Beltway Sniper ( 2004 ) John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death in Virginia for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers in Prince William County, Virginia as part of the so called 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, killing 10 people over 8 states Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas and Virginia .
Notorious B.I.G. Shot 9th March ( 1997 ) : A rapper known as Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) was shot to death in a drive by shooting while sitting at a stoplight in Los Angeles. This murder was thought to be brought upon by a rift between rival rappers from both the East and West Coast. Notorious B.I.G. was killed only a few weeks before his latest album entitled Life after Death was scheduled to be released. A similar incident occurred in Las Angeles only six months prior (rapper Tupac Shakur killed by drive-by shooter).
James Dean9th March ( 1955 ) James Dean’s first performance in a major film started as of this date. He starred in a movie entitled East of Eden, for which he had won an academy award nomination.
Barbie Doll 9th March ( 1959 ) Barbie doll makes debut at the American Toy Fair in New York, the doll was designed by Ruth Handler and introduced by Mattel Toy Company costing $3.
On this day in 1933, soon after Adolf Hitler became chancellor, the first concentration camp in Germany opened at Dachau, where at least 32,000 people would die from disease, malnutrition, physical oppression, and execution.
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1913: In Toledo, Ohio, William Knox became the first bowler to make a perfect score of 300 in an American Bowling Congress tournament.
Tax Cuts ( 2001 ) The Republican controlled House voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act ( EGTRRA ) which would create a tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade. EGTRRA generally reduced the rates of individual income taxes:
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 8th March ( 1969 ) : The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am the epitome of the American muscle car is introduced.
Daytona Car Racing8th March ( 1936 ) For the first time ever, car racing was done in Daytona. This first race was organized specifically for stock car racing participants, and was considered an early start of what people now know as the Daytona 500.
Suez Canal 8th March ( 1957 ) The Suez Canal which connects the Mediterranean and the Red Sea is reopened to international traffic by Egypt after Israel withdraws from occupied Egyptian territory
House Of Lords ( 2007 ) After 100's of years when the house of lords had been the home of money, status and privilege through members to the House of Lords automatically given the right at birth to hereditary peerage in the house, the British House of Commons votes to make the upper chamber, the House of Lords, 100% elected.
Civil Rights March Alabama 7th March ( 1965 ) : Troopers with night sticks, shotguns and tear-gas grenades violently confronted 600 civil rights marchers during an attempted 50-mile march from Selma to the Alabama state capitol Montgomery.
Golda Meir7th March ( 1969 ) Israel elects Golda Meir, to become the first female prime minister of Israel.
IRA Gang Shot7th March ( 1988 ) IRA gang who were reported to have planted a 500lb car bomb near the British Governor's residence shot dead in Gibraltar.
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Lewis ( Scooter ) Libby ( 2007 ) Lewis ( Scooter ) Libby former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney is convicted of perjury, lying and obstruction of justice over charges relating to his role in the leaking of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame
Walter Cronkite 6th March ( 1981 ) : Walter Cronkite retires as the nation's most beloved anchorman from CBS Evening News.
Rabies Scare6th March ( 1970 ) The British government announces an indefinite ban on the importation of domestic pets following a pet dog imported from Pakistan dying from Rabies. Britain is one of the few countries in the world where rabies has not entered the wild animal population and cases of rabies are not often seen.
Herald of Free Enterprise6th March ( 1987 ) The British ferry, the Herald of Free Enterprise, capsized after leaving Zeebrugge, Belgium in the English Channel on route to Dover with the loss of more than 140 passengers when the cargo doors were not closed allowing sea water to flood the ship through the car deck entrance. It is Believed the person in charge of closing the door had fallen asleep in the bunk. As a result, 188 people died.
Elvis Presley ( 1960 ) Elvis Presley completes his two-year stint is discharged from the US Army.
Bank Holiday to Save Banks 5th March ( 1933 ) : To help stop the run on US banks U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced a four-day "bank holiday" . All U.S. banks would close effective March 6 to help stop Americans from withdrawing their money in panic which in turn caused more banks to collapse.
Martha Stewart5th March ( 2004 ) Martha Stewart is convicted of the felony of obstructing justice and lying about why she'd unloaded her Imclone Systems Inc. stock just before the price plummeted. She had originally been accused of insider trading when she sold her stock days before the announcement that Imclone Systems Inc application for the new drug Erbitux was denied
Jim Morrison5th March ( 1969 ) Jim Morrison ( Doors ) was arrested by Dade County a few days after his performance in Miami. He was charged of one felony and three misdemeanors related to indecent behavior he displayed on stage.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ( 1933 ) Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd president of the United States pledging to lead the country out of the Great Depression
Africa and Aids 4th March ( 2005 ) : United Nations releases a report that warns that unless action is taken the HIV virus could become an epidemic in Africa with up to 90 million Africans infected. The current number is an estimated 22 million adults and children ( or 5% of the poplulation ) were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
Iran Contra Affair4th March ( 1987 ) President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that talks with Iran had turned into an arms for hostages negotiation.
Hindenburg First Official Flight4th March ( 1936 ) The Hindenburg makes it's First Official Flight in Germany. The Hindenburg built by the Zeppelin Company was 804 ft long filled with highly inflamable hydrogen to provide the lift and four 1,200 hp Daimler-Benz diesel engines giving the airship a maximum speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). To put this in context The Hindenburg was three times the length of a current Jumbo Jet and could carry less than 100 people including passengers and crew. ( Jumbo Jet carries circa 500 including passengers and crew )
Barbican Centre ( 1982 ) The Queen opens the Barbican Centre the largest arts centre in western Europe covering five-and-a-half acres of Cripplegate, which was destroyed by Nazi bombers in World War II.
Star-Spangled Banner 3rd March ( 1931 ) : After over a century, a poem written by Francis Scott Key was finally established as the U.S. National Anthem. The lyrics of this song were written on September 14, 1814, while Key observed the British invasion of Fort Mc Henry, a war zone located in Maryland, USA. “The Star-Spangled Banner” composition was inspired by a flag that remained standing, even after several hundred bombings occurred.
Communist Teachers Banned3rd March ( 1952 ) As part of the paranoia concerning communism and the cold war the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a New York state law that prohibits communists from teaching in public schools.
Rodney King Beating3rd March ( 1991 ) On this day, it was evident that police brutality had occurred in Los Angeles, California in the middle of the night on March 3, 1991. This was proved, as it was recorded on video (although some of the audible sounds were not as noticeable as the actions). Three white police officers had proceeded to beat Rodney King beyond what was necessary to use force to control him. Moreover, these three officers had reported that the bruises, cuts, and/or scrapes they gave King were minor in nature. The beating by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department of Rodney King is captured on Video, the video then appeared on television news which angered many of the public especially those in the African American community who believed the police brutality was racially motivated. Four LAPD officers were later tried in a state court for the beating but were acquitted. The announcement of the acquittals sparked the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.
King Kong ( 1933 ) The Original King Kong movie has its world premiere in New York
Concorde 2nd March ( 1969 ) : The supersonic airliner an British and French joint project, Concorde, has it's maiden flight reaching 10,000ft and 300mph . It would be 7 years before Concorde started commercial flights on 21 January 1976 and flew commercial Trans-Atlantic flights until 23 October 2003 when it was retired from service
Operation Rolling Thunder2nd March ( 1965 ) Operation Rolling Thunder begins with more than 100 United States Air Force jet bombers striking an ammunition depot at Xom Bang, 10 miles inside North Vietnam.
The Lucky Lady II2nd March ( 1949 ) The First nonstop world flight is made by a B-50 Super fortress "The Lucky Lady II " led by Captain James Gallagher.
Peace Corps Established ( 1961 ) President John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps as a new agency within the Department of State. The Work the Peace Corps performs ranges from teaching English to elementary school children in Zambia to launching a computer learning center in Moldova to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in South Africa to working on soil conservation in Panama, Volunteers bring their skills and life experiences to where they are needed most.
Hydrogen Bomb 1st March ( 1954 ) : US tests hydrogen bomb in the Pacific archipelago of Bikini, part of the Marshall Islands.
First FM Radio Station 1st March ( 1941 ) : Nashville, Tennessee becomes the home of the very first FM radio station in the country. While the FM band had less static and more range, it didn’t become popular until the early 1960s as more radios capable of recieving FM are purchased.
Congressmen Shot 1st March ( 1954 ) Five U.S. congressmen were shot and injured during a House session today when Puerto Rican spectators who yelled "Free Puerto Rico" fired shots into the United States Capitol building.
Bobby Sands Hunger Strike 1st March ( 1981 ) Irish Republican Army member Bobby Sands begins a hunger strike at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. During his hunger strike he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Great Britain. He died 65 days later.
Worst School Bus Crash In history ( 1958 ) A school bus plunges into the Big Sandy River at Prestonsburg Kentucky drowning 24 children and the driver becoming the Worst School Bus Crash In history.
Waco, Texas 28th February ( 1993 ) : A raid by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ATF agents who were trying to serve warrants for illegal guns on the heavily armed compound of a religious cult 10 miles outside of Waco, Texas turns into a bloody gun battle, leaving at least four Federal agents and two cult members dead and at least 15 agents injured.
Moorgate Underground Crash 28th February ( 1975 ) : A London underground train crashed into a brick wall at Moorgate during rush-hour killing the driver and at least 29 passengers in London's Financial district.
M*A*S*H Final Episode 28th February ( 1983 ) The final episode of M*A*S*H, a series about the staff of an Army hospital during the Korean War entitled ( Goodbye, Farewell and Amen ) became the most-watched television episode in U.S. history, with viewer estimates at 106 million Americans.
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Earthquake UK ( 2008 ) The biggest earthquake ( 5.2 magnitude ) in the UK for nearly 25 years has shaken homes in Newcastle, Yorkshire, London, Cumbria, the Midlands, Norfolk and also parts of Wales. The epicentre of the quake was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire
Sabarmati Express 27th February ( 2002 ) : A fire caused by a mob of Muslims on the Sabarmati Express, bound for Ahmedabad with pilgrims returning from the holy site of Ayodhya in the northern Indian state of Uttar P, claims the lives of 57 Hindu Pilgrims.
Nineteenth Amendment 27th February ( 1922 ) : On this day, the Nineteenth Amendment To The Constitution was passed on this day. The right of women to vote (as well as the right of women to engage in many other activities) was declared constitutional by all of the members of the U.S. Supreme Court. It took seventy years of fighting and petitioning to make this women’s suffrage legislation a reality. Women and men both were advocating equal rights for women as far back as in the early 19th Century.
Leaning Tower of Pisa 27th February ( 1964 ) The Italian government announces that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was in serious danger of collapsing in an earthquake or storm asking for suggestions on how to save one of Italy's top tourist attractions. The work to save the Tower did not begin until 1999 and was completed in December 2001 .
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Grand Canyon ( 1919 ) Congress established Grand Canyon National Park which includes the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, considered to be one of the major natural wonders of the world in Arizona. This is considered by many to be one of the earliest successes the environmental conservation movement.
Car Bomb World Trade Center 26th February ( 1993 ) : A car bomb which exploded in an underground garage at the World Trade Center shook the 110 story towers causing the collapse of several floors in the underground garage and tearing a hole in the ceiling of an adjoining subway leaving six people dead and injuring a further 100. It is thought Islamic extremists are responsible. In May 1994, four men - Mohammed Salameh, Nidal Ayyad, Mahmud Abouhalima and Ahmad Ajaj - were sentenced to life for bombing the World Trade Center, which killed six people and injured 100.
Barings Bank Collapse 26th February ( 1995 ) : Barings PLC, Britain's oldest investment banking firm, collapsed after Nick Leeson a securities dealer lost more than $1.4 billion by gambling on Tokyo stock prices over a period of three years . The collapse was caused by his losses but also by the bank's own deficient internal auditing and risk management practices which should have picked up the losses much earlier.
22nd amendment to the Constitution 26th February ( 1951 ) The 22nd amendment to the Constitution changes the law so no man or woman may serve more than ten years ( two terms ) of office as the president of the United States.
Cassius Clay ( 1964 ) Cassius Clay, defeated Sonny Liston when Liston retired at the end of the sixth round in Miami to become Heavyweight Champion of the World
Prohibition Laws 25th February ( 1930 ) : With the continuing debate in congress between wets and drys over the prohibition laws , the enforcement in each state also continues to be dependent on the position of the politicians in that state. In states where the wets are in control the boats used to enforce prohibition could not catch a cold let alone a fast rum runners boat , and speakeasies are very rarely raided by law enforcement. In other states where the dry's are in control fast patrol boats and many raids occur.
Robert Mitchum 25th February ( 1949 ) : Robert Mitchum is released from a Los Angeles prison farm at the end of his two-month sentence for marijuana possession
Dennis Rader Arrested 25th February ( 2005 ) Dennis Rader is arrested for the BTK ( Bind, Torture and Kill, ) serial killings that terrorized Wichita, Kan. (He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 life prison terms.)
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Operation ( Just Cause ) ( 1989 ) President George Bush launches Operation Just Cause and has sent US forces into the Central American country of Panama in a bid to oust dictator Manuel Noriega
Nuremburg Trials 20th December ( 1945 ) : At Nuremburg, Nazi doctors and soldiers were charged with cruel and bizarre torture of concentration camp prisoners. Experiments such as shooting poison bullets through the prisoners’ legs and oxygen deprivation of prisoners were only a few of the atrocities that were committed. Seven hundred and fifty thousand SS soldiers faced criminal charges for their participation in torturing victims.
Ferry Crash20th December ( 1987 ) The passenger ferry ( Dona Paz )collides with an oil tanker near Manila in the Philippines leaving 4,000 dead. The accident is blamed on overcrowding with the ferry carrying more than twice its stated capacity.
Transit Strike New York 20th December ( 2005 ) : New York City transit workers began a strike that shut down subways and buses for three days affecting millions of commuters . This was the third strike against New York City's Transit Authority in 70 years the first two were in 1966 ( 12 days ) , 1980 ( 11 days ).
