This Day In History, August 18th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on August 18th
The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in France began in 1572, with Catholics slaughtering hundreds of Huguenots (French Protestants) in Paris and around France.
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, providing women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920.
James Meredith was the first African American from the University of Mississippi in 1963.
Hurricane Alicia made landfall on the Texas coast in 1983, causing considerable damage and killing 21 people.
After nine years in power, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned in 2008 amid pressure from opposition parties.
In 1572, the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre began in France, in which thousands of Huguenots (French Protestants) were killed by Catholics in Paris and throughout France.
The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre was a wave of targeted killings and mob violence in France during August 23 and 24, 1572. The attempted killing of Protestant leader Gaspard de Coligny, a significant participant in the French Wars of Religion, ignited it. In reaction to the murder attempt, Catholic elites orchestrated the massacre of thousands of Huguenots, many of whom were attending a royal wedding in Paris. Although the exact number of victims is unknown, estimates range from 5,000 to 30,000. The massacre was a watershed moment in the French Wars of Religion, which lasted many decades.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote.
On August 18, 1920, the United States Constitution's 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. According to the amendment, "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex." The amendment was the result of a protracted campaign by women's suffrage advocates who had been battling for women's voting rights since the mid-nineteenth century. The passage of the 19th Amendment was a watershed moment in the history of women's rights in the United States.
In 1963, James Meredith became the first African American to from the University of Mississippi.
In 1962, James Meredith became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi, but he did not graduate that year. In reality, his admission was very contentious, sparking violent protests on campus. Meredith did not graduate from the University of Mississippi with a degree in political science until August 18, 1963. His graduation was a major milestone in the history of civil rights in the United States, as it signaled a step forward in the campaign for African Americans to have equal access to education and other opportunities.
In 1983, Hurricane Alicia made landfall on the Texas coast, causing significant damage and leaving 21 people dead.
Storm Alicia made landfall on the Texas coast on August 18, 1983, as a Category 3 storm. High winds, torrential rain, and storm surge floods caused considerable damage in locations ranging from Galveston to Houston. The hurricane killed 21 people and inflicted billions of dollars in damage. It was one of the most expensive storms to hit the United States at the time, and the aftermath lasted for years.
In 2008, President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf resigned from office under pressure from opposition parties, after nine years in power.
On August 18, 2008, Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, resigned after nine years in office. After months of political instability and rising pressure from opposition parties accusing him of breaking the country's constitution and undermining democratic institutions, he resigned. Musharraf gained power in a military coup in 1999 and ruled as president as well as military commander until his departure. His resignation marked the end of a volatile chapter in Pakistan's history and prepared the path for civilian authority to resume.