1933: Prohibition ends in America
The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, bringing an end to the prohibition of alcohol in America. In early 1919, the 18th Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors within the United States. To enforce the 18th Amendment, the U.S. Congress passed the
Volstead Act, which authorized the
Treasury Department to establish its own prohibition unit. In its first six months, the unit destroyed thousands of illicit stills run by bootleggers. However, federal agents and police did little more than slow the flow of booze, and organized
crime flourished in America.
Prohibition, ineffective in enforcing sobriety, lost popular support and in early 1933 Congress proposed the 21st Amendment to repeal the 18th. On December 5, 1933, Prohibition officially ended when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the
amendment, giving it the requisite three-fourths majority of state approval.
1993
American astronauts from the Shuttle Endeavour leave their spacecraft to begin work on repairing the Hubble space telescope 367 miles above the surface of Earth.1977
Five Arab nations break diplomatic links with
Egypt - hostile to President Anwar Sadat's peace
initiative with
Israel. 1962
United States and
Soviet Union agree to co-operate in peaceful uses of outer space.
1958
British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan opens Britian's first motorway 1958
Inauguration of Britain's STD telephone service in Bristol.1956
Approval given for British Togoland and
Ghana to become single country.
1956
British and French forces begin to withdraw from Egypt at the end of the Suez War.1945
The so-called Bermuda Triangle in the Atlantic Ocean claims more victims as five US Navy bombers from Fort Lauderdale in Florida disappear while flying over the area. No trace is ever found of any of the planes or the pilots.1944
World War II: Allied forces capture Ravenna in
Italy. 1936
Soviet Union adopts a new Constitution under one Supreme Council.1934
Reports from Russia of the executions of 66 people found guilty of plotting against the Government of
Joseph Stalin. 1933
After 13 years, the era of Prohibition in America comes to an end.1913
Britain forbids the selling of arms to Ireland.1904
Russo-Japanese War: The Russian fleet is destroyed by the
Japanese at Port Arthur.
1872
An American ship, the Marie Celeste, is found drifting in the Atlantic. There is no sign of any of the crew members and no clues why they should have deserted the ship.1863
The rules of Association Football are published.1812
Napoleon
Bonaparte deserts his troops retreating from Russia and travels back to
Paris alone.
1797
Napoleon Bonaparte arrives in Paris to take command of the French forces planning the invasion of
Britain. 1766
James Christie, who founded the world famous auctioneers, holds his first sale in London.1560
Charles IX becomes King of France on the death of
Francis II. 1932
American musician Little Richard.1901
American film-maker Walt Disney. Pioneer of animated cartoons1867
Polish soldier and statesman Marshal Josef Pilsudski.1839
American soldier Colonel George Custer
