Discover What Happened Today in History
Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two empires along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. This papal-sanctioned agreement aimed to prevent conflict over exploration and colonization.
The Lateran Treaty was ratified, establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign state. This resolved the 'Roman Question' that had existed since the annexation of the Papal States by Italy in 1870, creating the world's smallest independent nation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Griswold v. Connecticut that a state law prohibiting the use of contraceptives violated the constitutional right to marital privacy. This landmark decision established a precedent for future rulings on privacy, including Roe v. Wade.
The inaugural Cricket World Cup tournament began in England. The first match was played between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground, marking the start of the premier international championship for One Day International (ODI) cricket.
The SS Ancon became the first ship to make a complete transit of the Panama Canal, navigating from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. This successful trial run preceded the canal's official opening later that year, revolutionizing global maritime trade.