February 25

In 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels takes his seat in the United States Senate. Representing Mississippi, he becomes the first African American to serve in Congress. Revels had been an educator and minister before entering politics. His election follows the Civil War and reflects Reconstruction efforts. He advocates for civil rights and educational opportunities for freedmen. Revels's tenure marks a milestone in American political and social history.

As tensions rose across Europe in early 1939, the British government prepared its population for aerial bombardment. Named after Sir John Anderson, the Anderson shelter was a cheap, corrugated steel structure designed for quick installation in back gardens. On February 25, 1939, the very first shelter was erected in a private garden in Islington, North London. These shelters became a common sight as over two million units were distributed nationwide to protect families during air raids. The simple yet effective design helped civilians feel safer amid the growing threat of conflict. Anderson shelters remain an enduring symbol of Britain’s home front resilience during the Second World War.

Following the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, oppressive policies against Jewish citizens intensified. On February 25, 1941, the Communist Party of the Netherlands called for a nationwide strike in Amsterdam. Workers, students, and ordinary citizens joined forces to protest the deportations and discrimination faced by Dutch Jews. The general strike spread to Haarlem and other towns before German authorities swiftly suppressed it. Organizers were arrested and punished, but the strike left a lasting legacy of resistance within occupied Europe. This act of solidarity is remembered as a courageous stand against Nazi tyranny during World War II.