On This Day In History....October 19th

British Surrender at Yorktown

It was on this day, two hundred thirty one years ago, in Yorktown, Virginia, the British forces, under General Cornwallis, surrendered to the Americans, marking the de facto end of the war for American independence.

The war would go on for another year thereafter, but this famous battle, in effect, ended the war in favor of the united colonies, who would soon unite to become the United States.

It had been a long, hard war. American forces, going up against the superpower of it's day, had managed to hang in there under very difficult circumstances, to persist. Eventually, things began to go their way more and more, and particularly when the promised assistance by the French came through. That is what happened at Yorktown, when the Americans surrounded the cornered and surrounded the British by land, while the French navy blocked off any retreat by sea, thus forcing the British to surrender.

General Cornwallis tried to hold out as long as he could, but he eventually saw the hopelessness of his own situation, and surrendered.

Cornwallis himself was not the one who surrendered his sword to George Washington, but rather, he had a subordinate officer do it for him.

Also related to the Revolutionary period, the Stamp Act Congress met on this day in 1765 in New York, and wrote the Declaration of Rights and Liberties.

End of 100 Years War

This date marks another notable British defeat at the second battle of Castillon, which the French won, marking the end of the 100 Years War.

Napoleon Begins His Retreat From Moscow

It was on this date in 1812 that Napoleon began to retreat the French forces from Moscow, under tough conditions. The retreat would be a punishing and harrowing affair, cementing the Russian campaign as a disaster for the French.

Mauritania Receives It's Independence

On this date in 1960, France granted Mauritania it's independence, during that era when some traditional European colonizing powers, most notably Great Britain and France, were essentially giving up their empires.

The Beatles

On a lighter note, the Beatles recorded "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on this date in 1963, and it became one of their most iconic songs from the early period.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On this date in 1983, the Senate established Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national holiday.

Black Monday

This also notes another anniversary - one that I am actually old enough to remember!

It was twenty five years ago, on this day, that we experienced "Black Monday", when the Dow Jones dropped over 500 points (508.32, down 22%, to be exact) in one day, which was a record.

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

In Iraq in 2005, the trial of former President/Dictator Saddam Hussein began on this date in 2005.