February 20
1725
10 sleeping Indians scalped by soldiers in what will be New Hampshire for scalp bounty. First recorded instance of scalping.
1839
Dueling is outlawed in the District of Columbia.
1934
Utopian Society in Los Angeles starts chain-letter campaign informing US citizens that “Profit is the root of all evil.”
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February 19
1919
The first Pan-African Congress was organized by W.E.B. DuBois, Paris, France. Du Bois called for a Pan-African Congress to be held in Paris to coincide with the Versailles Peace Conference after World War I ended.
The conference’s aim was to bring to the attention of those laying the plans for a League of Nations the grievances of oppressed minorities. Pan-African Congresses continued to be held in 1921, 1923, 1927, and 1945.
Speakers at the Pan-African Congress Brussels, Belgium, in 1921. Du Bois is 2nd from right.
February 18
1688
Pennsylvania Quakers made first formal protest against slavery.
From their proclamation “…we shall doe (sic) to all men like as we will be done ourselves; making no difference of what generation, descent or colour they are.”
1867
Nonviolent resistance to Austrian oppression results in separate constitution, Hungary.
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February 17
1495
Miguel de Cueno, a member of Columbus’ second expedition, ships 550 captured Carib Indians to be slaves in Europe. 200 die at sea.
1964
The US Supreme Court issued its “one man, one vote” decision.
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February 16
1941
A pastoral letter was read in the majority of Norwegian pulpits telling the fascist regime to “end all which conflicts with God’s holy arrangements regarding truth, justice, freedom of conscience and goodness..”
1959
Fidel Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba after the overthrow of the U.S. and mafia-supported dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Fidel Castro…………………………………………Fulgencio BatistaM
February 15
1804 New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery.
1820 Susan B. Anthony born
2003
In the single largest day of protest in world history, millions on 6 continents demonstrated against the U.S./U.K. plans to invade Iraq. Reported totals include 1 to 2 million in London and Rome; 1.3 million in Barcelona, Spain (a city of 1.5 million); 500,000 each in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, and New York. Smaller demonstrations are held in over 600 cities and towns across the US, including tens of thousands in several cities and 150,000 the following day in San Francisco.
Totals estimated 25 million in more than 100 countries.
February 14
1817
Frederick Douglass, abolitionist leader, born into slavery.
1883
New Jersey becomes the first state to legalize unions.
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February 13
1689
The English Parliament enacted into law a Bill of Rights.
1960
France became the world’s fourth nuclear power, conducting its first nuclear test at Reganne, in what was then French Algeria, in the Sahara Desert. It was detonated from a 330-foot tower and had a yield of 60-70 kilotons.
February 12
1909
NAACP founded
1947
An estimated 400-500 veterans and conscientious objectors from World Wars I and II burned their draft cards during two demonstrations, in front of the White House in Washington DC and at the Labor Temple in New York City, in protest of a proposed universal conscription law. This was the first peacetime draft card burning.
February 11
1777
Vermont is the first state to abolish slavery.
1790
The Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery composed of Quakers and Mennonites petitioned Congress for the Emancipation of slaves. Benjamin Franklin had become vocal as an abolitionist and in 1787 began to serve as President of the Society which not only advocated the abolition of slavery, but made efforts to integrate freed slaves into American society.
The resolution was immediately denounced by pro-slavery congressmen and sparked a heated debate in both the House and the Senate.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 