1472day.year
Orkney and Shetland are pawned by Norway to Scotland in lieu of a dowry for Margaret of Denmark.
In 1472, Norway pawned the Orkney and Shetland islands to Scotland as security for Princess Margaret's dowry, leading to a permanent territorial transfer.
For centuries, the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos were under Norwegian sovereignty and vital to North Atlantic trade. The marriage of Princess Margaret of Denmark to James III of Scotland included a dowry that Norway could not fully finance. To guarantee payment, King Christian I pawned the islands to Scotland in 1472, transferring de facto control. Although intended as temporary collateral, the territory was never redeemed and became integrated into Scotland. This unexpected outcome shaped the islands' legal and cultural identity, blending Norse customs with Scottish governance. The legacy of this dynastic pact remains evident in Orkney and Shetland's unique heritage today.
1472
Orkney
Shetland
pawned
dowry
Margaret of Denmark
1521day.year
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León sets out from San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Florida with about 200 prospective colonists.
In 1521, Juan Ponce de León departed Puerto Rico with around 200 colonists on his second expedition to explore and settle Florida.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León embarked from San Juan, Puerto Rico, aiming to establish a Spanish foothold in the region known as Florida. Motivated by tales of new lands and potential riches, he led a diverse group of settlers and soldiers. The voyage encountered rough seas and navigational challenges as they crossed the Atlantic and navigated the Caribbean. Upon landing, the expedition faced resistance from indigenous communities and struggled with scarce resources. Although unable to found a lasting colony, Ponce de León's journey paved the way for subsequent Spanish exploration and claims in North America. His expedition remains a landmark in the early colonial history of the United States.
1521
Juan Ponce de León
1547day.year
Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.
On February 20, 1547, Edward VI was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, ascending the throne as a boy of just nine years old.
Following the death of his father, Henry VIII, Edward VI was formally crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony that emphasized his youth and the continuity of the Tudor line. At only nine years old, his accession ushered in a regency government led by influential nobles and advisors. The new king's reign saw accelerated Protestant reforms, as his regents sought to build on the English Reformation. Lavish pageantry and ritual at the coronation contrasted with the political intrigues behind the scenes. Edward's brief tenure was marked by significant religious and cultural change before his untimely death at fifteen. His crowning highlighted the vulnerabilities and ambitions of a kingdom navigating dynastic succession and religious transformation.
1547
Edward VI of England
crowned
King of England
Westminster Abbey
1685day.year
René-Robert Cavelier establishes Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay thus forming the basis for France's claim to Texas.
In 1685, explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, founded Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, asserting France's territorial ambitions in Texas.
French explorer René-Robert Cavelier led an expedition to the Gulf of Mexico, aiming to establish a base for French expansion in North America. After navigational errors, La Salle landed at Matagorda Bay and constructed Fort St. Louis as a strategic outpost. The fort became France's first permanent presence in the region now known as Texas. Settlers faced hardships including disease, supply shortages, and tensions with local Indigenous groups. Despite these challenges, the settlement demonstrated France's challenge to Spanish claims in the Gulf Coast. The eventual demise of Fort St. Louis alerted Spain to secure its northern frontier more vigorously. La Salle's venture left a lasting imprint on the colonial map of North America and spurred further European rivalries.
1685
René-Robert Cavelier
Fort St. Louis
Matagorda Bay
Texas
1901day.year
The legislature of Hawaii Territory convenes for the first time.
The newly formed legislature of the Hawaii Territory meets for the first time, marking a key step in its governance under U.S. administration.
On February 20, 1901, the legislature of the Hawaii Territory convened in Honolulu following the island's annexation by the United States. This assembly was composed of elected representatives and appointed officials who set out to establish laws for the new territory. Their first session addressed issues such as infrastructure, education, and land rights. The formation of the legislature signaled Hawaii’s transition into American political structures. These early decisions shaped the territory’s development leading up to statehood in 1959.
1901
Hawaii Territory
1905day.year
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of Massachusetts's mandatory smallpox vaccination program in Jacobson v. Massachusetts.
In Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that mandatory smallpox vaccination laws are constitutional.
On February 20, 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its decision in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, affirming the state's authority to enforce compulsory smallpox vaccinations. The Court held that individual liberties might be restricted for the common good in public health emergencies. This landmark ruling established a legal precedent for government power in disease control and influenced later public health policies. Jacobson remains a foundational case in discussions of civil liberties and state authority. Its legacy continues to inform debates over mandatory vaccinations.
1905
U.S. Supreme Court
Massachusetts
smallpox vaccination
Jacobson v. Massachusetts
1933day.year
The U.S. Congress approves the Blaine Act to repeal federal Prohibition in the United States, sending the Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution to state ratifying conventions for approval.
In 1933, Congress passes the Blaine Act, sending the Twenty-first Amendment to the states to officially end federal Prohibition.
On February 20, 1933, the United States Congress passed the Blaine Act, formally ending federal Prohibition by proposing the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution. This landmark legislation aimed to restore legal alcohol sales and curb the rise of organized crime linked to bootlegging. The act passed both houses of Congress with substantial bipartisan support. It then proceeded to state ratifying conventions, where delegates debated the amendment's impact on public health and tax revenue. By December of the same year, the amendment achieved ratification, making the sale and manufacture of alcohol legal once more. The repeal reshaped American social and economic life, leading to the resurgence of breweries and distilleries. It also demonstrated the power of popular sentiment and incremental reform in American politics.
1933
U.S. Congress
Blaine Act
Prohibition in the United States
Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution
state ratifying conventions
1933day.year
Adolf Hitler secretly meets with German industrialists to arrange for financing of the Nazi Party's upcoming election campaign.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler holds a secret meeting with German industrial leaders to secure funding for the Nazi Party's election campaign.
On February 20, 1933, Adolf Hitler held a clandestine meeting with leading German industrialists in Berlin. He sought financial support to bolster the Nazi Party's campaign for the March federal elections. Attendees included executives from major chemical, coal, and steel companies. Hitler emphasized the need to fight communism and promised favorable policies for industry under Nazi rule. The contributions collected at this meeting provided critical resources for propaganda and party organization. This alliance between political extremism and big business played a significant role in the Nazis' consolidation of power. Historians regard the meeting as a pivotal moment in the regime's early fundraising and political strategy.
Adolf Hitler
secretly meets
Nazi Party
1939day.year
Madison Square Garden Nazi rally: The largest ever pro-Nazi rally in United States history is convened in Madison Square Garden, New York City, with 20,000 members and sympathizers of the German American Bund present.
In 1939, the German American Bund stages the largest pro-Nazi rally in U.S. history at Madison Square Garden, attracting 20,000 attendees.
On February 20, 1939, the German American Bund organized a massive pro-Nazi rally at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Approximately 20,000 attendees gathered to hear speeches praising Adolf Hitler and promoting German nationalism. Swastika banners adorned the arena as Bund leaders condemned American democracy and lauded Third Reich policies. The event sparked widespread outrage and counterprotests in the city. Law enforcement maintained a heavy presence to prevent clashes between Bund supporters and anti-fascist demonstrators. The rally served as a stark reminder of extremist sympathies on American soil on the eve of World War II. It prompted increased scrutiny of domestic fascist movements by the U.S. government and civil society groups.
1939
Madison Square Garden Nazi rally
Madison Square Garden
German American Bund
1956day.year
The United States Merchant Marine Academy becomes a permanent Service Academy.
In 1956, Congress granted permanent service academy status to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.
Originally established in 1943 to train merchant mariners for World War II, the Kings Point academy gained permanent status on February 20, 1956. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy was recognized alongside West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy. Cadets receive a blend of maritime and military education, preparing them for service in both merchant fleets and naval operations. The academy commissions graduates as officers in the Armed Forces Reserve and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Its designation underscored the strategic importance of merchant shipping to national defense and commerce. Alumni have since played vital roles in global maritime trade and wartime logistics.
1956
United States Merchant Marine Academy
1959day.year
The Avro Arrow program to design and manufacture supersonic jet fighters in Canada is cancelled by the Diefenbaker government amid much political debate.
Canada’s ambitious Avro Arrow supersonic interceptor program was abruptly cancelled by Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1959.
The Avro Arrow (CF-105) was one of the most advanced military aircraft projects of its time, featuring cutting-edge aerodynamics and systems. Launched in the mid-1950s, it promised to defend North American airspace during the height of the Cold War. However, facing escalating costs and shifting defense priorities, the Diefenbaker government pulled the plug on February 20, 1959. All prototypes and production tooling were destroyed, ending Canada’s role as a major aerospace innovator. The cancellation sparked controversy over national sovereignty, economic impact, and relations with the United States. Many engineers and designers later joined NASA and American aerospace firms, influencing the U.S. space program. The Avro Arrow remains a symbol of “what might have been” in Canadian technological history.
1959
Avro Arrow
supersonic
jet fighters
Diefenbaker
1971day.year
The United States Emergency Broadcast System is accidentally activated in an erroneous national alert.
In 1971, the Emergency Broadcast System was accidentally triggered with a false national alert, causing confusion across the United States.
On February 20, 1971, the United States Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) was mistakenly activated during a routine test. Instead of the scheduled test message, a wrong recording triggered a real alert on all radio and television networks. Broadcasters scrambled to correct the error as millions of Americans tuned in, puzzled by the unexpected warning. The EBS had been established in 1963 to allow the President to address the nation during emergencies. This incident raised concerns about the reliability of national alert protocols. In the aftermath, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) investigated the malfunction. The event led to reviews and improvements in emergency broadcast procedures to prevent future false alarms.
1971
Emergency Broadcast System