This Day In History, November 16th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on November 16th
Francisco Pizarro captures Inca ruler Atahualpa in Peru in 1532.
During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers take Fort Washington.
Louis Riel, the Canadian revolutionary leader, is hanged for treason in 1885.
Oklahoma becomes the 46th state of the United States in 1907.
Estonia proclaims statehood in 1988, paving the way for independence from the Soviet Union.
1532: Francisco Pizarro captures Inca emperor Atahualpa in Peru.
On November 16, 1532, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro seized the Inca ruler Atahualpa at Cajamarca, Peru. This was a pivotal moment in the Spanish invasion of Peru, heralding the end of the Inca Empire. Pizarro employed trickery to trick Atahualpa into falling into a trap, where he was captured. The Spanish wanted a substantial ransom of gold and silver for his release, but despite the payment, the Spanish beheaded Atahualpa.
1776: British troops capture Fort Washington during the American Revolutionary War.
During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers headed by General William Howe took Fort Washington from the American Continental Army on November 16, 1776. The fort, positioned on Manhattan Island's northern point, was a critical strategic location for the Americans to control the Hudson River and maintain their position in New York City. However, the Americans were outnumbered and outgunned, and they were forced to surrender after a long battle. The seizure of Fort Washington was a critical success for the British and a watershed moment in the war, since it gave the British control of New York City and the surrounding territory.
1885: Canadian rebel leader Louis Riel is executed for treason.
Louis Riel, a Canadian rebel leader, was hanged for treason on November 16, 1885, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Riel led two rebellions against the Canadian government, the Red River Rebellion in 1869-1870 and the North-West Rebellion in 1885. For his involvement in the second uprising, which sought to achieve Métis rights and autonomy in the Canadian West, Riel was charged with treason. Riel was found guilty and condemned to death after a quick trial. His execution remains contentious to this day, since many regard him as a hero fighting for Indigenous rights in Canada.
1907: Oklahoma becomes the 46th state of the United States.
Oklahoma became the 46th state to join the Union on November 16, 1907. Oklahoma was formed by the merger of the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory as part of the Indian Appropriations Act of 1906. Oklahoma's population was diversified, with Native American groups such as the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole living alongside settlers from other regions of the country. The state played an important part in the history of the American West and the United States' expansion.
1988: Estonia declares sovereignty, starting a path towards independence from the Soviet Union.
The Estonian parliament declared the sovereignty of the Estonian SSR on November 16, 1988, kicking off the country's route to independence from the Soviet Union. This was a major event in Estonian and Soviet history since it was one of the first moves taken by a Soviet republic toward establishing its independence. The declaration of autonomy was a response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of glasnost, or openness, which enabled more freedom of expression and political discussion in the Soviet Union. Estonia would continue to seek for more autonomy over the following few years, finally declaring full independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.