"The Jeffersons" premieres on CBS - January 18th, 1975
On this day in 1975, the groundbreaking sitcom "The Jeffersons" aired for the first time on CBS.
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This Day in History Class
From the desk of “Stuff You Missed in History Class,” “This Day in History Class” quickly recounts a tidbit from today’s events in history.
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Episodes (1871)
The U.S. buys three of the Virgin Islands from Denmark - January 17th, 1917
On this day in 1917, Denmark sold the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix to the United States.
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Ivan the Terrible assumes the throne of Russia - January 16th, 1547
On this day in 1547, 16-year-old Ivan Vasilyevich was proclaimed the first tsar of Russia.
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Nazi war criminal Ilse Koch is sentenced to prison - January 15th, 1951
On this day in 1951, Ilse Koch was sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity.
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Philosopher and Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda is born - January 12th, 1863
On this day in 1863, Hindu spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda was born in Kolkata, India.
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Insulin is first used to treat a person with diabetes - January 11th, 1922
On this day in 1922, Canadian teenager Leonard Thompson became the first diabetic patient to be treated with insulin.
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"The Greatest Show on Earth" premieres in New York City - January 10th, 1952
On this day in 1952, Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show on Earth" premiered at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
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The last British convict ship arrives in Australia - January 9th, 1868
On this day in 1868, the last ship to take British convicts to Australia arrived at the port of Fremantle.
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German Coast Uprising began / African American men secure the right to vote in D.C. - January 8th Flashback
On this day in 1811, the German Coast Uprising, a slave revolt in modern-day Louisiana, began.
On this day in 1867, the U.S. Congress passed the District of Columbia Suffrage Bill, granting African American men the right to vote for the first time in the nation’s history.
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Elizabeth Cotten born / "Rapper's Delight" becomes first Top 40 hip-hop song - January 5th Flashback
On this day in 1893, blues and folk musician Elizabeth Cotten was born near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
On this day in 1980, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang became the first hip hop song ever to break into the Billboard Top 40.
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Topsy the Elephant Electrocuted / Louis Braille born - January 4th Flashback
Topsy the Elephant was electrocuted on this day in 1903.
On this day in 1809, French educator Louis Braille, namesake of the Braille reading and writing system, was born.
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Joseph Roberts became first president of Liberia / “Lord Haw-Haw” executed for treason - January 3rd Flashback
On this day in 1848, Black American merchant Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of Liberia.
On this day in 1946, William Joyce, better known to the British as Lord Haw-Haw, was put to death for betraying his country on behalf of Nazi Germany.
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Duquesne Spy Ring sentenced / Nixon sets 55mph national speed limit - January 2nd Flashback
On this day in 1942, thirty-three members of a Nazi spy ring headed by Frederick Joubert Duquesne were sentenced to serve time in prison.
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On this day in 1974, President Richard Nixon established a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour on every highway in the United States.
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Frankenstein published / Johnny Cash plays a concert at San Quentin State Prison - January 1st Flashback
On this day in 1818, Mary Shelley's debut novel, "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus," was first published.
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On this day in 1959, musician Johnny Cash rang in the new year by performing live at San Quentin State Prison in California.
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Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe loses part of his nose in a sword duel - December 29th, 1566
On this day in 1566, eccentric astronomer Tycho Brahe lost a large chunk of his nose in a swordfight with his third cousin.
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This Day in History Class
enDecember 29, 2023
H. L. Mencken perpetrates the Bathtub Hoax - December 28th, 1917
On this day in 1917, Baltimore journalist Henry L. Mencken published a faux history of the bathtub titled “A Neglected Anniversary.”
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The U.S. government seizes control of Montgomery Ward - December 27th, 1944
On this day in 1944, the Roosevelt administration seized control of the Montgomery Ward company for a second time.
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The Great Blizzard buries New York City - December 26th, 1947
On this day in 1947, a record-breaking snowstorm wreaked havoc in New York City.
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St. Francis of Assisi sets up the first Nativity scene - December 25th, 1223
On this day in 1223, St. Francis created the world's first Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy.
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Edward Johnson gives the first demonstration of electric Christmas tree lights - December 22nd, 1882
On this day in 1882, the first Christmas tree with electric lights was displayed at the home of Edward Hibberd Johnson.
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