This Day In History, November 15th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on November 15th
1315: Battle of Morgarten - Swiss soldiers led by Werner Stauffacher beat a Habsburg Austrian army.
The Continental Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation, which serve as the United States' first constitution.
During the American Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman launched his notorious "March to the Sea," departing Atlanta for Savannah, Georgia.
The League of Nations had its inaugural session in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1920, with 42 member nations represented.
The Anglo-Irish Agreement, agreed in 1985 by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, aimed at settling the Northern Ireland conflict.
1315: Battle of Morgarten - Swiss forces under the leadership of Werner Stauffacher defeated an army of Habsburg Austria.
On November 15, 1315, the soldiers of the Old Swiss Confederacy and the Duchy of Habsburg fought in Morgarten. The fight, which took place near Switzerland's Morgarten Pass, is seen as a key victory for the Swiss Confederacy in its war for independence from the Habsburg monarchy. The Swiss soldiers, headed by Werner Stauffacher, took advantage of the treacherous terrain and launched a surprise attack on the Habsburg army, defeating them and winning their freedom. The fight is still commemorated as a symbol of Swiss patriotism and solidarity in Switzerland today.
1777: The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress, serving as the first constitution of the United States.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress enacted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. The Articles of Confederation functioned as the first US constitution, setting a framework for a federal government and the relationship between the member states. Because the framers of the constitution were wary of giving too much power to a single entity, the Articles established a weak central government with limited powers. The Articles of Confederation were superseded by the United States Constitution in 1789, when the Articles' flaws became clear, necessitating the necessity for a stronger central authority.
1864: During the American Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman began his infamous "March to the Sea," leaving Atlanta and heading towards Savannah, Georgia.
During the American Civil War, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman launched his "March to the Sea" campaign on November 15, 1864. Following the capture of Atlanta in September of that year, Sherman and his troops embarked on a campaign to march across Georgia and to the Atlantic Ocean in order to capture the port city of Savannah. The march's goal was to hamper the Confederate war effort by destroying railways, businesses, and farms along the Union army's route. The campaign used severe tactics, including the destruction of civilian property, but it succeeded in limiting the Confederacy's capacity to conduct war successfully. Sherman's March is still acknowledged as a pivotal event in both the Civil War and American history.
1920: The League of Nations held its first assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, with representatives from 42 member countries attending.
On November 15, 1920, the League of Nations had its inaugural meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. Following World War I, the League of Nations was established as an international organization dedicated to maintaining peace and preventing future wars. The League of Nations was founded by the Treaty of Versailles, which concluded World War I, and was built on the idea of collective security, in which member states would work together to prevent aggression and peacefully settle problems. Representatives from 42 member countries attended its inaugural assembly and addressed a variety of problems, including disarmament, international cooperation, and the resolution of international conflicts. The League of Nations remained in operation until World War II, when it was superseded by the United Nations.
1985: The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, aimed at resolving the conflict in Northern Ireland.
On November 15, 1985, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The agreement attempted to resolve the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland by providing a framework for Northern Ireland-related collaboration between the British and Irish administrations. The agreement acknowledged the concept of consent, which meant that Northern Ireland would stay a part of the United Kingdom as long as a majority of its population wanted it to, but it also allowed the Irish government a consultative role in Northern Ireland's governance. The deal was contentious at the time, with some in Northern Ireland opposing what they regarded as Irish government meddling in their affairs. However, it paved the way for future negotiations, which eventually led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which helped bring the violence and conflict in Northern Ireland to an end.