December 22nd, 2009

Today in History

1988:
Chico Mendes, a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist, was assassinated.

1974:
Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration.

1894:
The Dreyfus affair begins, in France, when Alfred Dreyfus is wrongly convicted of treason, on antisemitic grounds.

1864:
Savannah, Georgia falls to General William Tecumseh Sherman

1809:
The Non-Intercourse Act, lifting the Embargo Act except for the United Kingdom and France, passes the U.S. Congress.