Europa
- 1333: The River Arno floods, causing massive damage in Florence, Italy, as recorded by chronicler Giovanni Villani.
- 1468: The city of Liège (in present-day Belgium) is sacked by the troops of Charles I of Burgundy.
- 1492: The Peace of Étaples is signed between Henry VII of England and Charles VIII of France, ending hostilities between the two nations.
- 1534: The English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England and marking a decisive break from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
- 1918: The German Revolution begins as 40,000 sailors take over the port in Kiel, a pivotal event leading to the end of World War I and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
- 1918: Poland declares independence from Russia, laying the foundation for the modern Polish state.
- 1932: Panagis Tsaldaris becomes the 142nd Prime Minister of Greece.
- 1935: George II of Greece regains his throne through a popular, though possibly manipulated, plebiscite.
- 1943: During World War II, 500 aircraft of the U.S. 8th Air Force devastate Wilhelmshaven harbor in Germany.
- 1944: Two supreme commanders of the Slovak National Uprising, Generals Ján Golian and Rudolf Viest, are captured and later executed by German forces.
- 1957: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik II, carrying Laika, the first living creature to orbit the Earth, marking a milestone in the Space Race.
America
- 1868: John Willis Menard was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African-American to win a congressional seat, though he was ultimately not seated due to an electoral challenge.
- 1896: Martha Hughes Cannon of Utah became the first woman elected as a state senator in the United States.
- 1903: Panama declared independence from Colombia, an event heavily influenced by U.S. interests and support.
- 1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected as the 32nd President of the United States in a landslide victory.
- 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to a full term as President of the United States, defeating Barry Goldwater in a historic landslide.
- 1992: Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President of the United States, defeating incumbent President George H.W. Bush. Carol Moseley-Braun became the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.
- 2020: Americans voted in the presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with the results declared several days later.
- 1911: The Chevrolet Motor Car Company was founded in Detroit by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant, marking the beginning of a major American automobile brand.
- 1900: The first major U.S. automobile show opened at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
- 1973: NASA launched Mariner 10, the first spacecraft to fly by two planets—Venus and Mercury—setting a milestone in planetary exploration.
- 1954: The first “Godzilla” movie was released in Japan, later becoming a cultural phenomenon in America.
- 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik II with Laika, the first living creature in orbit, marking a significant moment in the U.S.-Soviet space race.
- 1978: Dominica, a Caribbean island, gained independence from Britain.
Asia
- Japan: Culture Day
November 3 is celebrated as Culture Day (Bunka no Hi) in Japan, a national holiday promoting culture, the arts, and academic endeavor. The day features art exhibitions, parades, and award ceremonies, and commemorates the announcement of Japan’s post-war constitution on November 3, 1946. The holiday originated in 1868 as the birthday of Emperor Meiji and was re-established as Culture Day in 1948. - 1839: The First Opium War between China and Britain began after British frigates destroyed several Chinese ships, marking a pivotal moment in Chinese and colonial history.
- 1998: A previously unknown 15.5-mile (25-km) segment of the Great Wall of China was discovered in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, highlighting the ongoing historical significance of the Great Wall.
- 1838: The Times of India, now the world’s largest English-language daily, was launched as the Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce in Bombay.
- 1948: Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, delivered his inaugural speech at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing peace and global cooperation.
- 1933: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, a renowned Indian economist, was born on this day.
- 1967: The Battle of Dak To began in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, involving major engagements between U.S. and North Vietnamese forces. The battle lasted until November 23 and was one of the bloodiest of the Vietnam War.
- 1957: The Soviet Union launched Sputnik II, carrying Laika, the first living creature to orbit the Earth, marking a milestone in the global space race that deeply impacted Asia and the world.
- 1979: The Iran hostage crisis began when militants seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, initiating a 444-day standoff that shaped U.S.-Iran relations.
Africa
- Apartheid-Era South Africa: 1983 Referendum
On November 3, 1983, white South Africans voted in a referendum to allow Indians and “Coloreds” (people of mixed race) limited participation in the government, while continuing to exclude Black Africans from political power. This event marked a controversial and deeply flawed attempt at reform within the apartheid system, highlighting the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in South Africa. - While November 3 does not mark an independence day or major continent-wide event in Africa, the 1983 South African referendum stands out for its impact on the trajectory of apartheid and the country’s eventual transition to democracy.
- The death of Jean-Bédel Bokassa is significant in the context of Central African political history, as his rule and subsequent downfall were emblematic of post-colonial leadership challenges in Africa.
This day in history: 3 november