On This Day in History

March 3

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2018
Science

India Launches Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter Mission Approval

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) received final government approval to proceed with Chandrayaan-2, its second lunar mission, boosting India's status in global space exploration.

๐Ÿ“ New Delhi, India

Science Space India
2013
Politics

UN Declares March 3 as World Wildlife Day

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day to raise awareness of endangered species and biodiversity. The date coincides with the signing of CITES in 1973.

๐Ÿ“ New York City, United Nations Headquarters

Politics Environment UN Observances
1978
Tragedy

Air India Flight 855 Crashes off Mumbai Coast

Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, crashed into the Arabian Sea shortly after takeoff from Mumbai, killing all 213 passengers and crew. The crash was one of the worst in Indian aviation history.

๐Ÿ“ Mumbai, India

Tragedy Aviation India
1975
Politics

United States Adopts the Metric Conversion Act

The U.S. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, declaring the metric system the preferred system of weights and measures and encouraging voluntary adoption throughout the nation.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Politics Measurement Systems United States
1961
Science

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Founded

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was officially founded to conserve nature and reduce human impact on the environment. It became one of the most influential conservation organizations globally.

๐Ÿ“ Morges, Switzerland

Science Environment Conservation
1959
Science

NASA Launches Pioneer 4, First U.S. Probe to Escape Earth's Gravity

Pioneer 4 was launched by NASA, becoming the first U.S. spacecraft to escape Earthโ€™s gravity and pass near the Moon. It marked a critical step forward in the U.S. space program during the Cold War.

๐Ÿ“ Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States

Science Space Exploration NASA
1952
Politics

Japan Signs Treaty of San Francisco with India and Burma

Japan signed bilateral peace treaties with India and Burma (now Myanmar), separate from the main Treaty of San Francisco, strengthening post-WWII diplomatic ties in Asia.

๐Ÿ“ Tokyo, Japan

Politics Asia Post-War Treaties
1933
Politics

Germanyโ€™s Reichstag Passes Enabling Act Draft

Germanyโ€™s parliament moved forward with the Enabling Act, which would later give Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers. The act marked the beginning of Nazi Germany's legal authoritarianism.

๐Ÿ“ Berlin, Germany

Politics Germany Nazi Era
1931
Culture

Star-Spangled Banner Becomes U.S. National Anthem

President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution making 'The Star-Spangled Banner' the official national anthem of the United States, more than a century after it was written by Francis Scott Key.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Culture National Symbols Music
1917
Politics

First Female Member of U.S. Congress Sworn In

Jeannette Rankin of Montana was sworn in as the first woman elected to the United States Congress. A pioneering figure, she later voted against both World Wars on pacifist grounds.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Politics Womenโ€™s Rights U.S. Congress
1915
Politics

Australia Enacts War Precautions Act During World War I

The Australian Parliament passed the War Precautions Act, granting the federal government sweeping powers over censorship, internment, and economic regulation during World War I.

๐Ÿ“ Canberra, Australia

Politics Wartime Law Australia
1883
Invention

U.S. Adopts Time Zones and Standard Time for Railroads

U.S. railroads adopted standardized time zones to improve scheduling and safety, leading to the eventual national and international adoption of the modern time zone system.

๐Ÿ“ United States

Invention Railroads Timekeeping
1879
Science

U.S. Congress Establishes the Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) was founded to study natural resources and map the country's geological structure, playing a major role in environmental and earth sciences globally.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Science Environment Geology
1878
Politics

Bulgaria Declares Independence from Ottoman Empire (National Day)

The Treaty of San Stefano was signed, ending the Russo-Turkish War and recognizing Bulgariaโ€™s autonomy from the Ottoman Empire. March 3 is celebrated as Bulgariaโ€™s National Day.

๐Ÿ“ San Stefano (YeลŸilkรถy), Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)

Politics Bulgaria Independence
1876
Invention

Alexander Graham Bell Patents the Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell was granted U.S. Patent No. 174,465 for the invention of the telephone, transforming global communication and sparking the telecommunications revolution.

๐Ÿ“ Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Invention Communication Technology
1865
Politics

U.S. Secret Service Begins Investigating Counterfeiting

The U.S. Congress authorized the Secret Service to investigate counterfeiting of U.S. currency, a major issue following the Civil War. This was the agencyโ€™s original mission before taking on presidential protection.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Politics Law Enforcement Finance
1861
Politics

Tsar Alexander II of Russia Signs Emancipation Manifesto Draft

Tsar Alexander II signed the draft of the Emancipation Manifesto, freeing more than 23 million Russian serfs. The decree marked one of the most significant reforms in Imperial Russian history.

๐Ÿ“ Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire

Politics Russia Human Rights
1845
Politics

Florida Becomes the 27th U.S. State

The U.S. Congress admitted Florida as the 27th state of the Union, expanding American influence in the southeastern region and shaping future Civil War dynamics.

๐Ÿ“ Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Politics U.S. History Statehood
1830
Politics

U.S. Congress Passes Indian Removal Act Authorization

Congress passed early provisions for what would become the Indian Removal Act, laying the groundwork for forced relocation of Native American tribes, culminating in the Trail of Tears.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Politics Native American History U.S. Expansion
1820
Politics

Missouri Compromise Signed into U.S. Law

The Missouri Compromise was signed into law, admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It temporarily maintained the balance between North and South, delaying the U.S. Civil War.

๐Ÿ“ Washington, D.C., United States

Politics Slavery U.S. History