1815day.year
Joachim Murat issues the Rimini Proclamation, among the earliest calls for Italian unification.
In 1815, Joachim Murat issued the Rimini Proclamation, urging Italians to rise in pursuit of national unification.
As the Napoleonic Wars drew to a close, Joachim Murat, King of Naples and brother-in-law to Napoleon, sought to secure his throne by appealing to Italian nationalism. On March 30, 1815, he issued the Rimini Proclamation, calling on Italians to revolt against Austrian and Bourbon rule for the cause of a unified Italy. Murat’s appeal marked one of the earliest public calls for Italian unification and inspired nationalist sentiments across the peninsula. He promised constitutional reforms and the defense of Italian liberties in exchange for support. Although his campaign ultimately failed and he lost his throne, the proclamation influenced later independence movements. Figures such as Giuseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi drew inspiration from Murat’s rhetoric. The Rimini Proclamation stands as a significant precursor to the Risorgimento.
1815
Joachim Murat
Rimini Proclamation
Italian unification
1822day.year
The Florida Territory is created in the United States.
On March 30, 1822, the United States formally organized the Florida Territory after acquiring the region from Spain.
Following the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, the United States took possession of East and West Florida from Spain in 1821. To establish civil government over these newly acquired lands, Congress passed an act on March 30, 1822, creating the Florida Territory. The territory’s capital was later set at Tallahassee, positioned between the former capitals of Pensacola and St. Augustine. Territorial officials organized courts, legal codes, and land policies to integrate the region into the U.S. federal system. The creation of the territory spurred American settlement, trade, and infrastructure development in the Southeast. It also intensified conflicts with indigenous groups, notably the Seminole people. The establishment of Florida Territory marked a key step in U.S. continental expansion and the transformation of the Gulf Coast region.
1822
Florida Territory
1855day.year
Origins of the American Civil War: "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invade Kansas and force election of a pro-slavery legislature.
On March 30, 1855, pro-slavery activists known as "Border Ruffians" from Missouri crossed into Kansas and manipulated a territorial election to install a pro-slavery legislature, igniting violent confrontations over slavery.
The Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 introduced popular sovereignty in new territories and inflamed the national debate over slavery. That spring, armed Border Ruffians entered Kansas to vote illegally in territorial elections and intimidate anti-slavery settlers. Their actions led to the establishment of a rival Free State government and unleashed cycles of raids and reprisals now known as 'Bleeding Kansas'. The conflict in Kansas became a microcosm of the sectional tensions plaguing the United States. Historians view this incident as a critical prelude to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861.
1855
Origins of the American Civil War
Border Ruffians
Missouri
Kansas
slavery
1863day.year
Danish prince Wilhelm Georg is chosen as King George of Greece.
On March 30, 1863, Danish prince Wilhelm Georg was elected by the Greek National Assembly to ascend the throne as King George I of Greece.
After the deposition of King Otto in 1862, Greece sought a monarch acceptable to major European powers. The National Assembly selected 17-year-old Prince William of Denmark, who accepted and took the name George I. His election on March 30 marked the beginning of a nearly 50-year reign. King George I guided Greece through territorial expansion, including the annexation of Thessaly and Crete, and fostered parliamentary governance. His long rule brought stability and modernization, positioning Greece as an emerging nation-state in the Balkans.
1863
Wilhelm Georg
1867day.year
Alaska is purchased from Russia for $7.2 million, about two cents/acre ($4.19/km), by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward.
On March 30, 1867, the United States agreed to purchase Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William H. Seward.
Often derided as 'Seward's Folly,' the Alaska Purchase extended U.S. territory by over half a million square miles. The treaty, signed in St. Petersburg, cost about two cents per acre and secured strategic footholds in the Arctic. Critics initially saw the land as a frozen wasteland, but Alaska later proved rich in gold, oil, and fisheries. The acquisition marked a significant moment in American post-Civil War expansionism. Seward's diplomatic skill and vision received belated recognition as Alaska became a valuable economic and geopolitical asset. Today, the 1867 purchase is hailed as a landmark decision in U.S. history.
1867
Alaska
purchased
Russia
United States Secretary of State
William H. Seward
1870day.year
Texas is readmitted to the United States Congress following Reconstruction.
On March 30, 1870, Texas was officially readmitted to the United States Congress after fulfilling the requirements of Reconstruction.
After seceding in 1861 and enduring federal occupation, Texas drafted a new constitution and ratified the 14th Amendment to meet Reconstruction standards. Its readmission on March 30 completed the political reunification of former Confederate states. The state regained full representation in Congress and ended federal military oversight. While political tensions and social upheaval continued, this milestone marked a key step toward national healing. The process highlighted the challenges of extending citizenship and civil rights to freed slaves. Texas' return to the Union underscored the complex legacy of Reconstruction in shaping American democracy.
1870
Texas
United States Congress
Reconstruction
1912day.year
Sultan Abd al-Hafid signs the Treaty of Fez, making Morocco a French protectorate.
On March 30, 1912, Sultan Abd al-Hafid of Morocco signed the Treaty of Fez, placing his kingdom under French protection and signaling the start of formal colonial rule.
Facing internal rebellion and pressure from European powers, Sultan Abd al-Hafid negotiated the Treaty of Fez to safeguard his throne. The agreement ceded Morocco's foreign affairs and military control to France while preserving the sultan's authority over domestic matters. The protectorate arrangement marked the end of centuries of Moroccan sovereignty and ushered in an era of French colonial administration. Infrastructure projects, legal reforms, and economic exploitation followed in the wake of the treaty. Moroccan resistance continued through guerrilla warfare and diplomatic protests. The 1912 agreement laid the foundations for modern Morocco's boundaries and later nationalist movements that achieved independence in 1956.
1912
Sultan
Abd al-Hafid
Treaty of Fez
Morocco
protectorate
1940day.year
Second Sino-Japanese War: Japan declares Nanking capital of a new Chinese puppet government, nominally controlled by Wang Jingwei.
Japan proclaims Nanking as the capital of a puppet regime led by Wang Jingwei during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
On March 30, 1940, Imperial Japan officially declared Nanking the capital of the Reorganized National Government of China, a puppet state headed by Wang Jingwei. Formed under Japanese auspices, the regime aimed to legitimize occupation and undermine Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government. It struggled for popular support, widely viewed by Chinese citizens as collaborators. The declaration deepened divisions within China and intensified the brutality of the ongoing Sino-Japanese War. Wang Jingwei’s regime persisted until Japan’s defeat in 1945, leaving a controversial legacy in modern Chinese history.
1940
Second Sino-Japanese War
Nanking
Chinese puppet government
Wang Jingwei
1949day.year
Cold War: A riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO.
A violent protest erupts in Austurvöllur Square, Reykjavík, over Iceland’s accession to NATO.
On March 30, 1949, thousands of Icelanders poured into Reykjavík’s Austurvöllur Square to protest their country’s decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The demonstration escalated into Iceland’s first major political riot, as citizens feared the end of their nation’s cherished neutrality and the arrival of foreign military forces. Clashes with police resulted in injuries on both sides, shocking a society long known for its peaceful nature. Despite the unrest, Iceland became the first nation without a standing army to join NATO, reshaping its defense policy during the Cold War and sparking decades of debate over its security choices.
1949
Cold War
riot breaks out in Austurvöllur
Reykjavík
Iceland
NATO
1959day.year
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, flees Tibet for India.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, escapes Tibet and arrives in India amidst political upheaval.
On March 30, 1959, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, completed a daring 600-mile escape from Tibet’s capital to safety in India, following a failed uprising against Chinese control. At just 24 years old, he traversed rugged Himalayan passes with a small entourage of Tibetan refugees. Welcomed by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Dalai Lama established the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala. His flight highlighted the plight of the Tibetan people under Chinese rule and galvanized international support for their cultural and political rights. The event marked the beginning of a global campaign for Tibetan autonomy.
1959
Tenzin Gyatso
Dalai Lama
Tibet
India
1961day.year
The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is signed in New York City.
Delegates sign the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in New York to streamline global drug control.
On March 30, 1961, representatives from 73 countries convened in New York City to sign the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, a landmark treaty aimed at unifying international drug control efforts. The convention consolidated previous agreements and introduced a coordinated scheduling system for narcotics, mandating strict regulations on production, distribution, and medical use. It established the International Narcotics Control Board to monitor compliance and promote cooperation among member states. The treaty laid the foundation for modern drug policy and remains a cornerstone of global efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
1961
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
1976day.year
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: in the first organized response against Israeli policies by a Palestinian collective since 1948, Palestinians create the first Land Day.
Palestinians observe the first Land Day protest on March 30, 1976, voicing opposition to Israeli land policies.
On March 30, 1976, Palestinians in Israel organized Land Day to protest government plans to expropriate Arab-owned land. Demonstrations and strikes were held in multiple towns, drawing thousands of participants. Confrontations with Israeli security forces resulted in the deaths of six Palestinians and many injuries. The collective action represented the first major unified Palestinian protest within Israel since 1948. Land Day became a symbol of resistance to land dispossession and a rallying point for Palestinian national identity. It is commemorated annually and has influenced subsequent civil rights movements.
1976
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
1948
Land Day