March 4 - John Lennon's "More Popular than Jesus" Comment

This Day in History: 4 March 2020

 

4 March 1966

 

54 years ago, today, an opinion was voiced by John Lennon in a British newspaper that would create a media frenzy in America. No one took much notice in Britain, but five months after this comment was said in the 'London Evening Standard', the American press blew his comment out of proportion, and therefore the 'Bigger than Jesus' scandal may have ended the Beatlemania phenomenon. Lennon's remarks were originally clearly meant as a cynical comment on the declining religion in society, as he said "Christianity will go, it will vanish and shrink… we're more popular than Jesus now". The interview that featured this comment also dealt with topics such as gorilla suits and car phones, but American magazine 'DATEbook' chose to shorten this to "We're more popular than Jesus".

 

After this, many declared this remark as blasphemous and expressed their desire for a ban on Beatles music. There was a plan in Birmingham, Alabama, to burn the Beatles' records, which would be provided by angry listeners. It is unclear how many similar events took place, but these stories were still acknowledged by the Beatles, as Lennon said years later how the burnings were a "real shock". He also apologized, but not for the message he was trying to convey, and instead apologized for conveying it with a confused meaning, while at a press conference in Chicago.  This apology said: "I'm not anti-God, anti-Christ or anti-religion. I was not saying we are greater or better. I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I'm sorry I said it, really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious thing. From what I've read, or observed, Christianity just seems to be shrinking, to be losing contact."

 

Want to read more about this controversy of John Lennon's and the Beatles'? Click here for more information.

 

March 3 - Bolshevik Brest-Litovsk Treaty

This Day in History: 3 March 2020

 

3 March 1918

 

102 years ago, today, Bolshevik Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. This marked the Bolsheviks act of abandoning the Allied war effort, and the grant of independence to Polish and Baltic territories, as well as the Ukraine and Finland. Russia's unsuccessful involvement in World War One was a large factor that led to Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin's successful November 1917 Marxist revolution.  A month after the revolution, Germany agreed to an armistice and peace talks with Russia, so Lenin sent Leon Trotsky, the War Minister, to Brest-Litovsk in Belarus, to hopefully negotiate a treaty.

 

However, the talks broke off after Germany wanted independence for Russian states in Eastern Europe, and in February 1918, fighting continued on the eastern front. German troops began advancing on St. Petersburg, so Lenin allowed the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on this day. The German leaders then hoped that the former Russian territories they desired would fall into their hands, but in November, an armistice ended World War One, and Germany fell victim to demilitarisation, and domination from the Allies. In 1919, Soviet Russia regained the Ukraine once more in the Russian Civil War, and 30 years later, seized parts of Poland again. A year later, the Baltics were also recovered, after the signing of the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact.

 

Want to find out more about the Bolshevik Brest-Litovsk Treaty? Click here to find out more or here for a video.

March 2 - Sino-Soviet Border Conflict

This Day in History: 2 March 2020

 

2 March 1969

 

51 years ago, today, forces from the Soviet Union and China clashed when they fired on one another at a border outpost on the Ussuri River, in the eastern region of the USSR. The cause of the standoff between the countries was a matter of dispute, as the Soviets claimed that Chinese soldiers had crossed the border between their countries, and attacked a Soviet outpost, resulting in deaths and casualties. However, the Chinese had stated that the Soviets crossed the border and were repulsed.

 

This came as the confirmation of the growing fracture between the two most powerful communist nations, and in the years that followed, the United States had been taking advantage of this tension in their Cold War diplomacy. Ever since the early 1960s, relations between the communist countries had been deteriorating, as China believed that Soviet leadership was not following the Marxist path. Soon after, Chinese leaders had openly declared that the US and USSR were conspiring against the Chinese Revolution. This actually allowed the US to initiate diplomatic connections with China, and in 1972, President Nixon even visited China. The strongest reason for new relations with China was that this would make the Soviets more susceptible to be influenced on issues such as arms control and the Vietnam War. Putting the two nations against each other became a foundation of US diplomacy in the later Cold War.

 

Want to find out more about the Sino-Soviet border conflict? Click here to read more, or click here to watch a video explaining the events.

 

March 1 - Capitol Bombing

This Day in History: 1 March 2020

 

1 March 1971

 

49 years ago, today, a bomb exploded in the Capitol building in Washington, causing around $300,000 in damage, but no injuries. The group who claimed responsibility for this incident was the Weather Underground, who had committed this crime in protest of the ongoing US-supported Laos invasion. They were a radical faction of the SDS, the Students for a Democratic Society, and promoted violence to transform America's society. Marxism built the philosophical foundations of the group, influencing their belief on revolution occurring through militant struggle, therefore striking out the state, and sparking revolution among the young, white working class. They mainly attempted to carry this out through arson and bombing.

 

The Capitol building was not the only target of the bombings. Other places that fell victims to their violence were the Long Island Court House, the New York Police Department headquarters, the Pentagon, and the State department. Thankfully, no one was killed in these bombings, as the bombers would always call in an advanced warning. Despite this, three members of the Weather Underground had died on March 6, 1970, when they were constructing the bombs, and the house exploded.

 

Want to find out more about the Weather Underground and this terror attack? Click here for more details.

 

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.