This Day In History, February 15th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on February 15th.
1493 - Christopher Columbus writes a letter describing his voyage to the New World and the discovery of the Caribbean.
French fur traders Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau found St. Louis, Missouri in 1764.
The American battleship USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor, Cuba, sparking the Spanish-American War.
1965 - Canada adopts the Maple Leaf flag as its official flag, replacing the Union Jack.
2003 - The global anti-Iraq War protests reach a climax, with millions of people taking to the streets in cities around the world to protest the impending invasion.
This Day In History, February 15th, 1493: Christopher Columbus writes a letter describing his voyage to the New World.
Christopher Columbus described his first voyage to the New World in a letter to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain on February 15, 1493. Columbus detailed his experiences exploring the Caribbean islands, including meeting the native Tano people and their culture, discovering new plants and animals, and claiming the land for Spain. The letter was one of the first written records of European exploration and colonization of the Americas, and it piqued public interest in the New World's potential for trade, wealth, and power.
February 5th, 1764: The city of St. Louis, Missouri is founded.
On February 15, 1764, French fur traders Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau established St. Louis, Missouri. The city was founded as a fur-trading post near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and was named after King Louis IX of France. In the nineteenth century, the city grew rapidly and became an important transportation hub for river and rail traffic. St. Louis is now a major metropolitan area with a diverse economy that includes industries like health care, manufacturing, and transportation. Many cultural and educational institutions, such as the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and the Saint Louis Art Museum, are also located here.
1898 - The USS Maine, an American battleship, explodes in Havana harbor, Cuba.
The USS Maine, an American battleship, exploded in Havana harbor, Cuba, on February 15, 1898, while on a mission to protect US interests during the country's rebellion. The cause of the explosion was never determined conclusively, but many Americans suspected it was the result of Spanish sabotage. This belief was fueled by sensationalist media coverage, particularly "yellow journalism" from newspapers such as William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal, which published exaggerated and frequently false accounts of the incident. The rallying cry "Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain!" became a popular slogan in the United States, and the incident contributed to the country's entry into the Spanish-American War, which lasted from April to August 1898.
1965 - Canada adopts the Maple Leaf flag, replacing the Union Jack as the official flag of the country.
Prior to the adoption of the Maple Leaf flag, Canada had used a variety of flags that included the Union Jack, coats of arms, and other symbols representing Canada and its provinces. In the 1960s, there was a growing consensus among Canadians that the country should have its own distinct flag that did not include the British Union Jack.
The design of the new flag was chosen through a national competition after much debate and discussion, and the winning design was a red flag with a white square in the center featuring a stylized red maple leaf. On February 15, 1965, the flag was officially adopted, and it has since become a symbol of Canadian identity both at home and abroad.
2003 - The global protests against the Iraq War reach their peak.
The global protests against the Iraq War on February 15th, 2003, were the largest in history, with an estimated 15 million people taking part in over 800 cities worldwide. The protests were organized in response to the United States and its allies' impending invasion of Iraq, which was widely viewed as unjustified and a violation of international law.
The protests were notable for their peaceful and diverse nature, with people from all walks of life and political affiliations uniting to oppose the war. The protests were also notable for their impact, as they helped to galvanize public opinion against the war and put political leaders under pressure to reconsider their plans.