March 11 marks numerous historical milestones, such as the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1824, the first cases of Spanish influenza reported in 1918, and the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. Additionally, significant political changes occurred, including the removal of term limits for the Chinese presidency in 2018 and Lithuania’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
March 11 holds significant historical events, beginning with the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs by the U.S. War Department in 1824. In 1845, the renowned figure Johnny Appleseed, or John Chapman, passed away in Allen County, Indiana. A pivotal moment occurred in 1861 when delegates from Southern states adopted the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama.
The spread of the Spanish influenza virus was first reported in the United States in 1918, leading to a catastrophic global death toll of approximately 22 million, including 500,000 in America by 1920. In 1930, William Howard Taft made history by being the first former U.S. president and Supreme Court chief justice interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
General Douglas MacArthur was ordered to abandon the Corregidor fortress in the Philippines in 1942, thereby leaving behind a significant number of troops during the Japanese conquest. The year 1985 marked the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev as the Communist Party chief, succeeding Konstantin Chernenko and ushering in a new leadership generation.
On March 11, 1990, Lithuania announced its independence from the Soviet Union, marking a pivotal change in post-World War II geopolitics. Janet Reno garnered unanimous Senate approval in 1993, becoming the first female attorney general in the United States. A tragic event unfolded in Spain in 2004, when coordinated bombings on commuter trains in Madrid resulted in 191 fatalities and 1,400 injuries.
In 2006, former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was found dead in his cell, while Michelle Bachelet became Chile’s first female president, having survived torture during the military dictatorship. The catastrophic earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit Japan in 2011, leading to almost 15,900 deaths and severe damage to nuclear facilities.
In 2018, China’s legislative body endorsed a constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term limits, allowing Xi Jinping the potential to remain in power indefinitely. Subsequently, in 2020, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, and by 2021, the virus had resulted in over 2.5 million deaths globally. Furthermore, in 2022, Russian forces temporarily abducted Melitopol’s mayor, Ivan Fedorov, before his release five days later.
In summary, March 11 has been marked by numerous historical events that span significant political, social, and health crises. Notably, the removal of term limits in China reflects changing political landscapes, while the catastrophic events in Japan and the spread of the Spanish influenza underline the profound impact such moments have on humanity. Each event serves as a reminder of the complexities that shape our world history.
Original Source: www.upi.com
