769day.year
The Lateran Council ends by condemning the Council of Hieria and anathematizing its iconoclastic rulings.
The Lateran Council condemns the iconoclastic rulings of the Council of Hieria, reaffirming the veneration of icons.
On April 15, 769, the Lateran Council, convened by Pope Stephen III in Rome, concluded its sessions.
The council formally condemned the iconoclastic rulings of the earlier Council of Hieria (754).
It anathematized those who denied the veneration of religious images.
This decision reaffirmed the use of icons in Christian worship.
The council strengthened papal authority and influenced the ongoing iconoclasm controversy.
769
Lateran Council
Council of Hieria
anathematizing
iconoclastic
1736day.year
Foundation of the short-lived Kingdom of Corsica.
The short-lived Kingdom of Corsica is founded.
On April 15, 1736, supporters of Corsican patriot Pasquale Paoli proclaimed the Kingdom of Corsica.
German adventurer Theodore of Neuhoff was crowned King Theodore I.
The new kingdom sought recognition from major European powers.
It issued its first coins and organized a government.
The experiment lasted under a year before French forces reasserted control.
1736
Kingdom of Corsica
1861day.year
President Abraham Lincoln calls for 75,000 militiamen to quell the insurrection that soon became the American Civil War.
In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteer militiamen to quell the insurrection, officially launching the American Civil War.
On April 15, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteer militiamen to suppress the Southern insurrection.
This decisive action came days after Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to preserving the Union.
Northern states quickly mobilized troops in response, while border states faced intense debate over their loyalties.
The call for volunteers marked the transition from political tension to full-scale armed conflict.
Lincoln’s leadership in this moment set the stage for a four-year war that would redefine the nation and end slavery.
1861
Abraham Lincoln
calls for 75,000 militiamen
American Civil War
1865day.year
President Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous evening by actor John Wilkes Booth. Three hours later, Vice President Andrew Johnson is sworn in as president.
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth, and Vice President Andrew Johnson was sworn in hours later.
Late on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre by actor John Wilkes Booth.
He succumbed to his injuries the following morning, becoming the first U.S. president to be assassinated in office.
Three hours after Lincoln’s death, Vice President Andrew Johnson took the presidential oath, ensuring continuity of government.
Johnson faced the monumental task of guiding a grieving nation through Reconstruction amid political turmoil.
Lincoln’s assassination profoundly impacted the course of post–Civil War America and national healing.
1865
shot
John Wilkes Booth
Andrew Johnson
1920day.year
Two security guards are murdered during a robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti would be convicted of and executed for the crime, amid much controversy.
In 1920, two security guards were killed during a robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts; anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti were later controversially convicted and executed.
On April 15, 1920, a payroll delivery robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts, resulted in the murder of two security guards.
Italian immigrants and known anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested and charged, sparking a highly charged trial.
Despite disputed evidence and claims of bias, both men were convicted, fueling protests and debates over judicial fairness.
Their execution in 1927 became a rallying point for civil libertarians and immigrant rights activists worldwide.
The case remains a symbol of the tensions between political ideology, xenophobia, and the American justice system.
1920
South Braintree, Massachusetts
Anarchists
Sacco and Vanzetti
1922day.year
U.S. Senator John B. Kendrick of Wyoming introduces a resolution calling for an investigation of a secret land deal, which leads to the discovery of the Teapot Dome scandal.
In 1922, Senator John B. Kendrick initiated an inquiry into a secret land lease, uncovering what became known as the Teapot Dome scandal.
On April 15, 1922, U.S. Senator John B. Kendrick of Wyoming called for an investigation into secret oil reserve leases controlled by the Department of the Interior.
His resolution prompted scrutiny of agreements that favored private oil companies at public expense, centering on Teapot Dome in Wyoming.
Further examination revealed widespread bribery and corruption involving high-ranking officials, including the Secretary of the Interior.
The ensuing Teapot Dome scandal shook the Harding administration and led to criminal trials and reforms in federal oversight.
This case remains one of the most notorious examples of government corruption in U.S. history.
1922
John B. Kendrick
Wyoming
Teapot Dome scandal
1989day.year
Upon Hu Yaobang's death, the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 begin in China.
Tiananmen Square protests began in Beijing in 1989, sparked by public mourning for reformist leader Hu Yaobang.
The death of former Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang on April 15, 1989, triggered mass demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Students and intellectuals gathered to mourn his passing and call for political reform, greater freedoms, and an end to corruption. Over ensuing weeks, the protest movement swelled to include people from all walks of life across China. The demonstrations became a defining challenge to the Party's authority, leading to tense negotiations and eventual military intervention. Although the government declared martial law and forcibly cleared the square in June, the protests left a lasting legacy on Chinese politics and global human rights discourse.
Hu Yaobang
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
1994day.year
Marrakesh Agreement relating to foundation of World Trade Organization is adopted.
The 1994 Marrakesh Agreement officially established the World Trade Organization, reshaping global trade rules.
On April 15, 1994, representatives from 123 nations signed the Marrakesh Agreement, bringing the World Trade Organization (WTO) into being. The WTO succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and provided a permanent institutional framework for international trade. It introduced mechanisms for trade negotiations, dispute settlement, and monitoring of national trade policies. The new organization aimed to lower trade barriers, ensure fair competition, and support economic development. Its creation marked a milestone in globalization, promoting the integration of markets worldwide. The WTO continues to influence trade relations and economic policy across the globe.
1994
Marrakesh Agreement
World Trade Organization