'Casablanca,' a film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, premiered at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City.

Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace—the Nobel Prizes.

Ferdinand Magellan navigated through the strait that bears his name, the Magellan Strait, becoming the first European to cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The United Nations General Assembly approved a plan for the partition of Palestine, leading to the creation of the State of Israel.

Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which would sell the territory to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.

The Ford Model T, the first affordable automobile, was introduced, transforming the auto industry and American society.

The Twilight Zone premiered on CBS, introducing viewers to its unique blend of science fiction and fantasy narratives.

East and West Germany were reunified, ending 45 years of separation following World War II.

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, marking the start of the space age and the U.S.-Soviet space race.

President Harry Truman made the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, asking Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans.

The Jazz Singer, the first prominent 'talkie' movie, was released, heralding the end of the silent film era.

The U.S. and its allies launched air strikes against Taliban and al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, initiating the war in Afghanistan.

The Great Chicago Fire began, reportedly after a cow kicked over a lantern; it would kill up to 300 people and destroy thousands of buildings.

North Korea claimed to have conducted its first nuclear test, an announcement that prompted international condemnation and discussions on nuclear proliferation.

Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned after being charged with evasion of federal income tax.

Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, paving the way for the Iraq War.

Christopher Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas, believing he had reached Asia, and opened up the Americas to European exploration.

The cornerstone of the White House was laid in Washington, D.C.

Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent efforts to combat racial inequality.

Clarence Thomas was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice after contentious hearings involving accusations of sexual harassment.

Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, an event that heightened tensions leading up to the Civil War.

Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work with the poor in Calcutta, India.

The United States formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or about two cents an acre.

The British surrendered at Yorktown in a decisive victory by American and French troops, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War.

President John F. Kennedy announced that American spy planes had discovered Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, starting the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Thomas Edison successfully tested his prototype incandescent lightbulb, marking the beginning of the electric age.

President Kennedy addressed the nation about the Cuban Missile Crisis, revealing the existence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and announcing a naval blockade.

A suicide truck-bombing at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon killed 241 American service personnel.

The stock market crash of 1929 began, leading to the Great Depression.

The United States invaded Grenada to restore stability after a coup d'état in the island nation.

The USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law, expanding law enforcement's surveillance and investigative powers in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

The first underground New York City Subway line opened, linking Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor by President Grover Cleveland.

Black Tuesday hit Wall Street as investors traded approximately 16 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange in a single day, marking the climax of the Wall Street Crash.

Orson Welles broadcast his radio play of H.G. Wells' 'The War of the Worlds,' causing anxiety in some of the audience in the United States.

A ten-year-old tiger named Montecore attacked Roy Horn of the magician duo Siegfried & Roy during a live performance, signaling the end of their stage careers.

World War II began as Germany invaded Poland.

World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War.

Nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, were prevented from entering Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, by the National Guard.

The Munich Olympics massacre occurred, where 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September.

President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

The United States got its nickname, 'Uncle Sam,' based on Samuel Wilson, a meat packer who supplied meat to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812.

St. Augustine, Florida, was founded by the Spanish, making it the oldest continually inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States.

California was admitted as the 31st state of the United States.

Hurricane Donna made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane, causing widespread damage and becoming one of the most intense hurricanes on record to hit the United States.

Terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., killed nearly 3,000 people.

John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Oslo Accords were signed at the White House, with President Bill Clinton hosting Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Francis Scott Key wrote the poem 'Defence of Fort M'Henry,' which later became the lyrics for 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'

Four African American girls were killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, carrying Pilgrims bound for the New World.

The Constitution of the United States was signed by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

The United States Air Force was established as a separate branch of the U.S. military.

The New York Times and The Washington Post published the Unabomber's manifesto, which led to his identification and arrest.

Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in a highly publicized 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match.

Sandra Day O'Connor was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states should be free as of January 1, 1863.

Richard Nixon delivered his 'Checkers Speech,' famously defending his integrity and his family's finances.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 was signed into law, establishing the federal judiciary and the position of the Attorney General.

The Little Rock Nine entered Central High School under the protection of the U.S. Army, following the standoff over school integration.

The first televised presidential debate occurred between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

The Warren Commission report was released, concluding Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The Siege of Yorktown began during the American Revolutionary War, the last major land battle of the war.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points, its largest single-day point loss, amidst the financial crisis of 2008.

Iconic actor James Dean died in a car crash at the age of 24.