1872day.year
Susan B. Anthony and 14 other women are arrested for voting illegally in the United States presidential election of 1872.
Susan B. Anthony and fourteen other women are arrested for casting illegal ballots in the 1872 U.S. presidential election.
On November 5, 1872, a group of suffragists led by Susan B. Anthony attempted to vote in the United States presidential election in Rochester, New York. Denied the right to vote by law, the fifteen women were arrested on November 18 for ‘illegal voting.’ Their subsequent trial drew national attention to the struggle for women’s suffrage. Anthony used the courtroom as a platform to challenge the Constitution’s exclusion of women from the franchise. The event galvanized support for the movement, ultimately leading to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
1872
Susan B. Anthony
presidential election of 1872
1910day.year
In their campaign for women's voting rights, hundreds of suffragettes march to the British Parliament in London. Several are beaten by police, newspaper attention embarrasses the authorities, and the march is dubbed Black Friday.
Hundreds of suffragettes marched to the British Parliament demanding women's voting rights on what became known as Black Friday.
On November 18, 1910, a mass demonstration of militant suffragettes descended on Parliament Square in London.
Protesting the failure to pass the Conciliation Bill, they faced violent clashes with police.
Many women were assaulted and arrested in scenes that shocked the nation.
Media coverage of the brutality embarrassed the authorities and galvanized public support for the suffrage movement.
The day was dubbed Black Friday and remains a pivotal moment in the fight for women’s rights.
It energized activists and helped pave the way for partial enfranchisement in 1918.
1910
suffragettes
British Parliament
Black Friday
1978day.year
In Jonestown, Guyana, Jim Jones leads his Peoples Temple to a mass murder–suicide that claimed 918 lives in all, 909 of them in Jonestown itself, including over 270 children.
Jim Jones orchestrated a mass murder–suicide of over 900 Peoples Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978.
On November 18, 1978, followers of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana, carried out a coordinated murder–suicide under orders from leader Jim Jones. More than 900 people died after consuming cyanide-laced beverages, including over 270 children. The tragedy followed the killing of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, who had traveled to investigate human rights abuses at the settlement. Jonestown’s remote location and intense cult dynamics prevented many from escaping. The event shocked the world and prompted widespread introspection on cult dynamics and religious extremism. Jonestown remains a sobering example of the dangers posed by authoritarian leaders and isolated communities.
Jonestown, Guyana
Jim Jones
Peoples Temple
murder–suicide
1999day.year
At Texas A&M University, the Aggie Bonfire collapses killing 12 students and injuring 27 others.
The Aggie Bonfire at Texas A&M University collapsed during construction, killing 12 students and injuring dozens in a tragic accident.
The Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing Texas A&M University tradition symbolizing school spirit before the annual football game against the University of Texas. On November 18, 1999, the 58th bonfire stack collapsed unexpectedly during a nighttime construction session. Rescue efforts were hampered by the weight of the timber and fallen beams. Twelve students lost their lives and twenty-seven were hospitalized with serious injuries. The tragedy prompted a reevaluation of on-campus safety protocols and construction oversight. Although the bonfire tradition ended in 1999, its memory continues to foster a commitment to student safety and community support at Texas A&M.
1999
Aggie Bonfire
2003day.year
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules 4–3 in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and gives the state legislature 180 days to change the law making Massachusetts the first state in the United States to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rules that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, making Massachusetts the first US state to legalize marriage equality.
In a landmark decision on November 18, 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled 4–3 that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violated the equal protection clause of the state constitution. The case, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, was brought by seven same-sex couples seeking the right to marry. The court gave the legislature 180 days to implement a new legal framework, effectively paving the way for the first legal same-sex marriages in the United States. The ruling sparked national debate and inspired advocates and opponents across the country. Within months, Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, setting a precedent for future marriage equality efforts. The decision influenced subsequent judicial and legislative actions culminating in nationwide recognition in 2015.
2003
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Goodridge v. Department of Public Health