In History, Today on March 16

Eight people were killed in a series of shootings at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area, highlighting issues of race, gender, and gun violence in the United States. The suspect was arrested later that day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by nearly 3,000 points, marking the largest single-day point drop in history, as fears over the COVID-19 pandemic escalated.

At least forty people were killed in an attack in Fulani village, Ogossagou, in central Mali, marking a significant event in the ongoing ethnic violence between the Dogon hunters and Fulani herders.

A controversial referendum was held in Crimea, resulting in a majority vote to join Russia, which led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Israel officially handed over control of Jericho to the Palestinian Authority as part of the peace process.

Rachel Corrie, an American activist, was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza Strip, while protesting against the demolition of Palestinian homes.

Mississippi formally ratified the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, although the ratification was not officially recognized until 2013.

The Halabja chemical attack occurs during the Iran-Iraq War, where Iraqi forces use chemical weapons against the Kurdish town of Halabja, killing thousands of civilians.

Amoco Cadiz, a very large crude carrier, runs aground on the coast of Brittany, France, causing one of the largest oil spills in history.

The My Lai Massacre occurs during the Vietnam War, where American soldiers kill hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the hamlet of My Lai.

The Battle of Iwo Jima ended as the island was declared secure by the United States military.

Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, marking a significant step towards World War II.

Robert Goddard launches the world's first liquid-fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts, marking a significant milestone in the development of rocket technology.

The Wanderers, a group of Russian realist artists, held their first exhibition in St. Petersburg, leading to influential changes in Russian art by advocating for a realistic approach and focusing on the country's social issues.

Edward Clark becomes the Governor of Texas, succeeding Sam Houston, who was removed from office for refusing to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy.

The United States Congress voted to remove Native American nations from their Southeastern homelands, resulting in the Trail of Tears.

The Freedom's Journal, the first African American-owned and operated newspaper in the United States, was published in New York City.

The United States Military Academy is established at West Point, New York, by an act of Congress, becoming the first military academy in the United States.

The Battle of Guilford Court House took place during the American Revolutionary War in which the British troops under General Cornwallis defeated the American forces under General Nathanael Greene. Although technically a British victory, the battle significantly weakened British forces.

James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and one of the Founding Fathers, was born.

Samoset, an Abenaki Native American, makes contact with the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony, becoming the first Native American to do so.

Ferdinand Magellan reaches the Philippines during his expedition to circumnavigate the globe, marking the first European contact with the islands.

The massacre of Jews at Clifford's Tower in York, England, occurs when a mob attacks the Jewish community seeking refuge in the tower, resulting in the deaths of approximately 150 Jews.

The Battle of Fiorenzuola took place between the forces of King Hugh of Italy and those of the rebellious Margrave of Ivrea, Berengar II.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury is consecrated as the first Archbishop of Canterbury, marking a significant event in the Christianization of Anglo-Saxon England.