February 29 - First Arrests of the Salem Witch Trials

This Day in History: 29 February 2020

 

29 February 1692

 

328 years ago, today, the first people, Sarah Good, Sarah Osbourne and Tituba, were accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. During the 14^th century, the belief in the supernatural, especially in the devil and his practice of giving some humans the power to harm others, had emerged in Europe and colonial New England. A month prior, two young girl named Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams began having fits of screaming and violence, and the local doctor diagnosed them with bewitchment. Other young women in the community began to experience similar symptoms, such as Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren. Arrests warrants were later issued for the Parris' Caribbean slave, Tituba, along with two other women: the homeless beggar, Sarah Good, and the poor, elderly Sarah Osborn. The girls diagnosed had accused them of bewitching them.

 

The three convicted witches were brought before the magistrates, Jonathan Corwin and John Hathorne, and were questioned. Even their accusers appeared in the courtroom, and were consumed by spasms, contortions, screaming and writhing. Good and Osborn denied the guilt, but Tituba confessed and was found guilty, but claimed that other witches were acting alongside her in service of the devil, against the Puritans. Hysteria began to spread throughout the community and beyond Massachusetts, leading to many others being accused, including the four-year-old daughter of Sarah Good. Several other 'witches' confessed, and trials would soon begin to overwhelm the local justice system.

 

Want to find out more about the Salem Witch Trials? Click here for more information, or click here to watch a cartoon on the events.

 

February 28 - Moorgate Tube Crash

This Day in History: 28 February 2020

 

28 February 1975

 

45 years ago, today, the Moorgate tube crash occurred, resulting in the deaths of 43 people, with 74 other injuries. This was the worst peacetime accident on the London Underground. A southbound Northern City Line train from Drayton Park had failed to stop at the platform, and so drove into the concrete wall at the end of the tunnel at Moorgate station. When rescuers had eventually reached the platform, they discovered the front three carriages had been crushed together, and the station was engulfed in darkness. A six-day rescue operation followed, that involved 1,324 firefighters, 240 police officers, 80 ambulance workers, 16 doctors and many volunteers.

 

One of the firefighters on the scene was Steve Gleeson, who commented on having to immediately take their gear down to platform level, as firefighters were guiding casualties who were covered in dust and grime. They also found a carriage that was half at the platform and half into the tunnel, but on a slant, so it was up into the ceiling. The rest of the crew worked bravely through the dark and dusty tunnel, that was illuminated by old box lamps. Temperatures also reached 33°C, and the firefighters had to make sure to avoid heat exhaustion. The cause of the accident still remains a mystery, but a 10mph speed limit was introduced on all trains entering passenger locations.

 

Want to find out more about the tragedy of the Moorgate tube crash? Click here for more information, or here for a video.

 

February 27 - Formation of the Labour Party

This Day in History: 27 February 2020

 

27 February 1900

 

120 years ago, today, the Labour Party was born, when the Trades Union Congress and the Independent Labour Party met, in London. The Party was created out of the frustration of the working-class at their inability to institute parliamentary candidates through the Liberal Party, the dominant social-reforming party in Britain at the time. So, the Trades Union Congress cooperated with the Independent Labour Party, founded in 1893, to establish the Labour Representation Committee, which took the name, 'Labour Party', officially in 1906. This early Party, however, lacked a nationwide mass membership, but after World War One, they made significant gains. By 1922, Labour had replaced the Liberal Party as the official opposition to the Conservative Party.

 

Today, in the UK, the Labour Party is the main left and social democratic political party, as well as being the second largest party in the British House of Commons, having 262 out of 650 seats, forming the Official Opposition. As a socialist party, they believe the wealthy should be taxed to pay for better public services, and the workers should be given more rights. Their current leader is Jeremy Corbyn, having been elected on 12 September 2015, with their previous leader being Ed Miliband. In addition, since the end of World War Two, the UK has had a Labour Prime Minister for a total of 30 years, contrasted with the Conservatives having 44 years.

 

Want to find out more about the history of the Labour Party in the UK? Click here for more information, and click here for a simple explanation of the Labour Party.

 

February 26 - Discovery of Hue's Mass Graves

This Day in History: 26 February 2020

 

26 February 1968

 

52 years ago, today, the first mass graves were discovered in Hue by allied troops who had recaptured the city from the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive, in the midst of the Vietnam War. In this war, communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong went against South Vietnam and the United States, and ended in 1973, when the US withdrew, causing Vietnam to unify under communist control later. Communist troops, who had held the city for 25 days, had massacred around 2,800 civilians, that they had identified as sympathisers with the government in Saigon, with one authority estimating that the communists might have killed as many as 5,700 people in Hue.

 

The Tet Offensive had begun on the first day of the Tet holiday truce, on January 30, when the Viet Cong forces initiated their largest and best organised offensive of the war, while also having the support from the North Vietnamese troops. During the attack, they drove into the centre of South Vietnam's seven largest cities and attacked the 30 capitals. Within the first four days, cities taken ranged from Hue,Dalat, Kontum, and Quang Tri. In the north of the country, all five capitals were overrun, and at the same time, enemy forces shelled many allied airfields and bases. By February 10, this offensive was largely crushed, but did result in heavy and unfortunate casualties on both sides.

 

Want to find out more about the Vietnam War and the Tet Offensive? Click here for more details on the Vietnam War, and here for the Tet Offensive. Click here for a simple video explaining the Tet Offensive.

 

February 25 - Sylvia Plath Meets Ted Hughes

This Day in History: 25 February 2020

 

25 February 1956

 

64 years ago, today, Sylvia Plath met her future husband, Ted Hughes, at a party in Cambridge. The two fell in love at first sight and married one another four months later. Plath was born in 1932, to an autocratic German father, who taught biology, and knew very much about bumblebees. Unfortunately, he died at home after a persistent illness that left the family penniless. Sylvia's mother therefore worked as a teacher and raised her two children alone. At school, Sylvia was an outstanding student, who won a scholarship to Smith, published her first short story, and won a summer job as a temporary managing editor.

 

However, once the job ended, Sylvia experienced a nervous breakdown, and as a result, tried to commit suicide. She was hospitalised, but returned to school to finish her senior year, and won a Fulbright to England, leading her to go to Cambridge after graduation, where she met Hughes. The two lived in Boston, but returned to England in 1959, where Plath had her first child. They bought a house in Devon and had a second child 3 years after their first, the same year that Plath discovered her husband was having an affair. He left his family, causing Plath to struggle with her emotional turmoil and depression. She then moved to London, where she wrote her only novel, 'The Bell Jar', a semi-autobiographical account of her life. Due to her sick children, frozen pipes, and a severe case of depression, Sylvia Plath took her own life in February 1963, at age 30.

 

Want to find out more about the night that Plath met Hughes? Click here for more details.

 

February 24 - Juan Perón is Elected as President

This Day in History: 24 February 2020

 

24 February 1946

 

74 years ago, today, Juan Perón was elected president of Argentina, after previously being the controversial vice president. He had joined a military coup against Argentina's ineffective civilian government in 1943, with his influence growing stronger the following year as he became vice president and the minister of war. Perón was removed from his positions in October 1945, however, by a coup of civilians and officers. He was imprisoned, but appeals from workers and his mistress, Eva Duarte, soon aided his release, on the night of which he addressed a crowd of around 300,000 people and promised to lead his people to victory in the next election.

 

As president of Argentina, Perón created a remarkable populist alliance, and his vision of self-sufficiency for Argentina helped him win the support of his people. However, over time, he became gradually authoritarian, and began to imprison political opponents and restrict the press' freedom of speech. In 1952, his wife, Eva Duarte, died, and support for him dissolved, as she had been his greatest political resource. Three years later, he was again ousted in a military coup, and in 1973, after 18 years in exile, he returned to the country and won the elections again.

 

Want to find out more about the life and legacy of Juan Perón? Click here for more details.

 

February 23 - Mysterious Malfunction in the Gallows

This Day in History: 23 February 2020

 

23 February 1885

 

135 years ago, today, a 19-year old man, named John Lee, was sent to the gallows in Exeter for the murder of Ellen Keyse, a rich, older woman whom he had previously worked for. He continuously said he was innocent, but Lee was still sentenced to death by hanging. However, after the noose was put around his neck and the lever were pulled, something malfunctioned, and Lee was not dropped. The equipment was found to be in working order, and the hanging was even attempted two more times, but nothing happened when the lever was pulled once again. Lee was therefore sent back to prison.

 

On November 15, 1884, the previous year, Keyse had been found dead in a pantry next to Lee's room, with her head severely battered and her throat cut. It was thought that the alleged motive was Lee's resentment towards Keyse's awful treatment, although there was no direct evidence of his guilt. The authorities were astounded at the malfunction, and so described it as an act of God. Lee was then removed from death row, and he spent the next 22 years in prison. The cause of Lee's remarkable escape was never discovered.

 

Want to find out more about the story of John Lee and the mystical gallows? Click here for more details.

 

February 22 - Largest Robbery in British History

This Day in History: 22 February 2020

 

22 February 2006

 

14 years ago, today, the largest robbery in British history was committed by a gang of at least six men, who stole £53 million from the Securitas bank depot in Kent. On the evening before, two men, dressed as policemen, pulled the manager, Colin Dixon, over as he was driving, and convinced him to get out of his car and enter theirs. Meanwhile, two more men visited Dixon's home, and picked up his wife and son. All three were taken to a farm in West Kent, where the gang threatened the family if Colin refused to cooperate. They were then forced to go to the depot, where Colin helped them avoid the security system, allowing the gang to tie up 14 staff members, load the money into a truck, and drive away.

 

No one was injured in the robbery. One depot worker was eventually able to contact the police, who launched an investigation and search for the culprits, but since the money stolen was in bills, it was difficult to trace. A £2 million reward was posted for information leading to the arrests of the robbers, and the return of the money. The next day, one man and two women were arrested for having ties with the case, but all three were later released without being charged. Six people were later convicted, with 4 of them receiving a life sentence.

 

Want to find out more about the largest robbery to ever take place in the United Kingdom? Clickhere for more information, or for an episode from 'Real Crime' about the event, clickhere for part one, here for part two and here for part three.

 

February 21 - Assassination of Malcolm X

This Day in History: 21 February 2020

 

21 February 1965

 

55 years ago, today, Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City, by rival Black Muslims, while addressing his Organisation of Afro-American Unity. When Malcolm was younger, threats from the Ku Klux Klan forced his family to move to Michigan, where his father preached his black nationalist ideals. He was brutally murdered by white supremacist Black Legion, but the Michigan authorities refused to prosecute. At 21, Malcolm was sent to prison on a burglary conviction, where he encountered Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, whose members are known as Black Muslims. They advocated black nationalism, and racial separation, which had a strong effect on Malcolm, who entered an intense programme of self-education and changed his surname 'Little' to 'X', symbolising his stolen African identity.

 

Malcolm was released from prison after 6 years and became a minister of the Nation of Islam in Harlem. He advocated self-defence, and the liberation of African Americans by any necessary means, and so he became admired by his African American community. He gradually became more outspoken, and his opinionated view on the murder of President John F. Kennedy made Elijah Muhammad think of this opportunity as convenient to suspend him from the Nation of Islam, which Malcolm formally left a few months later. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca, returned to America as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, and founded the Organisation of Afro-American Unity. He was shot 15 times at close range while addressing his new organisation and was proclaimed dead at the age of 39. Malcolm's new movement gradually gained followers, and some of his more temperate philosophies became influential in the Civil Rights Movement.

 

Want to find out more about the life and death of Malcolm X? Click here for more information.

 

February 20 - Sale of Contraceptives in Ireland

This Day in History: 20 February 2020

 

20 February 1985

 

35 years ago, today, the Irish government defied the Catholic Church by approving the sale of contraceptives. In a 1973 case, McGee vs The Attorney General, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that a constitutional right to marital privacy would allow the use of contraceptives. However, the government was slow to change the law to reflect this decision, due to the fact that conservative forces and the Roman Catholic Church put them under pressure. A change finally came in 1980, when the Health (Family Planning) Act ensured that contraceptives could be sold to customers with a medical prescription, but many people still saw this law as too strict, and thus a movement began to make contraceptives more accessible.

 

The government began to debate the changes, but Catholic Church leaders opposed them, and warned that increased access would lead to moral decay in Ireland, with more illegitimate children, abortions and sexual transmitted diseases. Some politicians were even threatened with violence, if the legislation was voted for. On this day, the opposition were defeated with an 83-80 vote, and the new law made non-medical contraceptives available without prescription to people over 18. It was still illegal to advertise these contraceptives and the use of the pill birth control was restricted, but the vote marked a major turning point in Irish history, as the Catholic Church had been defeated by the government.

 

Want to find out more about the history of contraceptives in Ireland? Click here for more information.

 

February 19 - Patent of the Phonograph

This Day in History: 19 February 2020

 

19 February 1878

 

142 years ago, today, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph, and was awarded US Patent No. 200,521. This invention made the modern music business possible, when it came into existence in a New Jersey laboratory, as it was the first device to both record and play back sound. The phonograph came as a spin-off from Edison's ongoing work in telephony and telegraphy. He was attempting to make it possible to repeat a single telegraph message, using a Morse code method, and so he applied this to the telephone, thus devising a system that transferred sound vibrations. The invention was worked on all through the autumn of 1877, along with his mechanic, JohnKreusi, and they quickly had a model ready for demonstration.

 

The patent that was awarded to Edison on this day specified the precise method of embossing, which involved capturing sound on tinfoil covered cylinders. The next improvement in recording technology came from Edison's rival in the race to develop the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, who had created a phonograph based on wax cylinders. This was a significant improvement and led directly to the successful commercialisation of recorded music in the 1890s.

 

Want to read more about the history of the cylinder phonograph? Clickhere for more information.

 

February 18 - Discovery of Pluto

This Day in History: 18 February 2020

 

18 February 1930

 

30 years ago, today, Pluto was discovered by astronomer, Clyde W. Tombaugh, at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. The existence of a ninth planet in our solar system was first proposed by Percival Lowell, who searched a decade for the planet, with no success. In 1929, however, his calculations were used as a guide, and the search for this mysterious planet was resumed in Arizona, and on this day, Tombaugh discovered the tiny planet. Using a new astronomic technique of photographic plates combined with a blink microscope, he spotted Pluto. This finding was eventually confirmed by several others, and the discovery was publicly announced on March 13, 1930.

 

Pluto was appropriately named after the Roman God of the underworld, also known as Hades, in Greek mythology, after its surface temperatures of approximately -360 Fahrenheit. It is nearly 4 billion miles away from the sun and takes around 248 years to complete a full orbit. After its discovery, some astronomers questioned Pluto's effect on Uranus and Neptune, and after the discovery of Pluto's only moon, Charon, it was thought that the two formed a double-planet system to affect Uranus and Neptune. In August 2006, it was announced by the International Astronomical Union that Pluto would be no longer considered a planet, as its oblong orbit overlapped Neptune's, and thus did not meet the new criteria.

 

Want to find out more about the characteristics of Pluto, and also more about its discovery? Click here for more details.

 

February 17 - First VOA Broadcast to the USSR

This Day in History: 17 February 2020

 

17 February 1947

 

73 years ago, today, the Voice of America began to broadcast in the Soviet Union, which was an important part in America's campaign against the Soviets in the Cold War. Initially, in 1942, this was designed to explain America's policies in World War Two, and to support the morale of its allies throughout the world but became directed primarily to West Europe after the war. It started to speak Russian to the Soviet Union, and the first broadcast explained how the VOA was going to show the Soviets what American life was like. The programme was comprised of news, human-interest features and music, as its purpose was to give the Russians the 'truth' about life outside the Soviet Union and to strengthen the relations between the Soviet and American people.

 

The first programme was fairly dry, as much of it dealt with current events, the US budget and political system and analysed chemicals. The music was wide-ranging, and the bad weather and technical difficulties caused the sound quality to be poor. Russians apparently rated the show 'fair'. However, over the years, the broadcasts did improve, as music had a prominent role in the broadcasts; the Soviets loved American music, and it was reported that many eagerly awaited the programmes each night. By the 1960s, VOA was broadcasting to every continent in a variety of languages.

 

Want to find out more about the VOA's broadcast to the Soviet Union? Click here for more information.

 

February 16 - Fidel Castro Becomes Cuban Prime Minister

This Day in History: 16 February 2020

 

16 February 1959

 

61 years ago, today, Fidel Castro was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Cuba, after the government of Cuba is overthrown, and the previous dictator, Fulgencio Batista, is forced into exile. A group of revolutionaries, led by Castro and Che Guevara, toppled the pro-American government of Cuba, however, the Americans had ended military aid to Batista's regime after more Cuban groups opposed him. He fled to the Dominican Republic, and Castro, who had fewer than 1,000 men left, took control of Cuba's 30,000 men army. The other leaders of the rebellion lacked the popular support Castro had, and so he became Prime Minister.

 

Initially, the US recognised Castro as the new Cuban dictator, but they later withdrew their support after Castro began to reform agriculture, nationalise the US assets, and became Marxist. In April 1961, the Cubans who had fled to the US when Castro came to power were supported by the CIA in launching the unsuccessful invasion of Cuba, the 'Bay of Pigs'. After this, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba and increased its support for Castro, which led to the tense 'Cuban Missile Crisis'. Cuba was the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Castro lost significant aid. Fidel Castro later began to struggle with illnesses, causing him to step down in February 2008, and he died on November 25, 2016, at the age of 90.

 

Want to find out more about Fidel Castro's life and death? Click here for more details.

 

February 15 - Sino-Soviet Alliance

This Day in History: 15 February 2020

 

15 February 1950

 

70 years ago, today, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, the two largest communist countries in the world, announced the signing of a mutual defense and assistance treaty. The negotiations that made up the treaty began in Moscow between Chinese leaders, Mao Zedong and Zhou En-lai, and Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, and Foreign Minister, Andrei Vishinsky. This treaty called for Soviets to provide $300 million to China, and made it compulsory for the Soviet Union to return the Chinese control of a major railroad, and the cities of Port Arthur and Dairen in Manchuria. All of the areas were seized by the Soviets near the end of World War Two. The mutual defense section was concerned with any future threat of Japan, and Zhou En-lai declared that these two communist nations were now "impossible to defeat".

 

US commentators viewed this event as proof of communism being a strong movement, directed mainly from Moscow and the Kremlin. However, the treaty was not exactly a concrete bond, as by the 1950s, flaws were already appearing in the alliance between the two countries. In public, the Chinese charged the Soviets with compromising the main principles of Marxism-Leninism by adopting 'peaceful coexistence' with the West's capitalist nations. By the early 1960s, Mao Zedong was openly declaring the Soviets were actually allying themselves with the United States against the Chinese revolution.

 

Want to find out more about the Sino-Soviet Alliance? Click here to find out more.

February 14 - St. Valentine's Day

This Day in History: 14 February 2020

 

14 February 270

 

1750 years ago, today, Valentine, a Roman holy priest, was executed. Under the rule of Claudius, the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and ruthless campaigns, and the emperor had to maintain his strong army. However, he had a difficult time getting anyone to join his military, so he believed that Roman men were unwilling to join due to their attachment to their wives and families. As a result, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements. Valentine defied this by continuing the practise of marriages for young lovers in secret. When these actions were discovered, Claudius ordered his death, and Valentine was arrested. The Prefect of Rome condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off, and so this was done on this day.

 

It is rumoured that while in jail, Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who became his friend, and had signed it "From Your Valentine". Valentine was named a saint after his death, for his great service. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia, three different Saint Valentines are mentioned under the 14^th February, all of them martyrs. One was a priest in Rome, one was a bishop in Interamna, and the other a martyr in the Roman province of Africa. It is debated on how Valentine became connected with romance, however. The date of Valentine's death may have become tangled with the Feast of Lupercalia, a festival of love, where names of young women were placed in a box and were drawn by men. Pope Gelasius ended the festival in 496 AD and declared February 14 as 'St. Valentine's Day'.

 

Want to find out more about the history of Valentine's Day? Click here for more details.

 

February 13 - Proclamation of William and Mary

This Day in History: 13 February 2020

 

13 February 1689

 

331 years ago, today, William and Mary were proclaimed as joint King and Queen of Britain, after the Glorious Revolution. Mary was the daughter of the deposed king, James II, and William was a Dutch prince, who married Mary in 1677. After the birth of an heir to James in 1688, Parliamentary members invited William and Mary to England, where William landed with an army of 15,000, and began to advance to London, but saw that the King's army had abandoned him. James then fled to France, and on this day, Parliament offered the crown jointly to William and Mary, if they were to accept the Bill of Rights.

 

The Bill of Rights limited the royal power and expanded constitutional law, while at the same time granted Parliament control of finances and the army and stated that no Roman Catholic would ever rule England. Englishmen now possessed absolute civil and political rights, which had a major influence on the US Bill of Rights, composed almost a century later. The Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights were huge victories for Parliament, in its long struggle against the crown. William and Mary were then crowned at Westminster Abbey on April 11, by the Bishop of London.

 

Want to find out more about the proclamation of William and Mary, and the Bill of Rights? Click here for more information, or here for a more detailed account of the reign of William and Mary.

 

February 12 - NAACP Is Formed

This Day in History: 12 February 2020

 

12 February 1909

 

111 years ago, today, a group that included African American leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, announced the formation of a new organisation, called the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, the NAACP. This would have a great effect on the struggle for civil rights, and its journey throughout the 20^th century in America. The conference that led to the formation of the NAACP had been called in response to a race riot in Illinois, and here, the founders noted the disturbing trends of lynching, which had reached their peak in the 1890s and early 1900s, slightly after the Civil War. This was a time where segregation laws were starting to take effect across the South, and white supremacists were gaining control of state governments. Many of the NAACP's early members came from the Niagara Movement, a group created by black activists who were opposed to conciliation and assimilation.

 

At the beginning of the NAACP's life, they spread awareness of the lynching problem, and held a silent march in New York City, which consisted of 100,000 people. They also won a large legal victory in 1915, when the bypass of voting restrictions by whites was labelled unconstitutional. However, their most famous legal victory came in 1954, when the NAACP won the Brown v. Board of Education decision. As well as this, the NAACP also helped organize the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech. Because of its prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, the NAACP have set an example for subsequent groups to follow and remains the largest and oldest active civil rights group in the United States.

 

Want to find out more about the history of the NAACP, and all they have done for African Americans? Click here for more information.

 

February 11 - St. Bernadette's First Vision

This Day in History: 11 February 2020 

 

11 February 1858 

 

162 years ago, today, the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, appeared to Marie-Bernarde Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant, in southern France. The vision, which occurred 18 times before the end of the year, appeared to her in a grotto near Lourdes. Marie explained this by saying that the Virgin Mary revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception and asked her to build a chapel on the site of the vision. She also instructed Marie to drink from a fountain in the grotto, which Marie discovered by digging into the earth.  

 

The Immaculate Conception is a concept where it is believed that the Virgin Mary is regarded free from original sin from the moment of her conception and had been accepted just four years previously by Pope Pius IX. Marie's claims gained attention from the world, but some skeptical church authorities subjected her to examinations and refused to accept her visions. However, after years of mistreatment, she was finally allowed to enter the convent of Notre-Dame de Nevers, where she spent her last years in prayer and seclusion, as she died at the age of 35. The site of her vision became the most famous modern shrine to the Virgin Mary, and in 1933, Marie was given the title of Saint Bernadette by the Roman Catholic Church. Millions visit Lourdes every year to visit the grotto, and the waters there are said to have curative powers. 

 

Want to find out more about St. Bernadette and her many visions at Lourdes? Click here for more information.  

February 10 - The Worst French Avalanche

This Day in History: 10 February 2020

 

10 February 1970

 

50 years ago, today, an avalanche crashed down onto a sky resort in Val d'Isere, France, and 42 people, mostly young skiers, were unfortunately killed, with 60 more suffering serious injuries. This disaster was the worst of its kind in French history. The resort in Val d'Isere was run be a non-profit youth organisation and would attract many young skiers. However, in the morning on this day, most of the guests were having breakfast in a room facing the mountain, when there was an explosion-like sound, and 100,000 cubic yards of snow rushed down the mountain. Three trial workers, who were on the hill, were swept away and died.

 

The people inside the hotel had almost no time to react, as the snow burst through the hotel's windows and engulfed the skiers. Some were thrown down hallways, some through windows, and some were immobilised under the snow. Outside, the snow pushed cars off the roads and blocked access to the hotel. The French President, Georges Pompidou, declared the disaster a national tragedy, and authorities were ordered to evacuate other resorts in the region. This proved to be vital, as other avalanches did follow in the next days. The abandoned hotel at Val d'Isere was also struck again two days later.

 

Want to find out more about the tragic avalanche at Val d'Isere? Click here for more information, or for a video, click here.

 

February 9 - Ukraine's Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

This Day in History: 9 February 2020

 

9 February 1918

 

102 years ago, today, the first Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between the newly independent state of Ukraine and the Central Powers, in Berlin, Germany. The Central Powers of the First World War included the governments of Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and Turkey, and in the treaty, they recognised Ukraine's independence from Russia, and agreed to provide military aid and protection from Russia's Bolshevik forces. In exchange, the Ukrainian National Republic would provide 100 million tons of food to Germany, who were in ruins at the time.

 

Ukraine's independence begun due to the collapse of the Russian monarchy in March 1917, when Ukraine's political leaders declared the country a republic within Russia. But, after the Bolshevik Revolution, Ukraine's complete independence was proclaimed by Vladimir Vinnichenko in January 1918. Bolshevik forces were then sent to regain the Ukrainian territory, but the Russians were forced out by German troops after the treaty was signed, and within one month, Russia formally recognised the independence of Ukraine. However, during the Russian Civil War, the Soviet Union regained the territory, and Ukraine became a republic of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

 

Want to read more about the Treaties of Brest-Litovsk? Click here for more information.

 

February 8 - Execution of Mary Queen of Scots

This Day in History: 8 February 2020

 

8 February 1587

 

433 years ago, today, Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded, after 19 years of imprisonment, for the involvement in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I. When Mary was just six days old, her father, King James V, died, resulting in her ascension to the throne. She was sent by her mother to be raised in the French court and married the French dauphin who would become King Francis II of France in 1559. However, he died the following year, but after his death, Mary returned to Scotland, and assumed her role as the country's monarch.

 

In 1565, Mary married her English cousin, Lord Darnley, to reinforce her claim to the English throne if Elizabeth was to die, but he was mysteriously killed in an explosion. Mary's love, the Earl of Bothwell, was the key suspect, and the nobles were not happy when he married Mary in the same year. In retaliation, Mary brought an army against them but was defeated, forcing her to abdicate and go into imprisonment, although she escaped in 1568. She was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth, but shortly after, Mary became the focus of many plots to overthrow Elizabeth and was put under house arrest. 19 years later, a major plot to murder Elizabeth was reported, so Mary was brought to trial, and was convicted for complicity and sentenced to death. She was beheaded, but her son, King James VI of Scotland, calmly accepted his mother's death. After Elizabeth's own death in 1603, James became the king of England, Scotland and Ireland.

 

Want to find out more about the life and death of Mary? Click here to find out more, or watch the 2019 film 'Mary Queen of Scots', starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. 

 

February 7 - US-Cuba Trade Embargo

This Day in History: 7 February 2020 

 

7 February 1962 

 

58 years ago, today, President John F. Kennedy issued an order that would restrict all of the US' trade with Cuba, having negative effects on Cuba's economy. This embargo was a result of the rapid decline in relations of the US and Cuba, after Fidel Castro began a revolution and new government backed by the US, causing the two to have an initially friendly relationship. However, the Americans remained skeptical, fearing he was a communist. As a result, President Dwight D. Eisenhower banned American companies from selling oil to Cuba, so Castro nationalised all three American oil refineries on their island. All hope of positive relations was abolished after the Bay of Pigs Invasion, a counter-revolution, staged by the CIA. Cuba was then declared as Marxist.  

 

Today, the embargo has halted many times, and as a result, Americans are able to enter Cuba easily, although travel is still restricted. The embargo has seen to cause the US economy a loss of $5 billion per year, but the smaller economy of Cuba loses roughly $685 million per year, possibly mainly due to the loss of potential American tourists. The trade restrictions also forced Cuba to become highly dependent on the Soviet Union, but when they dissolved in 1991, the Cuban economy was devasted, even though they continued trade with the rest of the world. America had dealt Cuba's economy a blow that hindered its development for almost all its history as an independent nation.  

 

Want to find out more about the US-Cuba embargo that had a horrible effect on Cuba for many years to come? Click here to view a timeline on the events.  

February 5 - Death of King George VI

This Day in History: 6 February 2020

 

6 February 1952

 

68 years ago, today, King George VI died in his sleep in Sandringham, after facing a long illness. Princess Elizabeth, the oldest of the king's daughters, was in Kenya when this occurred, and was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953. King George VI had been the second son of King George V, and had ascended to the throne in 1936 after his brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson. He had worked to rally the spirits of the British people in World War II, and made a series of morale-boosting radio broadcasts, as he overcame his speech impediment. The King's health deteriorated in 1949, but still he continued to perform his state duties until his death.

 

Queen Elizabeth had been framed ever since a young girl to succeed her father, and married her distant cousin, Philip Mountbatten, in November, 1947, and gave birth to her first son, Prince Charles, the next year. She understood the value of public relations, and allowed her coronation to be televised, despite objections from Winston Churchill. In 2003, the Queen celebrated her 50 years on the throne, the fifth British monarch to do so. However, she was seen as out-of-touch after the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, with Diana's death following shortly afterwards. Today in Britain, the Queen is seen to be a Corgi lover, a symbol of Britain and one of the world's wealthiest women.

 

Want to find out more about the life and death of King George VI? Click here for more information, or watch Netflix's 'The Crown', accounting the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.