
Mar 20
|
2003
|
The U.S. invades this country, looking for weapons of mass destruction
|
Iraq
|
|
Mar 21
|
1963
|
This California prison, known as "The Rock", closes after 29 years
|
Alcatraz
|
|
Mar 22
|
1993
|
Intel ships this computer chip
|
Pentium
|
|
Mar 23
|
1919
|
This leader founds the Fascist movement
|
Benito Mussolini
|
|
Mar 24
|
1603
|
This Scottish king becomes King of England
|
James I
|
|
Mar 25
|
1584
|
Sir Walter Raleigh is given a royal patent to colonize this U.S. state
|
Virginia
|
|
Mar 26
|
1830
|
This Latter-Day Saints religious text is published
|
Book of Mormon
|
|
Mar 27
|
1968
|
Suharto follows Sukarno as President of this country
|
Indonesia
|
|
Mar 28
|
1854
|
This war heats up as the U.K. and France declare war on Russia
|
Crimean War
|
|
Mar 29
|
1961
|
The 23rd amendment is ratified, allowing citizens of this city
to vote in U.S. Presidential elections
|
Washington D.C.
|
|
Mar 30
|
1959
|
This religious leader enters India, seeking asylum
|
Dalai Lama
|
|
Mar 31
|
1889
|
This tower, constructed for the 1889 World's Fair, is officially opened
|
Eiffel Tower
|
|
April 1
|
1976
|
This company is founded by Jobs, Wozniak, and Wayne
|
Apple, Inc
|
|
April 2
|
742
|
This Frankish king is born
|
Charlemagne
|
|
April 3
|
1888
|
This London serial killer claims his first victim
|
Jack the Ripper
|
|
April 4
|
1581
|
This captain is knighted in honor of his circumnavigation of the globe
|
Francis Drake
|
|
April 5
|
1722
|
Europeans first make contact with this remote Pacific island,
now a part of Chile
|
Easter Island
|
|
April 6
|
1974
|
This Swedish group wins the Eurovision song contest
|
ABBA
|
|
April 7
|
1906
|
Naples is devastated by an eruption of this volcano
|
Mt. Vesuvius
|
|
April 8
|
1820
|
This armless sculpture is discovered on the island of Milos
|
Venus de Milo
|
|
April 9
|
1241
|
These steppe raiders decisively beat a Polish army at
the Battle of Legnica
|
Mongols
|
|
April 10
|
1971
|
To improve relations, China hosts American athletes in this sport
|
Table tennis
|
|
April 11
|
1814
|
This French leader abdicates
|
Napoleon
|
|
April 12
|
1861
|
This war begins at Fort Sumter
|
American Civil War
|
|
April 13
|
1204
|
Crusaders capture and loot this Christian capital
|
Constantinople
|
|
April 14
|
1865
|
This leader is shot at Ford's Theatre
|
Abraham Lincoln
|
|
April 15
|
1912
|
This ship sinks in the northern Atlantic
|
RMS Titanic
|
|
April 16
|
1943
|
Albert Hofmann accidentally discovers the hallucinogenic effects of this drug |
LSD
|
|
April 17
|
1961
|
The Bay of Pigs invasion begins in this country
|
Cuba
|
|
April 18
|
1980
|
This country, formerly known as Rhodesia, becomes independent
|
Zimbabwe
|
|
April 19
|
2005
|
This pope is elected
|
Benedict XVI
|
|
April 20
|
1889
|
This historical villain is born in Austria
|
Adolf Hitler
|
|
April 21
|
753 BC
|
This city is founded by twin brothers (according to legend)
|
Rome
|
|
April 22
|
1970
|
This environmental day is celebrated for the first time
|
Earth Day
|
|
April 23
|
1616
|
This writer dies at Stratford-upon-Avon
|
William Shakespeare
|
|
April 24
|
1898
|
The U.S. declares war on this country
|
Spain
|
|
April 25
|
404 BC
|
Athens is defeated by this city-state
|
Sparta
|
|
April 26
|
1986
|
This power plant has a catastrophic meltdown
|
Chernobyl
|
|
April 27
|
711
|
Moorish troops invade this European peninsula
|
Iberia
|
|
April 28
|
1945
|
This former leader is executed by firing squad
|
Benito Mussolini
|
|
April 29
|
2011
|
This woman marries Prince William
|
Kate Middleton
|
|
April 30
|
1803
|
The U.S. nearly doubles in size after purchasing this territory from France
|
Louisiana Territory
|
|
May 1
|
1328
|
England recognizes the independence of this country
|
Scotland
|
|
May 2
|
2011
|
This infamous person is killed in Pakistan
|
Osama Bin Laden
|
|
May 3
|
1973
|
This building is completed. It would be the tallest in the world
for over 20 years.
|
Sears Tower
|
|
May 4
|
1994
|
This PLO leader signs a peace accord with Israel
|
Yasser Arafat
|
|
May 5
|
1260
|
This khan becomes ruler of the Mongol Empire
|
Kublai
|
|
May 6
|
1937
|
This German zeppelin is destroyed by fire
|
Hindenburg
|
|
May 7
|
2000
|
This judo enthusiast becomes President of Russia
|
Vladimir Putin
|
|
May 8
|
1945
|
This nation unconditionally surrenders
|
Germany
|
|
May 9
|
1936
|
This country is formally annexed by Italy
|
Ethiopia
|
|
May 10
|
1994
|
This man becomes the first black leader of South Africa
|
Nelson Mandela
|
|
May 11
|
1997
|
A computer beats world champion Garry Kasparov at this activity
|
Chess
|
|
May 12
|
1949
|
The USSR lifts its blockade of this city
|
Berlin
|
|
May 13
|
1888
|
Brazil finally abolishes this
|
Slavery
|
|
May 14
|
1796
|
Edward Jenner administers the first vaccine for this disease
|
Smallpox
|
|
May 15
|
1972
|
This island, under U.S. occupation, reverts to Japanese control
|
Okinawa
|
|
May 16
|
1929
|
These awards are presented for the first time
|
The Academy Awards
|
|
May 17
|
1805
|
Muhammad Ali becomes leader of this country
|
Egypt
|
|
May 18
|
1980
|
This volcano erupts in the U.S. state of Washington
|
Mount St. Helens
|
|
May 19
|
1962
|
This actress sings "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy
|
Marilyn Monroe
|
|
May 20
|
1498
|
This Portuguese explorer reaches India by sea
|
Vasco da Gama
|
|
May 21
|
1927
|
This aviator reaches Paris after a non-stop flight from New York
|
Charles Lindbergh
|
|
May 22
|
1807
|
This former U.S. Vice President is indicted on charges of treason
|
Aaron Burr
|
|
May 23
|
1533
|
This king divorces Catherine of Aragon
|
King Henry VIII
|
|
May 24
|
1844
|
Samuel Morse sends the first official message using this device
|
Telegraph
|
|
May 25
|
1787
|
The Constitutional Convention opens in this city
|
Philadelphia
|
|
May 26
|
1940
|
Allied forces evacuate Europe from this city in France
|
Dunkirk
|
|
May 27
|
1927
|
This company discontinues the Model T
|
Ford
|
|
May 28
|
1998
|
This country tests nuclear weapons for the first time
|
Pakistan
|
|
May 29
|
1953
|
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of this mountain
|
Mount Everest
|
|
May 30
|
1431
|
This female warrior is burned at the stake
|
Joan of Arc
|
|
May 31
|
1916
|
The UK and Germany fight this famous naval battle,
named for Denmark's main peninsula
|
Battle of Jutland
|
|
June 1
|
1533
|
This woman is crowned Queen consort of England. Despite rumors
to the contrary, she has the normal number of fingers.
|
Anne Boleyn
|
|
June 2
|
1896
|
This Italian inventor files a patent for the radio
|
Guglielmo Marconi
|
|
June 3
|
1968
|
At the "Factory" in New York City, this artist is shot and nearly
killed by a deranged woman
|
Andy Warhol
|
|
June 4
|
1989
|
Protesters are massacred in or near this city's Tiananmen Square
|
Beijing
|
|
June 5
|
1968
|
This politician is assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan
|
Robert F. Kennedy
|
|
June 6
|
1984
|
This Russian video game is released
|
Tetris
|
|
June 7
|
1654
|
This king begins his 72 year reign as king of France
|
Louis XIV
|
|
June 8
|
632
|
This prophet dies in Medina
|
Muhammad
|
|
June 9
|
1891
|
Painter Paul Gauguin arrives at this Polynesian island
|
Tahiti
|
|
June 10
|
323 BC
|
This Macedonian conqueror dies
|
Alexander the Great
|
|
June 11
|
1978
|
This film, starring John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John,
opens in movie theaters
|
Grease
|
|
June 12
|
1817
|
The "dandy horse" is ridden for this first time. It was the predecessor
to this modern method of transportation.
|
Bicycle
|
|
June 13
|
2005
|
This pop singer is found not guilty of child molestation
|
Michael Jackson
|
|
June 14
|
1982
|
This war between Argentina and the U.K. comes to an end
|
Falklands War
|
|
June 15
|
1215
|
King John signs this document
|
Magna Carta
|
|
June 16
|
1897
|
This kingdom is annexed by the United States
|
Hawaii
|
|
June 17
|
1944
|
This island nation declares independence from Denmark
|
Iceland
|
|
June 18
|
1940
|
This politician gives his "Finest Hour" speech
|
Winston Churchill
|
|
June 19
|
1865
|
"Juneteeth" celebrates the day that this came to an end in Texas
|
Slavery
|
|
June 20
|
1991
|
Germany votes to move the capital from this city to its
present location in Berlin
|
Bonn
|
|
June 21
|
1982
|
This British royal is born, becoming second-in-line to the throne
|
Prince William
|
|
June 22
|
1969
|
The Cuyahoga River catches fire in this U.S. state
|
Ohio
|
|
June 23
|
47 BC
|
This queen gives birth to Ptolemy Caesarion, the son of Julius Caesar
|
Cleopatra
|
|
June 24
|
1717
|
The first Grand Lodge of this organization is founded in London
|
Freemasonry
|
|
June 25
|
1929
|
This U.S. President authorizes the building of the dam which
today bears his name
|
Herbert Hoover
|
|
June 26
|
2015
|
The Supreme Court legalizes this across the U.S.
|
Same-sex marriage
|
|
June 27
|
1950
|
The U.S. enters this war
|
Korean War
|
|
June 28
|
1919
|
This treaty is signed, officially ending the state of war
between Germany and the Allied powers
|
Treaty of Versailles
|
|
June 29
|
2007
|
This landmark product is released
|
iPhone
|
|
June 30
|
1997
|
China regains control of this territory
|
Hong Kong
|
|
July 1
|
1867
|
This country is founded as a confederation of three British colonies
|
Canada
|
|
July 2
|
1937
|
This aviatrix goes missing over the Pacific Ocean
|
Amelia Earhart
|
|
July 3
|
1863
|
This battle, the bloodiest of the U.S. Civil War, comes to an end
|
Gettysburg
|
|
July 4
|
1776
|
This country declares its independence from Great Britain
|
United States
|
|
July 5
|
1687
|
This scientist publishes "Principia Mathematica"
|
Isaac Newton
|
|
July 6
|
1483
|
This "hunchbacked" king of England is crowned
|
Richard III
|
|
July 7
|
1953
|
This beret-wearing troublemaker sets out on a motorcycle journey
through Latin America
|
Che Guevara
|
|
July 8
|
1994
|
This North Korean leader dies after a reign of 45 years
|
Kim Il-Sung
|
|
July 9
|
2011
|
This country becomes independent from Sudan
|
South Sudan
|
|
July 10
|
1925
|
The Scopes "monkey trial" begins, in which a teacher in
Tennessee is accused of teaching this scientific theory
|
Evolution
|
|
July 11
|
1804
|
This duelist is fatally wounded by Aaron Burr
|
Alexander Hamilton
|
|
July 12
|
1561
|
St. Basil's cathedral is consecrated in this city
|
Moscow
|
|
July 13
|
1923
|
This famous sign is dedicated in the hills above Los Angeles.
(The last four letters would be dropped in 1949)
|
Hollywoodland
|
|
July 14
|
1789
|
This prison is stormed by the citizens of Paris, who find just 7 prisoners inside
|
La Bastille
|
|
July 15
|
1099
|
This city is conquered by Crusaders
|
Jerusalem
|
|
July 16
|
1945
|
This device is tested for the first time (in New Mexico)
|
Atomic Bomb
|
|
July 17
|
1936
|
Civil war erupts in this country
|
Spain
|
|
July 18
|
1955
|
This theme park opens in Anaheim, California
|
Disneyland
|
|
July 19
|
64
|
This emperor allegedly fiddles while Rome burns
|
Nero
|
|
July 20
|
1969
|
People walk here for the first time
|
The Moon
|
|
July 21
|
1970
|
The Aswan Dam is completed in this country
|
Egypt
|
|
July 22
|
1992
|
This drug lord escapes from his luxury prison near Medellín
|
Pablo Escobar
|
|
July 23
|
2011
|
This British singer dies of alcohol poisoning
|
Amy Winehouse
|
|
July 24
|
1847
|
Brigham Young establishes this city
|
Salt Lake City
|
|
July 25
|
1965
|
This folk singer dismays fans by playing electric music
at the Newport Folk Festival
|
Bob Dylan
|
|
July 26
|
1952
|
This Argentinian first lady dies at age 33
|
Eva Peron
|
|
July 27
|
1890
|
This Dutch artist shoots himself
|
Vincent Van Gogh
|
|
July 28
|
1914
|
This "war to end all wars" begins
|
World War I
|
|
July 29
|
1968
|
This practice is banned by Pope Paul VI
|
Artificial Birth Control
|
|
July 30
|
762
|
This city is founded on the Tigris River
|
Baghdad
|
|
July 31
|
1970
|
Disappointing sailors, the British Navy discontinues daily rations
of this substance
|
Rum
|
|
Aug 1
|
1834
|
This practice is abolished in the British Empire
|
Slavery
|
|
Aug 2
|
216 BC
|
This Carthaginian general defeats the Romans at the Battle of Cannae
|
Hannibal
|
|
Aug 3
|
1778
|
Opera house "La Scala" opens in this city
|
Milan
|
|
Aug 4
|
70
|
Romans destroy the temple in this city
|
Jerusalem
|
|
Aug 5
|
1962
|
This actress is found dead at age 36 in a "probable suicide"
|
Marilyn Monroe
|
|
Aug 6
|
1945
|
An atomic bomb is dropped on this city
|
Hiroshima
|
|
Aug 7
|
1974
|
Philippe Petit walks between these two buildings on a tight rope
|
World Trade Center
|
|
Aug 8
|
1974
|
This U.S. President resigns
|
Richard Nixon
|
|
Aug 9
|
1965
|
This country gains independence unwillingly after being
expelled from Malaysia
|
Singapore
|
|
Aug 10
|
1921
|
Franklin D. Roosevelt first shows signs of this disease
|
Polio
|
|
Aug 11
|
1919
|
The new constitution of this country is signed in the city of Weimar
|
Germany
|
|
Aug 12
|
30 BC
|
This Egyptian ruler commits suicide, possibly snake bite
|
Cleopatra
|
|
Aug 13
|
1961
|
Borders are closed in this European city
|
Berlin
|
|
Aug 14
|
1980
|
Lech Wałęsa leads labor strikes in this country
|
Poland
|
|
Aug 15
|
1281
|
For the second time, a "divine wind" destroys the Mongol fleet
attempting to invade this island nation
|
Japan
|
|
Aug 16
|
1829
|
Chang and Eng, conjoined twins from this country, arrive in the U.S.
|
Siam
|
|
Aug 17
|
1807
|
The world's first commercial steamboat service is started on
this river, connecting New York City and Albany
|
Hudson River
|
|
Aug 18
|
1969
|
Jimi Hendrix plays the American national anthem at this music festival
|
Woodstock
|
|
Aug 19
|
1991
|
A failed coup attempt is launched against this Soviet leader
|
Mikhail Gorbachev
|
|
Aug 20
|
1882
|
This Tchaikovsky overture debuts in Moscow, using cannon shots
as part of the music
|
1812 Overture
|
|
Aug 21
|
1959
|
This state becomes the 50th to join the U.S.
|
Hawaii
|
|
Aug 22
|
1642
|
This king declares Parliament to be traitors, sparking the English Civil War
|
Charles I
|
|
Aug 23
|
1305
|
This Scottish rebel is executed in London
|
William Wallace
|
|
Aug 24
|
2006
|
This Kuiper Belt object is demoted to "dwarf planet" status
|
Pluto
|
|
Aug 25
|
1875
|
Matthew Webb becomes the first person to swim across
this body of water
|
English Channel
|
|
Aug 26
|
1768
|
This explorer sets sail from England aboard the HMS Endeavour
|
James Cook
|
|
Aug 27
|
479 BC
|
Ancient Greeks win the battles of Plataea and Mycale, ending
the attempted invasion by this empire
|
Persian Empire
|
|
Aug 28
|
1879
|
In South Africa, the British capture Cetshwayo, the last king of this tribe
|
Zulu
|
|
Aug 29
|
2005
|
This hurricane makes landfall in Louisiana
|
Hurricane Katrina
|
|
Aug 30
|
1963
|
The so-called "red phone" is established, connecting this city and Moscow
|
Washington D.C.
|
|
Aug 31
|
1997
|
This celebrity dies in a car crash after being chased by paparazzi
|
Princess Diana
|
|
Sep 1
|
1939
|
Germany invades this country, considered the beginning of WWII
|
Poland
|
|
Sep 2
|
1945
|
Ho Chi Minh declares the independence of this country
|
Vietnam
|
|
Sep 3
|
301
|
This tiny country is founded on Monte Titano, making it the oldest
republic on Earth (at least according to legend)
|
San Marino
|
|
Sep 4
|
2006
|
This television star is killed by a stingray
|
Steve Irwin
|
|
Sep 5
|
1666
|
This city's "Great Fire" comes to end. The official death toll is only 6.
|
London
|
|
Sep 6
|
1901
|
This President is shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz
|
William McKinley
|
|
Sep 7
|
1986
|
Desmond Tutu becomes Anglican archbishop in this country
|
South Africa
|
|
Sep 8
|
1974
|
This politician is pardoned by Gerald Ford
|
Richard Nixon
|
|
Sep 9
|
1543
|
This woman is crowned "Queen of Scots"
|
Mary Stuart
|
|
Sep 10
|
1960
|
Abebe Bikila sets a new world record at this event - without shoes
|
Marathon
|
|
Sep 11
|
2001
|
Terrorists destroy the World Trade Center in this city
|
New York City
|
|
Sep 12
|
1953
|
Jacqueline Bouvier marries this politician
|
John F. Kennedy
|
|
Sep 13
|
1996
|
This rapper is killed in Las Vegas
|
Tupac Shakur
|
|
Sep 14
|
1982
|
This actress, the Princess of Monaco, dies in a car accident
|
Grace Kelly
|
|
Sep 15
|
1950
|
U.S. forces land at Inchon, considered a turning point of this war
|
Korean War
|
|
Sep 16
|
1620
|
This Pilgrim ship begins its voyage to America
|
The Mayflower
|
|
Sep 17
|
1916
|
This fighter ace records the first of his 80 aerial victories
|
Manfred von
Richthofen
|
|
Sep 18
|
2014
|
This "country" votes not to become independent
|
Scotland
|
|
Sep 19
|
1893
|
New Zealand becomes the first country to grant these
people the right to vote
|
Women
|
|
Sep 20
|
1187
|
Saladin besieges this city, taking it about two weeks later
|
Jerusalem
|
|
Sep 21
|
1937
|
This J.R.R. Tolkien book is published
|
The Hobbit
|
|
Sep 22
|
1980
|
Iraq invades this country, launching the deadliest war of the 1980s
|
Iran
|
|
Sep 23
|
1973
|
Juan Perón returns to power in this country
|
Argentina
|
|
Sep 24
|
1957
|
Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe, opens in this city
|
Barcelona
|
|
Sep 25
|
1513
|
Vasco Núñez de Balboa crosses this isthmus, becoming the first
European to see the Pacific coast of the Americas
|
Isthmus of Panama
|
|
Sep 26
|
1580
|
This English sea captain finishes his circumnavigation of the globe
|
Francis Drake
|
|
Sep 27
|
1996
|
This militant Islamist faction captures Kabul
|
Taliban
|
|
Sep 28
|
1928
|
Alexander Fleming discovers this miracle drug
|
Penicillin
|
|
Sep 29
|
1938
|
At a conference in this city, European leaders agree to let Germany
annex part of Czechoslovakia
|
Munich
|
|
Sep 30
|
1955
|
This young movie star dies in a car crash
|
James Dean
|
|
Oct 1
|
331 BC
|
This conqueror defeats the Persians at the Battle of Gaugamela
|
Alexander the Great
|
|
Oct 2
|
1535
|
Jacques Cartier arrives at the present-day site of this city
on the St. Lawrence river
|
Montreal
|
|
Oct 3
|
1990
|
This country is reunified
|
Germany
|
|
Oct 4
|
1957
|
This satellite becomes the first human-built object to orbit Earth
|
Sputnik 1
|
|
Oct 5
|
2011
|
This technology pioneer dies of pancreatic cancer
|
Steve Jobs
|
|
Oct 6
|
1973
|
Syria and Egypt invade Israel on this Jewish holiday
|
Yom Kippur
|
|
Oct 7
|
1962
|
Dr. No, the first movie to feature this character, is released
|
James Bond
|
|
Oct 8
|
1871
|
Mrs. O'Leary's cow allegedly starts a fire in this city
|
Chicago
|
|
Oct 9
|
768
|
This ruler is crowned King of the Franks
|
Charlemagne
|
|
Oct 10
|
1911
|
The start of the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew this
imperial dynasty, China's last
|
Qing
|
|
Oct 11
|
1962
|
This Catholic council convenes. It would introduce many changes,
such as allowing masses to be held in languages besides Latin.
|
Second Vatican
Council
|
|
Oct 12
|
1810
|
This Munich festival is held for the first time
|
Oktoberfest
|
|
Oct 13
|
54
|
This musical enthusiast becomes emperor of Rome
|
Nero
|
|
Oct 14
|
1066
|
William the Conqueror wins this pivotal battle
|
Battle of Hastings
|
|
Oct 15
|
1917
|
Exotic dancer Mata Hari is executed for this crime
|
Espionage
|
|
Oct 16
|
1793
|
This French queen is guillotined
|
Marie Antoinette
|
|
Oct 17
|
1604
|
This explosion is first observed from Earth. For weeks, it would appear
brighter than any star in the night sky.
|
Kepler's Supernova
|
|
Oct 18
|
1898
|
This island becomes a U.S. territory
|
Puerto Rico
|
|
Oct 19
|
1812
|
Napoleon retreats from this city. Less than 10% of his troops
will survive the long march back to France.
|
Moscow
|
|
Oct 20
|
1944
|
General Douglas MacArthur returns to this country after being
forced to flee two years earlier
|
Philippines
|
|
Oct 21
|
1805
|
This one-armed admiral defeats the French at the Battle of Trafalgar
|
Horatio Nelson
|
|
Oct 22
|
1836
|
Sam Houston becomes the first president of this short-lived country
|
Texas
|
|
Oct 23
|
4004 BC
|
The world is created, according to James Ussher's calculations
based on this book
|
The Bible
|
|
Oct 24
|
1901
|
Annie Taylor becomes the first person to go over these in a barrel
|
Niagara Falls
|
|
Oct 25
|
1415
|
This English king defeats the French at Agincourt
|
Henry V
|
|
Oct 26
|
1881
|
The "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" occurs in this Arizona frontier town
|
Tombstone
|
|
Oct 27
|
1682
|
This American city is founded by William Penn
|
Philadelphia
|
|
Oct 28
|
1962
|
Ending a crisis, the USSR agrees to remove its missiles from this country
|
Cuba
|
|
Oct 29
|
1618
|
This English adventurer, who tried to colonize Virginia, is beheaded
|
Walter Raleigh
|
|
Oct 30
|
1922
|
This fascist becomes Prime Minister of Italy
|
Benito Mussolini
|
|
Oct 31
|
2011
|
The human population of Earth reaches this number
(according to the U.N.)
|
7 billion
|
|
Nov 1
|
1957
|
The Mackinac Bridge connects the two peninsulas of this U.S. state
|
Michigan
|
|
Nov 2
|
1930
|
Haile Selassie is crowned emperor of this country
|
Ethiopia
|
|
Nov 3
|
1903
|
Prodded by the United States, this country separates from Colombia
|
Panama
|
|
Nov 4
|
1979
|
Hostages are seized from the U.S. embassy in this country
|
Iran
|
|
Nov 5
|
1605
|
This Gunpowder Plot conspirator is captured
|
Guy Fawkes
|
|
Nov 6
|
1861
|
This politician is elected President of the Confederate States
|
Jefferson Davis
|
|
Nov 7
|
1800
|
A law is passed making it illegal for women in France to wear these
(it would be repealed in 2013)
|
Trousers
|
|
Nov 8
|
1519
|
This conquistador enters Tenochtitlán
|
Hernán Cortés
|
|
Nov 9
|
1989
|
This wall comes tumbling down
|
The Berlin Wall
|
|
Nov 10
|
1871
|
Henry Stanley presumably finds this explorer in the interior of Africa
|
David Livingstone
|
|
Nov 11
|
1918
|
An armistice is signed ending hostilities in this war
|
World War I
|
|
Nov 12
|
1927
|
This dictator gains undisputed control over the Soviet Union
|
Joseph Stalin
|
|
Nov 13
|
2015
|
ISIS terrorists attack the Bataclan theatre in this city
|
Paris
|
|
Nov 14
|
1948
|
This British prince is born
|
Prince Charles
|
|
Nov 15
|
1920
|
This city on the Germany / Poland border becomes a
quasi-independent city state
|
Danzig
|
|
Nov 16
|
1988
|
Benazir Bhutto is elected prime minister of this country
|
Pakistan
|
|
Nov 17
|
1869
|
This canal, connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, is inaugurated
|
Suez Canal
|
|
Nov 18
|
1978
|
Over 900 Jonestown cult members commit suicide by drinking cyanide
mixed with this sweetened beverage
|
Flavor Aid
|
|
Nov 19
|
1863
|
Abraham Lincoln gives a famous speech at this battle site
|
Gettysburg
|
|
Nov 20
|
1820
|
This type of whale attacks and sinks the whaling ship Essex
|
Sperm Whale
|
|
Nov 21
|
1905
|
This scientist publishes his famous formula: E = MC2
|
Albert Einstein
|
|
Nov 22
|
1963
|
This political leader is assassinated in Dallas
|
John F. Kennedy
|
|
Nov 23
|
1991
|
One day before his death, this singer reveals that he is HIV positive
|
Freddie Mercury
|
|
Nov 24
|
1859
|
This naturalist publishes "On the Origin of Species"
|
Charles Darwin
|
|
Nov 25
|
1986
|
The King Fahd Causeway is opened connecting Saudi Arabia
to this nearby island
|
Bahrain
|
|
Nov 26
|
1976
|
This band releases their debut single "Anarchy in the U.K."
|
The Sex Pistols
|
|
Nov 27
|
1095
|
Pope Urban II calls for this holy war
|
First Crusade
|
|
Nov 28
|
1717
|
This pirate captures a French ship which he renames
"Queen Anne's Revenge"
|
Blackbeard
|
|
Nov 29
|
1877
|
This musical device is first demonstrated by Thomas Edison
|
Phonograph
|
|
Nov 30
|
1939
|
The USSR invades this country to start the Winter War
|
Finland
|
|
Dec 1
|
1955
|
This woman refuses to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama
|
Rosa Parks
|
|
Dec 2
|
1848
|
Franz Josef I becomes the leader of this empire
|
Austrian Empire
|
|
Dec 3
|
1984
|
Thousands die after a toxic gas leak near the city of Bhopal in this country
|
India
|
|
Dec 4
|
1965
|
This rock band performs at a California "acid test"
|
The Grateful Dead
|
|
Dec 5
|
1933
|
This period of American history comes to an end, following the
ratification of the 21st amendment
|
Prohibition
|
|
Dec 6
|
1998
|
This socialist is elected President of Venezuela
|
Hugo Chávez
|
|
Dec 7
|
1941
|
This American naval base is attacked by Japan
|
Pearl Harbor
|
|
Dec 8
|
1980
|
This musician is killed by Mark David Chapman in New York City
|
John Lennon
|
|
Dec 9
|
1979
|
This disease is declared to be eradicated
|
Smallpox
|
|
Dec 10
|
1901
|
In Stockholm, these awards are given for the first time
|
Nobel Prizes
|
|
Dec 11
|
1936
|
This British king abdicates
|
Edward VIII
|
|
Dec 12
|
1901
|
This Italian inventor receives the first international radio transmission
|
Guglielmo Marconi
|
|
Dec 13
|
1972
|
Gene Cernan becomes the last of twelve people to walk here
|
The Moon
|
|
Dec 14
|
1994
|
Construction begins on the Three Gorges Dam on this river
|
Yangtze
|
|
Dec 15
|
1978
|
The U.S. announces it will establish official diplomatic relations
with China, and sever them with this country
|
Taiwan
|
|
Dec 16
|
1653
|
This leader becomes Lord Protector of England
|
Oliver Cromwell
|
|
Dec 17
|
2011
|
This notorious dictator dies, leaving his doughy young son in charge
|
Kim Jong-il
|
|
Dec 18
|
1892
|
This Tchaikovsky ballet is performed for the first time
|
The Nutcracker
|
|
Dec 19
|
1998
|
This politician is impeached
|
Bill Clinton
|
|
Dec 20
|
1999
|
Portugal returns this territory to China
|
Macau
|
|
Dec 21
|
1988
|
Pan Am flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland.
This country later admits responsibility.
|
Libya
|
|
Dec 22
|
1942
|
Hitler orders the mass production of this technically impressive,
but largely useless, ballistic missile
|
V-2
|
|
Dec 23
|
1815
|
"Emma", by this British novelist, is first published
|
Jane Austen
|
|
Dec 24
|
1777
|
This English sea captain discovers Kiritimati, aka, Christmas Island
|
James Cook
|
|
Dec 25
|
271
|
A temple to the sun god Sol Invictus is dedicated in this city
|
Rome
|
|
Dec 26
|
2004
|
A deadly tsunami is caused by 9.3 earthquake off the coast of this country
|
Indonesia
|
|
Dec 27
|
1831
|
This naturalist embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle
|
Charles Darwin
|
|
Dec 28
|
1065
|
This abbey, burial place of British monarchs, is consecrated
|
Westminster Abbey
|
|
Dec 29
|
1916
|
This "mad monk" is murdered in St. Petersburg, Russia
|
Grigori Rasputin
|
|
Dec 30
|
2006
|
This former Iraqi leader is hanged
|
Saddam Hussein
|
|
Dec 31
|
1991
|
This country is officially dissolved
|
Soviet Union
|
Can you accept "Sperm" for "Sperm whale"?
Can you accept "Pants" for "Trousers"?
Can you accept "Panama" for "Isthmus of Panama"?
Can you accept "Korean" for "Korean War"?
Can you accept just "Mary" for "Mary Stuart"?
Can you accept "Persia" for "Persian Empire"?