January 2024 – Historic Moments Today

January 31st: The 13th Amendment Abolished Slavery

31Jan

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

January 31st: The 13th Amendment Abolished Slavery

What Happened On January 31st? On the last day in January in 1865, a section in America's dark history came to an end with an additional amendment to The Constitution. Inside the marbled halls of Congress in Washington D.C., tension was building up. The fate of a nation, bound by the chains of slavery, hung in the balance. Still weary from the Civil War, 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, watched from the White House as politicians and civil rights activists went at each other. His Emancipation Proclamation, casted a hope for freedom over "traditional" Confederate lands. But to truly extinguish the darkness, a constitutional suture was needed to free the nation completely. Inside the House Chamber, debate raged like a storm. Abolitionists, pled and argued for the 13th Amendment – hoping...

30Jan

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

World History

January 30th: Ghandi Murdered By Godse

What Happened On January 30th? On the 30th of January, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of India," went on his evening walk to a prayer meeting, approaching the gates of the Birla House, New Delhi. Gandhi, 78 years-old, was already very frail due to fasting. A little after 5 P.M., Gandhi's grandnieces escorted him through the garden, where he was met with small crowd of his followers. All of a sudden, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist steeped in hate and fanaticism, fired three shots from a rare gun in India, a Beretta M1934. Gandhi crumpled to the ground, felled by bullets aimed not just at his body, but at the very heart of India's nascent freedom. Cries of anguish and pain ripped through the stunned silence as the world's beacon of non-violent resistance lay still. American diplomat...

January 29th: “Axis Of Evil” Coined By George W. Bush

29Jan

By HistoricNewsNo Comments

U.S. History

January 29th: “Axis Of Evil” Coined By George W. Bush

What Happened On January 29th? President George W. Bush, America's 43rd president, strode into the House Chamber on January 29, 2002. Just a few months after the September 11th attacks, the nation was still eager for answers and reassurance. In what would become a defining moment of his presidency, Bush delivered his first State of the Union address, a speech that pronounced: the "axis of evil." To start, Bush honored the fallen heroes of "9/11" to unify the spirit of the nation. Along with that, he discussed and gave updates about the ongoing war in Afghanistan to further create a sense of camaraderie. But the mood shifted as Bush addressed to the perceived threats simmering beneath the surface. With a steely gaze, he declared, "States like these, and their terrorist ...

January 28th: 7 Astronauts Killed In Space Explosion

28Jan

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

Science & Industry

January 28th: 7 Astronauts Killed In Space Explosion

What Happened On January 28th? January 28, 1986 changed the course of space exploration forever. On this morning, the Space Shuttle Challenger, carrying seven astronauts, tragically exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff. Falling from 65,000 feet in the sky, the orbiter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean at 200 miles per hour. The Challenger's final mission, designated STS-51-L, included a diverse crew of astronauts, notably Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first private citizen and teacher in space. The launch had already been delayed due to technical issues and unusually cold temperatures. Yet, decisions were called to proceed, which raised apprehensions among NASA engineers. At 11:38 am EST, the Challenger lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island Florida. Tr...

January 27th: Russian Officers Discovered Antarctica

27Jan

By Professor Gregory J. Hayes, Ph.D. in Art HistoryNo Comments

World History

January 27th: Russian Officers Discovered Antarctica

What Happened On January 27th? Today on January 27th in the year 1820, Russian naval officers Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev laid eyes on the desolate continent of Antarctica. Despite being the largest desert in the world (3.376 billion acres), Antarctica accounts for nearly 70% of the Earth's fresh water. Initiated by Emperor Alexander I of Russia, the Imperial Russian Expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories in the Southern Hemisphere. Setting sail from Rio de Janeiro in July 1819, Captain Bellingshausen commanded the lead ship Vostok while Lazarev led the Mirny. The expedition had two main objectives—scientific research and mapping new lands. Bellingshausen and Lazarev carried instruments for astronomical observations, hydrographical measurements, and ...

January 26th: Helicopter Crash Steals Life Of Kobe Bryant

26Jan

By Professor Gregory J. Hayes, Ph.D. in Art HistoryNo Comments

World History

January 26th: Helicopter Crash Steals Life Of Kobe Bryant

What Happened on January 26th? The world wept on January 26, 2020 when Kobe and his daughter Gianna unexpectedly and tragically passed away in a helicopter crash. The outpouring of grief was global, as his legacy impacted millions and millions. While the pain of his loss remains prominent to this day, his spirit lives on, inspiring athletes, artists, and dreamers across the globe. Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-season NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, his dream team ever since he was a little boy. Often hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, his dedication, work ethic, and unparalleled skill on the court made him one of the most respectable figure in the sports world. Likewise, he also holds the record for "youngest player to start and NBA game" as he was on...

January 25th: The First Winter Olympics Opened In France

25Jan

By Dr. Sylvia K. Crawford, MA in JournalismNo Comments

Sports History

January 25th: The First Winter Olympics Opened In France

What Happened On January 25th? On January 25th, 1924, the tranquil village of Chamonix amidst the majestic French Alps found itself on the world stage. This quiet haven for skiers and mountaineers became a sporting icon where 10,004 spectators would crowd to watch the very first Winter Olympic Games. On this day in January, anticipation buzzed through the air, as flags from 16 nations, fluttered proudly against the clear blue sky. This small town, once known for its cheese markets and breathtaking scenery, was now bursting with Olympic spirit. The makeshift stadium buzzed with excitement as nearly 300 athletes marched in with their colorful uniforms, a vibrant contrast to the snow-white background. Among them was a young Norwegian figure skater named Sonja Henie, who was about to impr...

January 24th: The Day Ted Bundy Was Executed

24Jan

By Professor Gregory J. Hayes, Ph.D. in Art HistoryNo Comments

U.S. History

January 24th: The Day Ted Bundy Was Executed

What Happened On January 24th? On January 24, 1989, one of America's most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy, was executed. The heinous crimes that he committed is often associated with those of Jeffrey Dahmer, as both serial killers targeted a specific demographic and were extremely cunning with their actions. On the day of his execution at Florida State Prison's electric chair, Bundy's victims' families, law enforcement, and the public awaited the closure that the execution would bring. The atmosphere outside the prison was gravely tense. Ted Bundy On Trial In his final moments, Bundy maintained an air of stoicism. The families of his victims sought closure, hoping for some semblance of remorse. However, his last words included a vague confession but lacked a comprehensive ...

January 23rd: Deadliest Earthquake Ever Swept 830,000 Lives

23Jan

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

World History

January 23rd: Deadliest Earthquake Ever Swept 830,000 Lives

What Happened On January 23rd? On January 23, 1556, the sun was rising over the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi Province, China. But beneath the tranquility in the snowy peaks of the Qinling Mountains, the earth stirred. Although, casualties from the Avezzano Earthquake (30,000 lives), Indian Ocean Tsunami (230,000 lives), and even the Haiti Earthquake (316,000 lives) together result in almost 550,000 deaths, this number is not even close to the devastation on this day in 1556. At 5:30 A.M., a monstrous tremor (estimated at a staggering magnitude 8.0 on the Richter scale) ripped through the valley. It wasn't just a single jolt; the earth convulsed for several minutes, waves of energy shaking the very foundations of houses, temples, and mountains. Buildings crumbled like sandcastles, roofs cave...

January 22nd: The Fastest Temperature Change Ever Recorded

22Jan

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature Scholar2 Comments

Science & Industry

January 22nd: The Fastest Temperature Change Ever Recorded

What Happened On January 22nd? Imagine stepping outside on a frosty winter morning, bundled up against the -4°F (-20°C) bite of the air. Two minutes later, the temperature soars to a chilly, but comfortable 45°F (+7°C). Sounds impossible, right? Yet, that's exactly what happened in Spearfish, South Dakota on this day in 1943 as the fastest temperature change ever was recorded in meteorological history! How on earth did the temperature jump 49°F (27°C) in just two minutes? This increase in temperature wasn't due to some sci-fi anomaly, but to a powerful and capricious weather phenomenon known as a chinook wind. These warm, dry winds, often descend from the Rocky Mountains, can abruptly alter temperatures, sometimes even raising them by tens of degrees in minutes. But even fo...