American Civil War: The state of Louisiana secedes from the Union.

The American Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865, was a major conflict between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy). The primary causes of the war were rooted in longstanding issues, with slavery being a central and divisive factor. Here’s an overview of key aspects of the American Civil War:

Causes of the Civil War:

Slavery: The institution of slavery was a deeply contentious issue. The Southern states, whose economy was largely dependent on agriculture, particularly cotton production, relied heavily on slave labor. The Northern states, which had a more industrialized economy, were increasingly opposed to the expansion of slavery into new territories.

States’ Rights: There was a debate over the extent of federal versus state authority. Southern states argued for greater state sovereignty, while Northern states favored a strong federal government.

Economic and Social Differences: The North and South had distinct economic and social structures, leading to divergent interests. This further fueled sectional tensions.

Secession and Formation of the Confederacy:
In 1860 and 1861, Southern states began to secede from the Union in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln, who was perceived as anti-slavery. The Confederacy was formed with the aim of preserving and expanding the institution of slavery.

Fort Sumter and Outbreak of War:
The conflict began on April 12, 1861, with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This event marked the start of hostilities.

Military Strategies:
The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, aimed to preserve the Union and eventually sought to end slavery. The Confederacy, led by President Jefferson Davis, fought to maintain its independence.

Key Battles:
Notable battles during the war included the First Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Emancipation Proclamation:
In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This shifted the focus of the war toward the abolition of slavery.

Gettysburg Address:
In 1863, following the Battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, emphasizing the principles of equality and democracy.

Union Victory and Reconstruction:
The Union emerged victorious in 1865. Reconstruction followed, during which efforts were made to rebuild the Southern states and address issues related to civil rights and integration.

Casualties and Impact:
The Civil War resulted in a staggering number of casualties, with estimates exceeding 600,000. The war had a profound impact on the nation, reshaping the political, social, and economic landscape.

13th Amendment:
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially abolishing slavery in the United States.

Soviet Union cedes Porkkala back to Finland

Black Saturday in Egypt: rioters burn Cairo’s central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses.

Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had “sexual relations” with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Boris Yeltsin announces that Russia will stop targeting United States cities with nuclear weapons.
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The Point No Point Treaty is signed in Washington.

The Point No Point Treaty was signed on January 26, 1855 at Point No Point, on the northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. Governor of Washington Territory, Isaac Stevens, convened the treaty council on January 25, with the S’Klallam, the Chimakum, and the Skokomish tribes. Under the terms of the treaty, the original inhabitants of northern Kitsap Peninsula and Olympic Peninsula were to cede ownership of their land in exchange for small reservations along Hood Canal and a payment of $60,000 from the federal government. The treaty required the natives to trade only with the United States, to free all their slaves, and it abjured them not to acquire any new slaves.

On the first day of the council, treaty provisions were translated from English to the Chinook Jargon for the 1,200 natives who assembled at the sand spit they called Hadskis, across Admiralty Inlet from Whidbey Island. Today this is the site of a lighthouse.

Skokomish leader Hool-hol-tan expressed concern about finding sufficient food in the new locations, and did not like the lands being offered as a reservation. L’Hau-at-scha-uk, a To-antioch, was afraid he would die if he left his ancestral lands. Others objected that the land was being bought too cheaply, now that they understood what it was worth. The whites played down the importance of the land, but the first day ended without an agreement.

But by the next morning the various chiefs and headmen returned under white flags to add their marks to the treaty. It had already been prepared by the United States representatives in its final form; they had no true intention of negotiating over its provisions.

The Rum Rebellion is the only successful armed takeover of the government in Australia.

The Rum Rebellion of 1808 was the only successful armed takeover of government in Australian history. During the 19th century, it was widely referred to as the Great Rebellion.

The Governor of New South Wales, William Bligh, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps under the command of Major George Johnston, working closely with John Macarthur, on 26 January 1808, 20 years to the day after Arthur Phillip founded the first European settlement in Australia. Afterwards, the colony was ruled by the military, with the senior military officer stationed in Sydney acting as the lieutenant-governor of the colony until the arrival from Britain of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie as the new governor at the beginning of 1810.

William Bligh, well known for his overthrow in the mutiny on the Bounty, was a naval officer and the fourth Governor of New South Wales. He succeeded Governor Philip Gidley King in 1805, having been offered the position by Sir Joseph Banks. It is likely that he was selected by the British Government as governor because of his reputation as a hard man. He stood a good chance of reining in the maverick New South Wales Corps, something that his predecessors had not been able to do. Bligh left for Sydney with his daughter, Mary Putland, and her husband while Bligh’s wife remained in England.

Even before his arrival, Bligh’s style of governance led to problems with his subordinates. The Admiralty gave command of the storeship Porpoise and the convoy to the lower ranked Captain Joseph Short and Bligh took command of a transport ship. This led to quarrels which eventually resulted in Captain Short firing across Bligh’s bow in order to force Bligh to obey his signals. When this failed, Short tried to give an order to Lieutenant Putland, Bligh’s son-in-law, to stand by to fire on Bligh’s ship. Bligh boarded the Porpoise and seized control of the convoy.

When they arrived in Sydney, Bligh, backed up by statements from two of Short’s officers, had Short stripped of the captaincy of the Porpoise – which he gave to his son-in-law – cancelled the 240-hectare land grant Short had been promised as payment for the voyage and shipped him back to England for court martial, at which Short was acquitted. The president of the court, Sir Isaac Coffin, wrote to the Admiralty and made several serious accusations against Bligh, including that he had influenced the officers to testify against Short. Bligh’s wife obtained a statement from one of the officers denying this and Banks and other supporters of Bligh lobbied successfully against his recall as governor.

Boris Yeltsin makes an announcement that Russia will no longer target the United States with nuclear weapons.

USA President, John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be his physician. She is is the first woman to hold the appointment of Physician to the President.