1652day.year
Slavery in Rhode Island is abolished, although the law is not rigorously enforced.
In 1652, Rhode Island passed one of the earliest laws against slavery in English North America, though it lacked strict enforcement.
On May 18, 1652, Rhode Island’s colonial assembly enacted a statute aimed at ending slavery, declaring that long-term residents and those born in the colony would gain freedom at age 21.
Despite its progressive language, vague provisions and minimal enforcement allowed forced labor to continue for decades.
The act represented a conceptual turning point in colonial attitudes toward human bondage.
Economic dependence on enslaved labor and legal ambiguities hindered its immediate impact.
Over time, the law provided a moral precedent for later abolitionist movements in New England.
1652
Slavery in Rhode Island
1783day.year
First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John, New Brunswick), Canada, after leaving the United States.
Following the American Revolution, the first United Empire Loyalists arrived at Parrtown (later Saint John) on May 18, 1783, seeking refuge in Canada.
In the wake of American independence, Loyalists faced hostility and loss of property in the new United States, prompting many to flee north.
On May 18, 1783, the initial group landed at Parrtown, establishing the nucleus of present-day Saint John.
They endured harsh conditions, constructing makeshift shelters and clearing land in an unfamiliar environment.
The arrival of the Loyalists led Britain to create the colony of New Brunswick to accommodate the refugees.
Their settlement shaped the cultural, political, and economic landscape of the region for generations.
1783
United Empire Loyalists
Saint John, New Brunswick
1843day.year
The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland.
In 1843, a schism known as the Disruption saw ministers break from the Church of Scotland to form the Free Church of Scotland.
Disputes over patronage and church authority led hundreds of ministers to protest state interference.\nOn May 18, 1843, around 450 ministers assembled in Edinburgh and formally left the established Church of Scotland.\nThey established the Free Church of Scotland under the leadership of Thomas Chalmers.\nThe movement emphasized spiritual independence and the right of congregations to choose their ministers.\nFree Church adherents built new places of worship and schools across Scotland.\nThe Disruption reshaped Scottish religious life and influenced global Presbyterian movements.\nIt remains a landmark moment in the history of church-state relations in Britain.
1843
Disruption
Edinburgh
Free Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
1926day.year
Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in Venice, California.
In 1926, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson mysteriously vanished from Venice, California, sparking a nationwide media sensation.
On May 18, 1926, popular Pentecostal evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson vanished during a routine beach outing in Venice, California. Her sudden disappearance sparked a nationwide media frenzy and drew thousands of searchers. McPherson, known for her dynamic sermons and use of radio broadcasts, became a household name by the mid-1920s. Rumors and sensational headlines speculated on abduction, foul play, and even staged publicity stunts. After 34 days, she reappeared, claiming to have escaped a kidnapping ordeal, though her account sparked further controversy. The incident cemented her notoriety and raised questions about media ethics, religious celebrity, and public fascination with sensational stories.
1926
Evangelist
Aimee Semple McPherson
Venice, California
1927day.year
After being founded for 20 years, the Nationalist government approves Tongji University to be among the first national universities of the Republic of China.
In 1927, the Nationalist government of the Republic of China designated Tongji University as one of the nation’s first national universities.
Tongji University in Shanghai was founded in 1907 by German physicians to provide modern engineering education. After twenty years under provincial administration, it earned national university status from the Nationalist government on May 18, 1927. This recognition aimed to strengthen higher education and train skilled professionals for China’s modernization. As one of the earliest national institutions, Tongji expanded its faculties and research programs. The elevation marked a milestone in the Republic’s efforts to centralize and upgrade education. Tongji’s evolution influenced the development of technical universities across China in the decades that followed.
Nationalist government
Tongji University
Republic of China
1955day.year
Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of the First Indochina War, ends.
The evacuation known as Operation Passage to Freedom concluded on May 18, 1955, relocating over 310,000 refugees from North to South Vietnam.
After the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam at the 17th parallel, hundreds of thousands feared life under the new communist regime in the North. The French and American forces organized a maritime and overland evacuation to carry civilians, soldiers, and non-Vietnamese nationals to the South. Between August 1954 and May 1955, more than 310,000 people made the journey to lands they had never seen. The massive movement reshaped the demographic and political landscape of South Vietnam. It also deepened American involvement and set the stage for the Vietnam War. Many evacuees settled in Saigon and contributed to the rapid urban and economic development of the South.
1955
Operation Passage to Freedom
Vietnamese
French
North Vietnam
South Vietnam
First Indochina War
1980day.year
Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
Students in Gwangju, South Korea, began demonstrations calling for democratic reforms, igniting a pivotal pro-democracy movement.
On May 18, 1980, students in Gwangju organized mass protests against the authoritarian military government of Chun Doo-hwan.
They demanded freedom of speech, democratic elections, and the restoration of civil rights.
Initial peaceful demonstrations grew as citizens from all walks of life joined the movement.
The government's harsh crackdown on protesters led to widespread violence and loss of life.
This uprising, later known as the Gwangju Uprising, became a catalyst for South Korea's democratization.
May 18 is now commemorated as a symbol of resistance and the struggle for human rights in the country.
Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations
1993day.year
Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and injure 11 demonstrators.
In May 1993, riots broke out in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen after Denmark approved four opt-outs in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. For the first time since World War II, police opened fire on demonstrators, injuring eleven people.
In the wake of Denmark's unpopular opt-outs from the Maastricht Treaty, protests in Nørrebro escalated into violent riots on May 18, 1993. Demonstrators clashed with police, hurling stones and bottles as tensions soared. Responding with unprecedented force, officers fired live rounds at the crowd, the first time Copenhagen police discharged their weapons against civilians since the end of World War II. Eleven protesters were wounded, some seriously, sparking national outrage and debate over police brutality. The events highlighted deep divisions within Danish society over European integration and sovereignty. Video footage of the clashes dominated news reports and fueled further protests in other cities. The Nørrebro riots remain a controversial chapter in Denmark's modern political history, underscoring the volatility of referendums on international treaties.
1993
Nørrebro
Copenhagen
Maastricht Treaty referendum
World War II
2018day.year
A school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas kills ten people.
On May 18, 2018, a gunman opened fire at Santa Fe High School in Texas, killing ten people. The tragic shooting shook a community and reignited debates over school safety in the United States.
At approximately 7:32 AM on May 18, 2018, a student at Santa Fe High School in Texas began shooting classmates and teachers. Over the course of the attack, ten victims, including eight students and two educators, were killed, and thirteen others were wounded. Law enforcement officials apprehended the suspect shortly after the rampage began, ending the violence. The tragedy prompted investigations into the shooter's motives and the efficacy of school security protocols. The school shooting sparked nationwide mourning and renewed calls for stricter gun control laws and improved mental health support in schools. Students, parents, and community members held vigils and demanded policy changes to prevent future tragedies. Santa Fe High School implemented enhanced security measures, including metal detectors and increased police presence. The shooting remains one of the deadliest high school attacks in recent U.S. history and continues to influence discussions on balancing safety and rights.
2018
A school shooting
Santa Fe High School