March 11 marks key historical events including the establishment of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the death of Johnny Appleseed, the adoption of the Confederate Constitution, and significant developments in Japan and China. It also highlights the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and political changes in Lithuania and Russia.
On March 11 in history, several notable events occurred. In 1824, the U.S. War Department established the Bureau of Indian Affairs. By 1845, renowned figure Johnny Appleseed passed away in Indiana. The year 1861 marked the adoption of the Permanent Constitution of the Confederate States of America by delegates from several Southern states in Montgomery, Alabama. Also significant, in 1918, the United States reported its first cases of Spanish influenza, which would eventually claim the lives of up to 22 million worldwide.
Further historical milestones include the year 1930, when former President William Howard Taft was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, becoming the first individual to hold both the presidency and the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1942, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur abandoned Corregidor Island under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s orders, leaving behind thousands of troops during World War II. Meanwhile, 1985 saw Mikhail Gorbachev ascend as the leader of the Soviet Union, representing a younger generation of politicians.
Lithuania declared independence from Moscow in 1990, signaling a pivotal moment in the disintegration of the Soviet Union, which had existed for nearly seven decades. In 1993, Janet Reno made history as the first female U.S. Attorney General after receiving unanimous Senate approval. A tragic event occurred in 2004, when coordinated bombings on Madrid commuter trains killed 191 people.
In 2006, Slobodan Milosevic was found dead in his cell during his war crimes trial. The same year, Michelle Bachelet became Chile’s first female president after surviving the traumas of dictatorship. The catastrophic 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami resulted in a death toll of nearly 15,900, damaging nuclear plants and destroying countless buildings.
On March 11, 2018, the Chinese legislature almost unanimously voted to amend the Constitution, removing presidential term limits and allowing Xi Jinping to potentially serve for life. In 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, which would lead to over 2.5 million deaths within a year. Lastly, in 2022, Russian forces apprehended Melitopol’s mayor, Ivan Fedorov, who was released five days later.
March 11 has witnessed a multitude of significant historical events that shaped nations and societies. From the establishment of important U.S. governmental agencies to monumental political changes in China, these occurrences remind us of the complex tapestry of global history. The date combines moments of tragedy, resilience, and transformation that continue to influence contemporary affairs.
Original Source: www.upi.com