Europa
- Battle of Tewkesbury (1471)
The Battle of Tewkesbury, a decisive engagement in the Wars of the Roses, took place in England. King Edward IV’s Yorkist forces defeated the Lancastrians, effectively ending significant Lancastrian resistance and consolidating Edward IV’s reign. - Christopher Columbus Discovers Jamaica (1494)
During his second voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus landed on and claimed the island of Jamaica for Spain. - Notable European Football Clubs Founded
FC Nürnberg (Germany) was formed in 1900. The club would go on to win the West German football championship nine times. - FC Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04 (Germany) was founded in 1904. Schalke 04 became one of Germany’s most successful clubs, with seven domestic championships and a UEFA Cup victory in 1996/97.
- Birthdays of Notable Europeans
Anghel Iordănescu (born 1950), Romanian footballer and manager, earned 57 caps and scored 21 goals for the national team.
America
1776 – Rhode Island Renounces Allegiance to Britain
- Rhode Island became the first North American colony to formally renounce its allegiance to King George III, taking a significant step toward American independence.
1886 – Haymarket Square Riot (Chicago)
- The Haymarket Square Riot occurred after a bomb was thrown during a labor rally. The incident led to the deaths of seven police officers and wounded over 50 others. Several anarchists were later convicted and executed or imprisoned.
1970 – Kent State University Shootings
- During an anti-Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in Ohio, National Guardsmen opened fire on students, killing four and wounding nine. The tragedy became a pivotal moment in the anti-war movement and led to widespread campus protests across the country.
1904 – U.S. Takes Over Panama Canal Construction: The United States assumed control of the Panama Canal project from the French, marking a major milestone in American engineering and foreign policy.
1977 – Nixon-Frost Interviews Begin: The first televised interview of former President Richard Nixon by David Frost aired, focusing on the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation.
Asia
May Fourth Movement (China, 1919)
- On May 4, 1919, over 3,000 students from 13 colleges in Beijing protested against the Versailles Peace Conference decision to transfer former German concessions in Shandong province to Japan, rather than returning them to China. The protest was fueled by anger at the Chinese government’s acquiescence and quickly spread, leading to nationwide demonstrations, strikes, and boycotts against Japanese goods.
- The movement grew into a broader call for modernization, science, democracy, and national unity, marking a pivotal moment in modern Chinese history. It spurred cultural and political reforms, accelerated the decline of traditional ethics, promoted vernacular literature, and contributed to the rise of both the Nationalist and Communist parties in China.
Regional Impact and Commemoration
- The May Fourth Movement also resonated with Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, notably in Singapore and Hong Kong. In these regions, Chinese residents organized boycotts, strikes, and demonstrations in solidarity with the movement in China. The movement inspired local debates about identity, democracy, and modernization, and its centennial was marked by discussions about its ongoing legacy in the region.
Africa
1960 – Robert Sobukwe Sentenced in South Africa
- On May 4, 1960, Robert Sobukwe, President of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for incitement after urging Africans to demand the repeal of pass laws during the anti-apartheid campaign. Sobukwe refused to appeal or accept legal representation, arguing that the court lacked legitimacy over him and his cause.
1978 – Cassinga Massacre in Angola
- On May 4, 1978, the South African Defence Force attacked a SWAPO (South West Africa People’s Organization) base at Cassinga in southern Angola. The attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 600 people, many of whom were refugees. The Cassinga raid remains a highly controversial and significant event in the history of southern Africa’s liberation struggles.
This day in history: 4 may