Today in history: Jan. 16
Prohibition began in the United States as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, one year to the day after its ratification, and more events that happened on this day in history.
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1865: William T. Sherman
In 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman decreed that 400,000 acres of land in the South would be divided into 40-acre lots and given to former slaves. (The order, later revoked by President Andrew Johnson, is believed to have inspired the expression, “Forty acres and a mule.”)
1912: Robert Scott
In 1912, a day before reaching the South Pole, British explorer Robert Scott and his expedition found evidence that Roald Amundsen of Norway and his team had gotten there ahead of them.
1920: Prohibition
In 1920, Prohibition began in the United States as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution took effect, one year to the day after its ratification. (It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.)
1987: Hu Yaobang
In 1987, Hu Yaobang resigned as head of China’s Communist Party, declaring he’d made mistakes in dealing with student turmoil and intellectual challenges to the system.
1991: Operation Desert Storm
In 1991, the White House announced the start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. (Allied forces prevailed on Feb. 28, 1991.)
2003: Space Shuttle Columbia
In 2003, the space shuttle Columbia blasted off for what turned out to be its last flight; on board was Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon (ee-LAHN’ rah-MOHN’). (The mission ended in tragedy on Feb. 1, when the shuttle broke up during its return descent, killing all seven crew members.)
2006: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
In 2006, Africa’s first elected female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was sworn in as Liberia’s new president.
2007: Barack Obama
In 2007, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois launched his successful bid for the White House.
2011: Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier
Ten years ago: Former Haitian strongman Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, who’d been living in exile in France, made a surprise return to Haiti as the country wrestled with a political crisis, cholera outbreak and stalled reconstruction from a devastating earthquake.
2011: The Golden Globes
Ten years ago: “The Social Network” won top movie honors at the Golden Globes with four prizes, including best drama and director; top TV honors went to “Boardwalk Empire” and “Glee.”
2016: Iran
Five years ago: The U.N. nuclear agency certified that Iran had met all of its commitments under a landmark deal, prompting the West to lift economic sanctions that had been in place for years.
2016: Ted Marchibroda
Five years ago: Former NFL coach Ted Marchibroda, 84, died in Weems, Virginia.
2016: Tsai Ing-wen
Five years ago: Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen as its first female president, handing her pro-independence party its first majority in the national legislature.
2020: Deborah Dugan
One year ago: Six months after becoming president and CEO of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan was placed on “administrative leave”; she said she was ousted after complaining of sexual harassment and questioning the integrity of the Grammy nominations process. (Dugan was fired weeks later.)
2020: The New York Mets
One year ago: The New York Mets announced that they and manager Carlos Beltrán had agreed to “mutually part ways”; the former Houston Astros player had been the only player mentioned by name when Major League Baseball issued its findings from an investigation of sign-stealing by the Astros.
2020: Impeachment
One year ago: The impeachment trial of President Donald Trump opened in the Senate, with senators standing and swearing an oath of “impartial justice.” Trump again denounced the proceedings as a “hoax,” while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said new evidence reinforced the need to call additional witnesses.
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