1800
The United States Congress passes the Indiana Enabling Act, authorizing residents of the Indiana Territory to draft a state constitution and elect state officials.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1800, the U.S. Congress passed the Indiana Enabling Act, which allowed residents of the Indiana Territory to create a state constitution and elect officials. This marked a significant step towards Indiana's statehood. --AI analysis
1814
The Constitution of Norway is signed and Crown Prince Christian Frederik of Denmark-Norway is elected King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed, and Crown Prince Christian Frederik of Denmark-Norway was elected as the King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll. This event marked Norway's declaration of independence from Denmark. --AI analysis
1846
The United States declares war on Mexico.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, starting the Mexican-American War. This conflict led to the U.S. gaining control of a significant amount of land, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. --AI analysis
1863
Roscoe Conkling, a future United States Senator and United States Ambassador to Germany, is wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1863, Roscoe Conkling, a future U.S. Senator and Ambassador to Germany, was wounded during the Battle of Chancellorsville. This battle was fought between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. --AI analysis
1873
El Paso, Texas is established as Franklin, Texas.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1873, El Paso, Texas was established as Franklin, Texas. The city later changed its name to El Paso in 1888. --AI analysis
1900
Second modern Olympic Games: The United States secures its first Olympic medal when James Connolly wins the triple jump.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1900, the Second Modern Olympic Games took place, and James Connolly from the United States won the triple jump, securing the country's first Olympic medal. --AI analysis
1902
The Antikythera wreck is discovered by sponge divers off Kythira, Greece.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1902, sponge divers discovered the Antikythera wreck off the coast of Kythira, Greece. The wreck was later found to contain the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer. --AI analysis
1912
The first airplane flight from New York to Florida takes off.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1912, the first airplane flight from New York to Florida took off, marking a significant milestone in aviation history. --AI analysis
1914
The House of Commons of the United Kingdom passes the Irish Home Rule Act.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1914, the House of Commons in the United Kingdom passed the Irish Home Rule Act, which aimed to grant self-governance to Ireland. However, the act was suspended due to World War I and eventually led to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921. --AI analysis
1940
World War II: Germany occupies Brussels, Belgium.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1940, during World War II, Germany occupied Brussels, Belgium, as part of their invasion of Western Europe. --AI analysis
1943
The United States Army contracts with the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School to develop the ENIAC.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1943, the U.S. Army contracted with the University of Pennsylvania's Moore School to develop the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), which would become the world's first general-purpose electronic computer. --AI analysis
1954
The United States Supreme Court hands down a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing racial segregation in public education.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, unanimously ruling that racial segregation in public education was unconstitutional. This decision played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. --AI analysis
1967
Six-Day War: President Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt demands that the United Nations evacuate the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1967, during the Six-Day War, Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser demanded that the United Nations evacuate the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula. This event contributed to the escalation of tensions leading up to the war. --AI analysis
1970
Thor Heyerdahl sets sail from Morocco on the raft Ra II, attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1970, Thor Heyerdahl set sail from Morocco on the raft Ra II, attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Heyerdahl was a Norwegian anthropologist and adventurer known for his Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947. --AI analysis
1974
The Troubles: Loyalists in Northern Ireland form the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1974, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, loyalists formed the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association. These groups were involved in the conflict between unionists and nationalists. --AI analysis
1980
The Gwangju Democratization Movement occurs in South Korea.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1980, the Gwangju Democratization Movement took place in South Korea. This was a pivotal event in the country's transition to democracy. --AI analysis
1983
Lebanon, Israel, and the United States sign an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1983, Lebanon, Israel, and the United States signed an agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. This followed Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. --AI analysis
1990
The World Health Organization removes homosexuality from the list of psychiatric diseases.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of psychiatric diseases, marking a significant shift in societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals. --AI analysis
1992
After 30 years, Johnny Carson hosts his last episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1992, Johnny Carson hosted his last episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson after 30 years on the air. Carson was a legendary American television host and comedian. --AI analysis
1994
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is established.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1994, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was established to investigate and prosecute war crimes committed during the Yugoslav Wars. --AI analysis
1995
Shawn Nelson steals an M60 Patton tank from a military base and goes on a rampage in San Diego, California, killing one person and causing over $1 million in property damage before being killed by police.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1995, Shawn Nelson stole an M60 Patton tank from a military base and went on a rampage in San Diego, California. He killed one person and caused over $1 million in property damage before being killed by police. --AI analysis
1999
Ehud Barak is elected Prime Minister of Israel.
AI analysis
On May 17, 1999, Ehud Barak was elected as the Prime Minister of Israel. He served from 1999 to 2001. --AI analysis
2000
The Dot-com bubble bursts.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2000, the dot-com bubble burst, marking the end of the rapid speculation and inflation of Internet-based companies in the late 1990s. --AI analysis
2004
The first legal same-sex marriage in the United States takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2004, the first legal same-sex marriage in the United States took place in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This was a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. --AI analysis
2006
The United States experiences its first-ever national Amber Alert.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2006, the United States experienced its first-ever national Amber Alert. The Amber Alert system is used to alert the public when a child has been abducted. --AI analysis
2007
The Paris–Berlin high-speed rail line is inaugurated.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2007, the Paris-Berlin high-speed rail line was inaugurated, connecting the French and German capitals with faster travel times. --AI analysis
2009
The world's longest two-way radio conversation on record begins when Peter Davies calls Thomas Witherspoon over a distance of 3,954 miles (6,368 km).
AI analysis
On May 17, 2009, the world's longest two-way radio conversation on record began when Peter Davies called Thomas Witherspoon over a distance of 3,954 miles (6,368 km). --AI analysis
2014
The United Nations announced that Nigeria had become Africa's largest economy, worth more than $500 billion.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2014, the United Nations announced that Nigeria had surpassed South Africa to become Africa's largest economy, with an estimated worth of over $500 billion. --AI analysis
2017
The WannaCry ransomware attack is launched.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack was launched, affecting over 200,000 computers in 150 countries and causing widespread disruption. --AI analysis
2018
The 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption kills over 100 people in Guatemala.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2018, the eruption of the Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala resulted in the deaths of over 100 people and widespread destruction. --AI analysis
2021
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Israel launches airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks by Hamas.
AI analysis
On May 17, 2021, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalated as Israel launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to rocket attacks by Hamas. --AI analysis
