This day in history: 15 march

1917: Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated following the February Revolution, ending the 300-year Romanov dynasty.
1988: On the 140th anniversary of the 1848 revolt, tens of thousands of Hungarians marched in prohibited rallies in Budapest against Communist rule, helping persuade the Communist Party to begin negotiations that eventually led to democratic elections.
1990: Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union. His reforms strengthened pro-democracy movements across Eastern Europe and contributed to the end of the Cold War.

1783: George Washington delivered an emotional speech to quell the Newburgh Conspiracy, a potential military revolt by Continental Army officers dissatisfied with Congress’s failure to fulfill financial promises. Washington’s intervention successfully prevented the coup.
1913: Woodrow Wilson held the first open presidential press conference, establishing a tradition of direct communication between the U.S. president and journalists.
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed Congress with his famous “We Shall Overcome” speech, advocating for voting rights legislation in response to the Selma marches. This led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
1972: The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, premiered in New York City. It became one of the most iconic films in American cinema history.
1985: The world’s first internet domain name, symbolics.com, was registered by Symbolics Computer Corporation in Massachusetts, marking the beginning of the digital age.

1928 – March 15 Incident in Japan: The Japanese government conducted a large-scale crackdown on communists and socialists under the provisions of the Peace Preservation Law. This incident led to the arrest of 1,652 individuals, including Marxist economist Kawakami Hajime, as part of efforts to suppress leftist movements during a volatile period in Japan’s history.
1945 – Bombing of Osaka: On March 14-15, American forces conducted a massive bombing raid on Osaka, Japan’s southern port city. Thousands of people died in the attack, illustrating the intense aerial campaigns during the final months of World War II.
1950 – Establishment of India’s Planning Commission: On this day, India established the Planning Commission to assess and allocate resources for national development. It played a central role in India’s economic planning until it was replaced by the NITI Aayog in 2014.
2019 – Hong Kong Protests Begin: The Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement started on March 15, 2019. These protests were triggered by a proposed bill that would allow extradition to jurisdictions like mainland China, raising concerns over Hong Kong’s autonomy and judicial independence.

1961 – South Africa Withdraws from the Commonwealth: At the 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, South Africa announced its decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth due to criticisms of its apartheid policies. This marked a significant moment in the global opposition to apartheid.
2020 – Pipeline Explosion in Lagos, Nigeria: A devastating pipeline explosion occurred in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 15, 2020. The explosion caused a fire that destroyed dozens of buildings and claimed at least 15 lives.