Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.
1642: King Charles I flees London
King Charles I & family flee London for Oxford. His reign was dominated by a bitter dispute with Parliament over the extent of royal power, which culminated in 1642 in the English Civil War and Charles' eventual execution for treason.
1776: Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' published
Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, in 1775–76 advocating independence from Great Britain to people in the Thirteen Colonies is published.
1863: First underground passenger railway opens in London
The first underground passenger railway, the Metropolitan, opens in London.
1901: Oil discovered in Texas
An enormous geyser of oil explodes from a drilling site at Spindletop Hill, an east Texas oil field, producing 80,000 barrels a day, changing oil production forever.
1920: League of Nations comes into existence
The League of Nations is established in Geneva as the Treaty of Versailles goes into effect.
1967: 1st African-American elected Senator
The first African-American senator elected by popular vote, Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, takes his seat.
2008: World’s cheapest car debuts in India
Tata Motors debuts the Nano, billing it as the world’s cheapest car. The anticipated price tag is around $2,500 at the New Delhi Auto Expo in India.
