752day.year
Mayan king Bird Jaguar IV of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, Mexico, assumes the throne.
On May 3, 752, Bird Jaguar IV ascended the throne of the Maya city-state of Yaxchilan in modern-day Chiapas, ushering in a new dynastic era.
On May 3, 752, Bird Jaguar IV ascended the throne of Yaxchilan following the death of his predecessor, strengthening the city's political and religious institutions. He commissioned the construction of impressive monuments and stelae that recorded his lineage and military campaigns. Under his reign, Yaxchilan engaged in alliances and conflicts with neighboring Maya city-states, enhancing its regional influence. His architectural and artistic patronage left a lasting legacy in the Usumacinta River valley. Bird Jaguar IV's rule is noted for its continuity of dynastic traditions and the expansion of Yaxchilan's ceremonial center.
752
Bird Jaguar IV
Yaxchilan
Chiapas
1491day.year
Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries, adopting the baptismal name of João I.
On May 3, 1491, King Nkuwu Nzinga of the Kingdom of Kongo was baptized by Portuguese missionaries, taking the Christian name João I and initiating cultural and religious transformation.
King Nkuwu Nzinga, the ruler of the Kingdom of Kongo, accepted baptism from Portuguese missionaries on May 3, 1491, adopting the name João I. This event marked the beginning of Christianity's spread among the Kongo elite and opened diplomatic relations with Portugal. João I sponsored the translation of Christian texts and the construction of churches, integrating European religious practices into Kongo society. The royal conversion influenced subsequent rulers and reshaped the kingdom's cultural and political orientation. While Christianity coexisted with traditional beliefs, the baptism laid the groundwork for centuries of Kongo-Portugal interactions.
1491
Kongo
Nkuwu Nzinga
Portuguese
João I
1616day.year
Treaty of Loudun ends a French civil war.
The Treaty of Loudun, signed on May 3, 1616, ended a French civil conflict and temporarily restored peace by granting concessions to rebellious nobles.
On May 3, 1616, the Treaty of Loudun was agreed between King Louis XIII, his mother Marie de' Medici, and dissident nobles after a period of civil unrest. The conflict arose from power struggles at the French court following the assassination of Henry IV. The treaty granted amnesty to the rebels and restored their positions, while reaffirming royal authority. It eased tensions between the crown and high-ranking aristocrats such as the Duke of Vendôme. Although the peace held only briefly, the Treaty of Loudun set a precedent for negotiated settlements in early 17th-century France.
1616
Treaty of Loudun
1791day.year
The Constitution of May 3 (the first modern constitution in Europe) is proclaimed by the Sejm of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, was proclaimed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's Sejm, establishing the first modern codified constitution in Europe.
On May 3, 1791, the Great Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth enacted the Constitution of May 3, recognized as Europe's first modern written constitution. It introduced political reforms including a separation of powers, hereditary monarchy restrictions, and broadened representation for the bourgeoisie. The document sought to strengthen the state against internal corruption and external aggression by Russia and Prussia. Despite initial acclaim, the surrounding powers viewed the reforms as a threat and subsequently partitioned the Commonwealth. The May 3 Constitution endures as a symbol of Polish and Lithuanian aspirations for democracy and national sovereignty.
1791
Constitution of May 3
constitution
Sejm
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1802day.year
Washington, D.C. is incorporated as a city after Congress abolishes the Board of Commissioners, the District's founding government. The "City of Washington" is given a mayor-council form of government.
Washington, D.C. was officially incorporated as a city on May 3, 1802, adopting a mayor-council form of government.
On May 3, 1802, the United States Congress formally incorporated Washington, D.C. as the city of Washington, abolishing the Board of Commissioners that had previously governed the district. The new charter established a mayor-council government, with an elected mayor serving as the city's chief executive. This change aimed to improve local administration and encourage civic participation in the capital. Early city officials oversaw street planning, public building construction, and basic municipal services. The incorporation marked a milestone in the development of America's national capital and set an example for urban governance.
1802
Washington, D.C.
Congress
mayor-council
1849day.year
The May Uprising in Dresden begins: The last of the German revolutions of 1848–49.
The May Uprising in Dresden, a climactic chapter of the 1848–49 German revolutions, ignited on May 3, 1849, as citizens rose against Saxon authorities in pursuit of democratic reforms.
Beginning on May 3, 1849, Dresden’s citizens, artisans, and students joined forces to demand liberal constitutions and national unification.
The uprising followed months of revolutionary fervor across the German states during the 1848 revolutions.
Despite initial successes in seizing key city locations, the rebels faced fierce military response from Prussian and Saxon troops.
After several days of intense street combat, the revolt was brutally suppressed, resulting in dozens of casualties.
Many leaders fled into exile, and harsh reprisals dampened revolutionary momentum.
The failure in Dresden marked the end of mainstream revolutionary aspirations in the German lands until later in the century.
1849
May Uprising in Dresden
1921day.year
Ireland is partitioned under British law by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, creating Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.
On May 3, 1921, the Government of Ireland Act 1920 took effect, partitioning Ireland into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland under British rule.
The partition of Ireland under the Government of Ireland Act came into force on May 3, 1921.
This legislation created two jurisdictions: Northern Ireland, with its own parliament, and Southern Ireland, which had limited autonomy.
It aimed to resolve sectarian divisions but instead entrenched political and religious divisions on the island.
Unionists in the north largely welcomed the outcome, while many nationalists rejected it.
The act laid groundwork for decades of conflict and negotiations that followed.
Ultimately, Southern Ireland evolved into the Irish Free State in 1922, while Northern Ireland remained part of the UK.
1921
Ireland is partitioned
Government of Ireland Act 1920
Northern Ireland
Southern Ireland
1921day.year
West Virginia becomes the first state to legislate a broad sales tax, but does not implement it until a number of years later due to enforcement issues.
In 1921, West Virginia became the first U.S. state to pass a broad sales tax, though delays in enforcement postponed its implementation for several years.
In 1921, the West Virginia legislature enacted a comprehensive sales tax, marking the first such law in the United States. The legislation aimed to stabilize state revenues in the post-World War I era. However, enforcement challenges, including administrative hurdles and political opposition, delayed full implementation. Over the next several years, the state refined its tax collection mechanisms and addressed legal concerns. The act set a precedent for other states considering consumption-based taxation and influenced future debates on state fiscal policy and revenue generation.
West Virginia
sales tax
1939day.year
The All India Forward Bloc is formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
In 1939, Subhas Chandra Bose founded the All India Forward Bloc as a faction within the Indian National Congress to pursue radical strategies for independence.
On May 3, 1939, nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose announced the formation of the All India Forward Bloc after resigning from the presidency of the Indian National Congress. The Forward Bloc aimed to unite left-wing and radical elements in the struggle against British colonial rule. Bose advocated for immediate and forceful action to achieve independence, contrasting with the Congress leaderships more moderate tactics. The formation of the party reflected deep ideological divides within the Indian independence movement. Although initially a splinter group, the Forward Bloc attracted thousands of supporters and influenced later revolutionary activities. Bose's leadership cemented his reputation as a charismatic and uncompromising freedom fighter.
1939
All India Forward Bloc
Subhas Chandra Bose
1947day.year
New post-war Japanese constitution goes into effect.
Japan's new constitution, drafted under Allied occupation, came into effect on May 3, 1947, establishing fundamental rights and renouncing war.
On May 3, 1947, the Constitution of Japan, commonly known as the Postwar Constitution, took effect, replacing the Meiji Constitution of 1889. Drafted under the supervision of the Allied occupation authorities, it introduced a parliamentary system, guaranteed civil liberties, and enshrined gender equality. Article 9 renounced war as a sovereign right of the nation and prohibited the maintenance of armed forces for conflict purposes. The constitution redefined the role of the Emperor as a symbolic figurehead with no governing power. Its implementation marked a dramatic shift toward democratic governance and pacifism in Japan. The document remains the supreme law of the land and a cornerstone of Japan's postwar identity.
1947
Japanese constitution
1948day.year
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Shelley v. Kraemer that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities are legally unenforceable.
In Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racially restrictive housing covenants are unenforceable, a pivotal step in the civil rights movement.
On May 3, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision in Shelley v. Kraemer, striking down racially restrictive covenants in property deeds. The Court held that while private parties could make such agreements, state enforcement of racially discriminatory covenants violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The ruling overturned the legal backing for housing segregation and opened pathways for African Americans and other minorities to access previously restricted neighborhoods. Chief Justice Vinson's opinion emphasized that state courts could not enforce private agreements that deprived citizens of their constitutional rights. Shelley v. Kraemer set a critical precedent for later civil rights rulings, including Brown v. Board of Education. The decision resonated across the nation and energized efforts to dismantle segregation in all areas of public life.
1948
U.S. Supreme Court
Shelley v. Kraemer
real estate
1951day.year
The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations begin their closed door hearings into the relief of Douglas MacArthur by U.S. President Harry Truman.
On May 3, 1951, key U.S. Senate committees began closed-door hearings on President Truman's decision to relieve General Douglas MacArthur of his command during the Korean War.
On May 3, 1951, the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees convened in closed sessions to examine President Harry S. Truman's controversial decision to relieve General Douglas MacArthur of his Far East command. The hearings probed the diplomatic and military rationale behind MacArthur's dismissal, exploring conflicts over war strategy and civil-military relations. Senators and expert witnesses debated whether the general's public criticisms of administration policy had undermined civilian control of the military. Although the proceedings remained behind closed doors, their outcome influenced public perception of the Truman administration's conduct of the Korean War. The hearings underscored tensions between political leadership and military commanders in shaping U.S. foreign policy. They also set precedents for Congressional oversight of executive decisions in matters of national security.
United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
relief of Douglas MacArthur