This day in history: 31 may

1906: An assassination attempt targeted Spanish King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie on their wedding day in Madrid, resulting in the deaths of 24 bystanders, highlighting the era’s political instability.
1911: The RMS Titanic was launched in Belfast, Northern Ireland, beginning the story of one of history’s most famous ships.
1916: The Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of World War I, began between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet, though it ended indecisively.
1947: Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Nagy resigned under pressure from the Communist Party, paving the way for communist control in Hungary during the early Cold War.

Trans-Alaska Pipeline Completed (1977): The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a major feat of engineering, was completed, enabling oil to be transported from Alaska’s North Slope to the port of Valdez.
United States–Canada Tornado Outbreak (1985): A devastating tornado outbreak struck Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, resulting in significant damage and loss of life.
Widest Tornado Ever Recorded (2013): The El Reno, Oklahoma tornado reached a width of 2.6 miles, the widest ever documented, causing nine fatalities.
Deep Throat Revealed (2005): Mark Felt, a former FBI agent, publicly revealed himself as “Deep Throat,” the key Watergate scandal informant.
Kansas-Nebraska Act Passed (1854): The U.S. Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed territories to decide on the legality of slavery, intensifying pre-Civil War tensions.
First U.S. Copyright Act (1790): President George Washington signed the first U.S. copyright law, protecting authors’ rights.
Battle of Seven Pines (1862): During the American Civil War, this significant battle took place in Virginia.

Mongol Conquests and Medieval Asia

1215: The Mongols under Genghis Khan captured Zhongdu (modern-day Beijing), ending the Battle of Zhongdu and marking a pivotal moment in the Mongol conquest of northern China.

Modern China

1925: The aftermath of the May Thirtieth Movement unfolded. On May 31, large crowds of students protested in Shanghai following the shooting of demonstrators by police the previous day. They issued demands for justice and an end to foreign control, fueling a nationwide wave of strikes and anti-imperialist activism that significantly strengthened both the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang.

Taiwan

2018: Taiwan’s Transitional Justice Commission was inaugurated on May 31, with President Tsai Ing-wen issuing a formal apology to victims of political persecution, marking a step toward reconciliation and historical justice.

End of the Second Boer War (1902)

On May 31, 1902, the Second Boer War (also known as the South African War) ended with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging between the British Empire and the two Boer republics, the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. This marked the end of a major conflict over control of South Africa and its gold resources.

South Africa Becomes a Republic (1961)

On May 31, 1961, South Africa officially became an independent republic, leaving the Commonwealth of Nations. This move followed a referendum and was a significant moment in the country’s history, especially during the era of apartheid.

Formation of the Union of South Africa (1910)

On May 31, 1910, the Union of South Africa was established by uniting four British colonies into one self-governing dominion within the British Empire, laying the foundation for the modern state of South Africa.

This day in history: 31 may