March 24

Events - Politics & Government

1603day.year

James VI of Scotland is proclaimed King James I of England and Ireland, upon the death of Elizabeth I.

James VI of Scotland ascends to the English and Irish thrones as James I, uniting the crowns of Scotland and England.
On March 24, 1603, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I, her cousin James VI of Scotland was proclaimed King James I of England and Ireland. This event initiated the Union of the Crowns, bringing Scotland and England under a single monarch for the first time. While each kingdom retained its own parliament and legal system, James sought greater political and religious harmony. His reign saw the commissioning of the King James Bible and tensions such as the Gunpowder Plot. The union set the stage for eventual political integration over a century later.
1603 James VI of Scotland England Ireland Elizabeth I
1603day.year

Tokugawa Ieyasu is granted the title of shōgun from Emperor Go-Yōzei, and establishes the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo, Japan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu is named shōgun by Emperor Go-Yōzei, founding the Tokugawa shogunate in Edo.
On March 24, 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu received the formal title of shōgun from Emperor Go-Yōzei, solidifying his control over Japan. He established his government in Edo, later Tokyo, marking the start of the Edo period. The Tokugawa shogunate implemented strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, and a stable feudal system. This era of peace lasted more than 250 years, allowing arts and commerce to flourish. Ieyasu's leadership laid the foundation for a unified and enduring Japanese state.
Tokugawa Ieyasu shōgun Emperor Go-Yōzei Tokugawa shogunate Edo
1663day.year

The Province of Carolina is granted by charter to eight Lords Proprietor in reward for their assistance in restoring Charles II of England to the throne.

King Charles II grants the Province of Carolina to eight Lords Proprietor, establishing a new English colony in North America.
On March 24, 1663, King Charles II issued charters granting the vast territory of Carolina to eight loyal supporters, known as the Lords Proprietor. They were tasked with governing, defending, and developing the colony. The proprietors attracted settlers with promises of religious freedom and land grants. Carolina grew into a plantation economy, cultivating rice, indigo, and tobacco. Internal disputes and governance challenges eventually led to the division into North and South Carolina. This charter shaped the early political and economic landscape of the American Southeast.
1663 Province of Carolina Lords Proprietor restoring Charles II of England
1720day.year

Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel is elected King of Sweden by the Riksdag of the Estates, after his consort Ulrika Eleonora abdicated the throne on 29 February.

After Queen Ulrika Eleonora's abdication, the Swedish Riksdag elects Frederick of Hesse-Kassel as King Frederick I.
On March 24, 1720, the Riksdag of the Estates formally elected Count Frederick of Hesse-Kassel as King Frederick I of Sweden. His ascension followed the abdication of his wife, Queen Ulrika Eleonora, earlier that year. Frederick's reign ushered in the Age of Liberty, during which the Swedish parliament gained significant power at the expense of the monarchy. He focused on economic recovery and diplomatic relations after the Great Northern War. His election exemplified the shifting balance between royal authority and parliamentary governance in early 18th-century Europe.
1720 Frederick of Hesse-Kassel Sweden Riksdag of the Estates Ulrika Eleonora
1765day.year

Great Britain passes the Quartering Act, which requires the Thirteen Colonies to house British troops.

Parliament enacts the Quartering Act, forcing American colonists to provide accommodations and supplies for British soldiers.
On March 24, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Quartering Act as part of a series of measures to assert control over its American colonies. The law required colonial assemblies to provide housing, food, and fuel for British troops stationed in North America. Many colonists viewed the act as a violation of their rights and an example of forced quartering. Resistance to this and other acts stoked colonial grievances that eventually fueled the American Revolution. The Quartering Act remains a symbol of colonial protest against British authority.
1765 Great Britain Quartering Act Thirteen Colonies British troops
1829day.year

The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829, allowing Catholics to serve in Parliament.

In 1829, the UK Parliament enacted the Roman Catholic Relief Act, allowing Catholics to serve as Members of Parliament for the first time.
Passed on March 24, 1829, the Roman Catholic Relief Act represented a landmark in the Catholic emancipation movement led by figures like Daniel O’Connell. It removed centuries-old legal restrictions barring Catholics from holding parliamentary seats, judicial positions, and other public offices. The Act faced fierce debate, with opponents fearing a resurgence of Catholic influence. Its passage marked a significant shift toward religious tolerance in Britain and Ireland. The law paved the way for greater political participation among Catholics and contributed to the reshaping of British political and social landscapes.
1829 Parliament of the United Kingdom Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
1854day.year

President José Gregorio Monagas abolishes slavery in Venezuela.

In 1854, Venezuelan President José Gregorio Monagas abolished slavery, becoming one of the first leaders in Latin America to do so.
On March 24, 1854, President José Gregorio Monagas issued a decree freeing all enslaved people in Venezuela. This bold act was motivated by liberal ideas spreading across Latin America and Monagas’s personal convictions against human bondage. The abolition faced resistance from landowners and conservative factions who relied on slave labor. Despite opposition, the decree dismantled the legal framework of slavery in the country. Venezuela’s decision preceded those of many neighboring states, marking a significant milestone in the region’s struggle for human rights and social reform.
1854 President José Gregorio Monagas
1860day.year

Sakuradamon Incident: Japanese Chief Minister (Tairō) Ii Naosuke is assassinated by rōnin samurai outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle.

In 1860, Japanese Chief Minister Ii Naosuke was assassinated by samurai outside Edo Castle in the event known as the Sakuradamon Incident.
The Sakuradamon Incident occurred on March 24, 1860, when Tairō Ii Naosuke was ambushed and killed by a group of rōnin samurai. Ii’s policies, including signing treaties that opened Japan to foreign trade, had angered nationalist samurai who viewed him as a traitor. His assassination at the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle shocked the Tokugawa shogunate and intensified internal divisions. The killing highlighted the rising tensions between isolationist factions and those favoring modernization. Ii’s death paved the way for further unrest that eventually led to the Meiji Restoration.
1860 Sakuradamon Incident Tairō Ii Naosuke rōnin samurai Sakurada Gate Edo Castle
1870day.year

A Chilean prospecting party led by José Díaz Gana discovers the silver ores of Caracoles in the Bolivian portion of Atacama Desert, leading to the last of the Chilean silver rushes and a diplomatic dispute over its taxation between Chile and Bolivia.

In 1870, silver ores were discovered at Caracoles in the Bolivian Atacama Desert, sparking the final Chilean silver rush and a tax dispute with Bolivia.
On March 24, 1870, a Chilean prospecting party led by José Díaz Gana uncovered rich silver deposits at Caracoles. This discovery triggered the last major silver rush in Chile, drawing hundreds of miners and investors to the remote desert. The newfound wealth intensified diplomatic tensions as Bolivia sought to tax the operations, leading to a protracted dispute over jurisdiction. The Caracoles boom fueled economic growth in northern Chile but also exacerbated political frictions in the region. The site remained a symbol of resource-driven conflict in the Atacama.
1870 Caracoles Atacama Desert Chilean silver rushes
1934day.year

The Tydings–McDuffie Act is passed by the United States Congress, allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth.

The U.S. Congress passed the Tydings–McDuffie Act, charting a path for Philippine self-rule as a commonwealth.
On March 24, 1934, Congress enacted the Tydings–McDuffie Act, initiating a ten-year transition toward full Philippine independence. The law authorized drafting a constitution and establishing a self-governing Commonwealth under American oversight. It marked a significant shift from colonial rule to Filipino-led administration, with Manuel L. Quezon elected as the first President of the Commonwealth. This act laid the groundwork for the Philippines’ eventual sovereignty on July 4, 1946, and influenced post-war American policy in Asia. The legislation remains a pivotal moment in Philippine-American relations and the archipelago’s political evolution.
1934 Tydings–McDuffie Act United States Congress Philippines commonwealth
1939day.year

The 1939 Liechtenstein putsch takes place; approximately 40 members of the VBDL starting from Nendeln march towards Vaduz with the intention of overthrowing the government and provoking Liechtenstein's annexation into Germany.

In 1939, about 40 members of the VBDL marched on Vaduz in an attempted coup to annex Liechtenstein into Nazi Germany.
On March 24, 1939, the right-wing Patriotic Union (VBDL) launched a brief putsch from Nendeln toward Vaduz, seeking to overthrow Liechtenstein’s government and force union with Nazi Germany. The small group armed themselves with rifles and propaganda, reflecting tensions after Germany’s annexations in Austria and Czechoslovakia. The government swiftly quashed the march, and no shots were fired in the largely bloodless confrontation. The failed coup demonstrated Liechtenstein’s resistance to external coercion and strengthened its commitment to neutrality. This incident remains a curious footnote in European history, illustrating the reach of Nazi influence even in tiny states.
1939 1939 Liechtenstein putsch VBDL Nendeln Vaduz the government
1946day.year

A British Cabinet Mission arrives in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership.

A British Cabinet Mission arrived in India in 1946 to negotiate the transfer of power and avoid partition.
On March 24, 1946, a high-level delegation from Britain led by Lord Pethick-Lawrence landed in New Delhi to discuss India’s constitutional future. The Cabinet Mission aimed to bridge differences between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League over federal structure and representation. Proposals included a three-tier government and grouping provinces by religion, but disagreements persisted. Although the mission averted immediate conflict, its failure to achieve consensus foreshadowed the 1947 partition. The talks played a crucial role in shaping India’s interim constitution and the path to independence later that year.
1946 British Cabinet Mission arrives in India British Raj