History is a cause of celebration and reflection. It is a source of inspiration. There have been uncountable inventions, innovations, treaties, and other significant events in the past and all of them have something to teach us, to inspire us to keep going, and not to stop even if we fail. So, start your day with a positive thought. And, do something great today and we might publish it in our Daily Column in the years to come. Let us read the historical milestones of May 13:
1779: The War of Bavarian Succession ends
The War of Bavarian, beginning in 1778 was a dispute between the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy and an alliance of Saxony and Prussia. It was over the succession to the Electorate of Bavaria after the extinction of its ruling House of Wittelsbach.
1934: Great Dustbowl Storm sweeps across US Prairies
A massive storm, known as a dustbowl storm sent millions of tons of topsoil flying from across the plains of the United States. It was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damages the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies.
1861: Britain Declares its Neutrality in the American Civil War
Queen Victoria issued the proclamation of neutrality stating that the Government of Great Britain would remain formally neutral in the United States’ domestic affairs. Hence, for the remainder of the war, and instructed British citizens to observe this neutrality.
1888: Brazil abolishes Slavery
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
In the Western World, Brazil was the last country to abolish slavery. That is, officially, on May 13, 1888. An estimated four million slaves were imported from Africa to Brazil, by the time it was abolished. These were 40% of the total number of slaves brought to the Americas. Emperor Pedro II abolished slavery after years of campaigning.
1950: First ever Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship
Giuseppe Farina of Italy in an Alfa Romeo won the match at Silverstone, England. Furthermore, the first driver to win multiple Championships was Alberto Ascari, in 1952 and 1953. Also, the current Drivers’ Champion is Lewis Hamilton who won his sixth title in 2019.
1989: Approximately 2,000 students begin a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square, China
The basic agenda of this strike was to occupy and block the square before Gorbachev’s arrival. Moreover, the students, in their manifesto, said, “We are doing this to protest the government’s indifference to the student demonstrations, to protest the government’s failure to enter into a dialogue with students, and to protest the government’s unfair characterization of the student democratic movement as “turmoil” and the further distortion of it in newspaper coverage. We request an immediate and equal dialogue of substance between the government and the students. This also led to an acknowledgment by the government of the legitimacy of the student democratic movement. Time of the hunger strike: Begins at 2:00 P.M., May 13, 1989. Place of the hunger strike: Tiananmen Square.”
