This Day In History, May 16th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on May 16th.
The Mining Act of 1866 was approved by the United States Congress, allowing people and businesses to freely prospect for minerals on public lands and encouraging the growth of mining in the West.
The inaugural Academy Awards were given out during a banquet in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929. The Best Picture award went to "Wings," and Emil Jannings won Best Actor for his parts in "The Last Command" and "The Way of All Flesh."
At Hughes Research Laboratories in California, Theodore Maiman showed the first functional laser in 1960. A red light beam was produced by the gadget using a synthetic ruby gemstone.
Sudan's People's Liberation Army/Movement was founded in 1983. John Garang commanded the organization that battled for southern Sudan's independence until his death in 2005.
The Bharatiya Janata Party of India achieved a landslide win in national elections in 2014. Narendra Modi was elected Prime Minister of India, guiding the BJP to a majority government for the first time in 30 years.
In 1866, the U.S. Congress passed the Mining Act, which allowed individuals and companies to freely prospect for minerals on public lands and encouraged development of mining in the West.
President Andrew Johnson signed the Mining Act of 1866, often known as the General Mining Act, into law on July 26, 1866. Individuals and businesses were granted permission to seek and harvest precious minerals including as gold, silver, copper, and lead from public lands in the western United States under the legislation. In exchange, miners had to pay a nominal charge and follow certain environmental laws. The Mining Act of 1866 has been changed numerous times over the years, but it remains an essential piece of legislation that encourages mining exploration and development on federal lands.
In 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented at a dinner in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Best Picture award went to the film "Wings," and the Best Actor award went to Emil Jannings for his roles in "The Last Command" and "The Way of All Flesh."
On May 16, 1929, the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave the awards, often known as the Oscars, to acknowledge achievement in the film business. Around 270 people attended the ceremony, and the winners were revealed ahead of time. The first Academy honors contained honors for Best Actress, Best Director, and numerous other categories, in addition to "Wings" winning Best Picture and Emil Jannings receiving Best Actor. The Oscars have since become the most prestigious honors in the film business, with millions of people tuning in each year.
In 1960, Theodore Maiman demonstrated the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in California. The device used a synthetic ruby crystal to produce a beam of red light.
At Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, physicist Theodore Maiman successfully demonstrated the first functional laser on May 16, 1960. When activated by a high-energy flash lamp, he employed a synthetic ruby crystal with a high concentration of chromium atoms to generate a dazzling, intense beam of red light. This accomplishment was a watershed moment in the evolution of contemporary technology, as lasers have since become indispensable in industries such as medical, telecommunications, industry, and entertainment.
In 1983, the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement was formed in Sudan. The group, which fought for the independence of southern Sudan, was led by John Garang until his death in 2005.
The Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) was founded on May 16, 1983, in reaction to the Sudanese government's oppressive practices toward Sudan's southern region. The SPLA/M was led by John Garang, a South Sudanese military commander and politician who campaigned for southern Sudan's independence from the primarily Arab and Islamic north. The struggle between the SPLA/M and the Sudanese government lasted over two decades, killing hundreds of thousands of people and displacing millions. Finally, in 2005, a peace deal was negotiated that provided autonomy to the south and opened the ground for the foundation of South Sudan as an independent nation in 2011. Since then, however, the country has encountered significant obstacles, including political insecurity, economic suffering, and persistent violence.
In 2014, India's Bharatiya Janata Party won a decisive victory in national elections. Narendra Modi became the country's prime minister, leading the BJP to a majority government for the first time in 30 years.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of India achieved a resounding win in the country's general elections on May 16, 2014. The BJP, led by Narendra Modi, gained 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament, giving it a clear majority and the power to form a government without forming a coalition. In India, a single party secured a majority government for the first time in 30 years. On May 26, 2014, Modi was sworn in as the country's 15th Prime Minister. His administration has undertaken a number of economic and social changes, including measures to enhance infrastructure, foster entrepreneurship, and promote digitalization. Modi is also noted for his foreign policy endeavors, such as efforts to build ties with the US, Japan, and Israel, among others.