In History, Today on September 9

Christopher Columbus set sail on his second voyage to the New World, with a fleet of 17 ships carrying supplies and settlers.

James IV of Scotland was defeated and killed at the Battle of Flodden by an English army led by the Earl of Surrey.

The Stono Rebellion, the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies prior to the American Revolution, began in the colony of South Carolina.

The Continental Congress officially named its new union of sovereign states the 'United States'.

California was admitted as the 31st state of the United States as part of the Compromise of 1850.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established, with Kim Il-sung as its leader.

Elvis Presley made his first appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', drawing an audience of over 60 million viewers.

The Attica Prison riot began at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York, leading to a four-day standoff.

Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China, died, leading to significant political changes in China.

Tajikistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, becoming a sovereign nation.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officially recognized Israel as a state, paving the way for the Oslo Accords.

Ahmed Shah Massoud, the leader of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, was assassinated by al-Qaeda operatives posing as journalists. This event occurred just two days before the September 11 attacks in the United States and had significant implications for the subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch, surpassing the previous record held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Her reign began on February 6, 1952.

North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, claiming it was a successful detonation of a nuclear warhead. This test was met with international condemnation and increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Swedish general election resulted in a hung parliament, with the Social Democrats remaining the largest party but losing seats, leading to a prolonged period of negotiations to form a government.