This Day In History, November 20th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on November 20th
The first state to ratify the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, was New Jersey in 1789.
1910: Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero and Pascual Orozco launched a revolt against Porfirio Diaz's administration in Mexico.
The Nuremberg Trials, in which Nazi war criminals were prosecuted for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against peace, began in 1945.
Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) married Philip Mountbatten (the future Prince Philip) in Westminster Abbey in London on November 20, 1947.
1985 saw the introduction of Microsoft Windows 1.0, which marked the commencement of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
1789: New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, proposed by Congress in 1789 and adopted by the states in 1791, are the Bill of Rights. On November 20, 1789, New Jersey became the first state to adopt the amendments. The Bill of Rights encompasses essential rights and liberties such as free speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to keep and bear weapons and a fair trial. These amendments were adopted to the Constitution to protect individual rights and to restrict the federal government's power.
1910: Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero and Pascual Orozco led an uprising against the government of Porfirio Diaz in Mexico.
The Mexican Revolution was a major military conflict that occurred between 1910 and 1920 in Mexico, resulting in dramatic social and political changes. On November 20, 1910, Francisco I. Madero and Pascual Orozco staged an insurrection against Porfirio Diaz's administration, which had been in power for almost 30 years. Diaz clung to power through a centralized, authoritarian administration that crushed political opposition and curbed individual liberties. Madero and Orozco aimed to depose Diaz and create a more democratic and egalitarian society. The revolution resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1-2 million people and led to the establishment of a new constitution in 1917, which provided for land reform, workers' rights, and other social reforms.
1945: The Nuremberg Trials began, in which Nazi war criminals were tried for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against peace.
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military courts held in Nuremberg, Germany, between 1945 and 1949 that convicted senior Nazi officials for war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity. The trials were arranged in the wake of World War II by the Allied powers (the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union). The accused included high Nazi party officials, military commanders, and businesspeople who had contributed to the war effort. The trials established fundamental international law doctrines, such as individual criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which are still recognized today. Many of the defendants were convicted and sentenced as a result of the trials, including several who were sentenced to death by hanging.
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) married Philip Mountbatten (the future Prince Philip) at Westminster Abbey in London.
The wedding was a major national event in post-war Britain, and was broadcast by radio to millions of people around the world. Elizabeth and Philip had first met in 1934, and had begun a romantic relationship while Philip was serving in the Royal Navy during World War II. They would go on to become one of the most enduring royal couples in British history, with Elizabeth ascending to the throne in 1952 and Philip serving as her consort until his death in 2021.
1985: Microsoft Windows 1.0 was released, marking the beginning of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Microsoft Windows is a prominent computer operating system that was initially introduced on November 20, 1985. Windows 1.0 had a graphical user interface (GUI) that made it simpler for users to interact with their computers than previous operating systems' text-based interfaces. Windows 1.0 contained a calculator, calendar, notepad, and paint application, as well as the ability to execute numerous programs in distinct windows at the same time. Windows has become the dominant operating system for personal computers since its first introduction, with several upgrades and enhancements over the years.