1500day.year
Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil (discovery of Brazil).
Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral landed on the coast of present-day Brazil in 1500, marking the European discovery of Brazil and the start of its colonial era.
On April 22, 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral, commanding a Portuguese fleet bound for India, was blown westward and sighted the coast of what is now Brazil.
This unexpected arrival marked the first European encounter with Brazil and led Portugal to claim the territory under the Treaty of Tordesillas.
The region's abundant brazilwood and later sugarcane plantations became vital to Portugal's colonial economy.
Cabral's landing initiated centuries of Portuguese rule, shaping Brazil's language, culture, and demographics.
The 'discovery' also intensified European competition for colonies in the New World and altered the course of global exploration.
1500
Pedro Álvares Cabral
Brazil
discovery of Brazil
1519day.year
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés establishes a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico.
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés landed on the Mexican coast in 1519 and founded the settlement of Veracruz as his base for the conquest of the Aztec Empire.
On April 22, 1519, Hernán Cortés disembarked on the shore of what is now Veracruz, Mexico, with a small expedition of Spanish soldiers.
He established the settlement of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz as a strategic foothold for further inland campaigns.
Using alliances with indigenous groups and superior weaponry, Cortés marched toward Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital.
This initial landing and settlement laid the groundwork for Spain's rapid conquest of the Aztec Empire over the following two years.
Veracruz became one of the earliest colonial cities in New Spain and a key port for New World treasures.
1519
conquistador
Hernán Cortés
Veracruz
1529day.year
Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern hemisphere between Spain and Portugal along a line 297.5 leagues (1,250 kilometres (780 mi)) east of the Moluccas.
The 1529 Treaty of Zaragoza set a line dividing Spanish and Portuguese domains in the East Indies, clarifying colonial boundaries in Asia.
Signed on April 22, 1529, the Treaty of Zaragoza followed the earlier Treaty of Tordesillas and aimed to resolve disputes over newly discovered lands east of the Moluccas.
It established a meridian 297.5 leagues east of the Moluccas to delineate Portugal's and Spain's spheres of influence in Asia.
This agreement granted Portugal control over the spice-rich Moluccas while reserving other territories for Spain.
Although the precise line was difficult to enforce on the high seas, the treaty helped reduce conflict between the two maritime powers.
The division shaped colonial rivalries and trade routes in Southeast Asia for decades.
1529
Treaty of Zaragoza
Moluccas
1864day.year
The U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 that permitted the inscription In God We Trust be placed on all coins minted as United States currency.
The U.S. Congress approved the Coinage Act of 1864, authorizing the motto "In God We Trust" to be inscribed on all American coins.
Amid the American Civil War, Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1864 on April 22, authorizing 'In God We Trust' to appear on U.S. coins.
The motto first appeared on the two-cent piece later that year, symbolizing national unity and moral purpose.
This was the first time a national phrase was permanently inscribed on American currency.
Over time, 'In God We Trust' spread to other denominations and became the United States' official motto.
The act linked numismatic design with cultural identity and remains a topic of historical and legal discussion.
1864
U.S. Congress
Coinage Act of 1864
United States currency
1898day.year
Spanish–American War: President William McKinley calls for 125,000 volunteers to join the National Guard and fight in Cuba, while Congress more than doubles regular Army forces to 65,000.
In 1898, President McKinley called for 125,000 volunteers and Congress doubled the Army's size to support the U.S. war effort in Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
Amid the Spanish–American War, President McKinley called for 125,000 volunteers on April 22, 1898, to reinforce U.S. forces in Cuba.
Congress responded by more than doubling the size of the regular Army to 65,000 soldiers.
This rapid expansion underscored America's commitment to overseas intervention and emerging global role.
Volunteers and regulars played key roles in campaigns in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
The war's mobilization efforts boosted U.S. military capability and signaled a shift toward modern expeditionary warfare.
1898
Spanish–American War
William McKinley
National Guard
Cuba
Congress
regular Army
1930day.year
The United Kingdom, Japan and the United States sign the London Naval Treaty regulating submarine warfare and limiting shipbuilding.
The London Naval Treaty of 1930 saw major naval powers agree to limit submarine warfare and warship construction, aiming to prevent a new arms race.
Signed on April 22, 1930, the London Naval Treaty brought together the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States to curb naval armaments following World War I. Negotiators agreed to restrictions on the tonnage and armament of submarines and surface vessels. This accord built upon the earlier Washington Naval Treaty and sought to maintain a balance of naval power. While it extended limits to smaller classes of ships, some nations later found loopholes to continue rearmament. Critics argue that the treaty failed to prevent the naval buildup that preceded World War II. Nonetheless, it represented a significant diplomatic effort to promote peace and stability in the interwar period. The London Naval Treaty influenced subsequent arms control negotiations and remains a landmark in disarmament history.
1930
London Naval Treaty
submarine
shipbuilding
1954day.year
Red Scare: Witnesses begin testifying and live television coverage of the Army–McCarthy hearings begins.
Live television coverage of the Army–McCarthy hearings began on April 22, 1954, bringing Senator McCarthy’s anti-communist campaign into American living rooms.
The U.S. Army-McCarthy hearings were broadcast live on national television, exposing Senator Joseph McCarthy’s aggressive tactics and questionable evidence against alleged Communists. Millions of Americans tuned in as attorneys and witnesses engaged in confrontational exchanges under public scrutiny. The hearings showcased McCarthy’s bullying style and prompted widespread debate on civil liberties and government overreach. Key moments, such as Dorothy Kilgallen’s incisive questioning, influenced public opinion against McCarthy. As coverage continued, support for his crusade waned and Congress eventually censured him later that year. The televised hearings demonstrated television’s power to shape political discourse and bring transparency to government proceedings. They remain a landmark in the history of American media and politics.
1954
Red Scare
Army–McCarthy hearings
1969day.year
The formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) is announced at a mass rally in Calcutta.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) was formed during a mass rally in Calcutta.
On April 22, 1969, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) was formally announced at a large rally in Calcutta.
Led by activists seeking radical agrarian reform and workers’ rights, the party emerged from a split with the CPI(M).
Its formation marked a shift towards armed struggle and revolutionary tactics in Indian politics.
The CPI(ML)’s ideology influenced various peasant movements and insurgencies across the country.
While its unified structure soon fragmented, its impact on India’s left-wing politics remains significant.
Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)
2005day.year
Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologizes for Japan's war record.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi formally apologized for Japan’s wartime actions.
On April 22, 2005, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi issued a formal apology for Japan’s conduct during World War II.
Speaking in the National Diet, he acknowledged suffering caused by Japanese forces across Asia.
The apology aimed to address lingering tensions with countries like China and South Korea.
Although welcomed by some, it also sparked debate over whether it went far enough in acknowledging war crimes.
Koizumi’s gesture remains a significant moment in Japan’s postwar reconciliation efforts.
2005
Junichiro Koizumi
apologizes
2016day.year
The Paris Agreement is signed, an agreement to help fight global warming.
On April 22, 2016, world leaders convened in Paris to sign a historic agreement aiming to curb global warming by limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Negotiated under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement unites nearly 200 countries in a collective effort to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C.
Each signatory commits to national reduction targets known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are reviewed and strengthened every five years to accelerate climate action.
The treaty also established frameworks for financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building to aid developing nations in mitigating emissions and adapting to climate impacts.
Opening signatures marked an unprecedented diplomatic achievement in environmental governance, demonstrating global solidarity against a shared threat.
The agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, after surpassing the required ratification thresholds, solidifying its role as the cornerstone of modern climate policy.
2016
Paris Agreement