March 01

On March 1, 1692, three residents of Salem Village—Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba—were brought before magistrates on allegations of witchcraft, igniting a wave of paranoia. The initial accusations by local girls tapped into deep-seated fears of the supernatural and social tensions within the Puritan community. Over the following months, more than 200 people would be accused, and twenty executed, as the colony grappled with moral panic. The trials exposed flaws in the legal system and the dangers of mass hysteria. Today, the Salem witch trials stand as a powerful cautionary tale about justice and religious extremism.

On March 1, 1919, Korean students and intellectuals read a Declaration of Independence in Seoul, igniting the March 1st Movement against Japan’s forty-year colonial rule. Over the following weeks, millions of Koreans across the peninsula staged peaceful protests, waving national flags and calling for self-determination. Japanese authorities responded with mass arrests, violence, and martial law, resulting in thousands of casualties and widespread repression. Despite brutal crackdowns, the movement galvanized Korean national identity and exposed colonial abuses to the international community. It also prompted minor reforms by the Japanese government, though full independence would not come until 1945. The March 1st Movement remains a seminal moment in Korea’s struggle for sovereignty, commemorated annually as a symbol of unity and resistance. Its legacy endures in South Korea’s national narratives and collective memory of resilience.

On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr., the 20-month-old son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped from the family home in East Amwell Township, New Jersey. A ransom note demanding $50,000 brought intense public attention and a large-scale search. Despite payment, the child's body was discovered on May 12 near Hopewell. The crime captivated the nation and led to the Federal Kidnapping Act, making interstate abductions a federal offense. The case remains one of the most infamous and controversial mysteries of the 20th century.

On March 1, 1990, the United States Secret Service executed a raid on Steve Jackson Games in Austin, Texas, seizing computers, manuscripts, and business records under suspicion of hacking-related activities. Among the confiscated materials was an unpublished supplement for the role-playing game "GURPS Cyberpunk." The aggressive action raised alarms about digital rights and freedom of expression online. In response, attorney John Perry Barlow and others founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to defend civil liberties in the digital realm. The EFF became a leading advocate for electronic privacy, free speech, and innovation. This event marked a significant turning point in the evolution of internet law and policy.

On March 1, 2006, the English-language Wikipedia celebrated a major milestone by reaching its one millionth article, covering the Jordanhill railway station in Scotland. Launched in 2001, Wikipedia grew rapidly through volunteer contributions and open collaboration. Its expansive database of user-generated content transformed access to knowledge on the internet. The one million article achievement highlighted the platform’s role as a global information resource and community-driven encyclopedia. Wikipedia’s model of free editing and licensing under Creative Commons challenged traditional publishing. By 2006, it had become one of the most visited websites worldwide. This milestone underscored the power of collective intelligence and digital culture.