In History, Today on March 16

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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.