This Day In History, August 24th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on August 24th
Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, destroying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae and killing thousands.
During the War of 1812, British soldiers entered Washington, D.C., and destroyed the White House and other significant government buildings in 1814.
Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly alone across the United States in 1932, flying from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey in just over 19 hours.
Ukraine proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, becoming the first republic to do so.
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union formally revised the word "planet," reclassifying Pluto as a "dwarf planet."
In 79 AD, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae, killing thousands of people.
Mount Vesuvius' eruption is one of history's most renowned natural disasters, and it had a tremendous influence on the ancient Roman civilization. On August 24, 79 AD, a volcanic explosion buried the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae beneath layers of volcanic ash and pumice. A enormous explosion pushed a cloud of ash, rock, and gas into the sky, which then poured down on the surrounding area, causing the calamity. The precise number of individuals killed in the eruption is unknown, although it is thought to be in the thousands. The Mount Vesuvius explosion was a horrible occurrence, but it also preserved these ancient settlements in astonishing condition, allowing archaeologists to study and learn about life in the Roman world in unparalleled detail.
In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces invaded Washington, D.C., and burned down the White House and other important government buildings.
On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain, British soldiers entered Washington, D.C. Because the American forces were outnumbered and outgunned, they were unable to prevent the British from torching several important government buildings, including the White House, Capitol, and Treasury. The strike was intended to display British military power and punish the Americans for their aggression in retribution for earlier American attacks on Canadian cities. The attack on Washington, D.C., was a pivotal event in the War of 1812, and it had a long-lasting influence on American national identity and the country's military preparation.
In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the United States, completing the journey from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey in just over 19 hours.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly alone across the United States on August 24, 1932. She flew from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey in slightly over 19 hours, setting a new record for a female pilot's transcontinental voyage. By this point, Earhart was a well-known aviator, having made headlines for her numerous record-breaking flights, including becoming the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean in 1928. Her solo flight across the United States was a notable accomplishment in her aviation career, and it inspired a new generation of female pilots.
In 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union, becoming the first republic to do so.
Ukraine proclaimed its independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991, becoming the first republic to do so. The announcement came in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt by hardliners in the Soviet leadership, which resulted in the Soviet Union's demise. Ukraine had been a part of the Soviet Union since 1922, and the country's declaration of independence marked a watershed moment in its history. However, the move was not without controversy, as many Ukrainians still strongly identified with Russia and opposed the country's independence. Nonetheless, Ukraine's declaration of independence paved the way for the country to become a sovereign nation with its own political, economic, and cultural identity.
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union officially redefined the term "planet," causing Pluto to be reclassified as a "dwarf planet."
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally redefined the word "planet" on August 24, 2006, and classed Pluto as a "dwarf planet." The conclusion triggered a controversy among scientists and the general public about what constitutes a planet. According to the International Astronomical Union's revised definition of a planet, a celestial body must circle the sun, be spherical in form, and have "cleared its neighborhood" of other junk. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet since it did not fulfill this last condition. Many individuals who had grown up believing Pluto was the ninth planet in our solar system were disappointed by the decision, but it also underlined the challenges of determining what makes a planet and the changing nature of scientific understanding.