Discover What Happened Today in History
Germany declared that its U-boats would sink any ship, including neutral vessels, in the war zone around the British Isles. This policy was a major factor in drawing the United States into World War I.
The United States launched its first successful satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit aboard a Jupiter-C rocket. The satellite discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, marking a pivotal moment in the space race.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude. It was sent to the states for ratification, which was completed later that year.
Figure skater Sonja Henie of Norway won the first of her three consecutive Olympic gold medals at the St. Moritz Games. Her dominance and later Hollywood career revolutionized the popularity of figure skating.
Guy Fawkes, the most famous conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot to blow up the English Parliament, was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering in London. His failed plot is commemorated annually in the UK as Bonfire Night.