August 18 - The Day in History

August 18 : General Interest 1991: Soviet hard-liners launch coup against Gorbachev On this day in 1991, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is placed under house arrest during a coup by high-ranking members of his own government, military and police forces... read more American Revolution 1780 : British win at Fishing Creek, lose at Musgrove's Mill http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-win-at-fishing-creek-lose-at-musgroves-mill Automotive 1940 : Walter P. Chrysler dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/walter-p-chrysler-dies Civil War 1864 : Union attacks railroad at Globe Tavern http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-weldon-railroad-virginia Cold War 1991 : Coup attempt against Gorbachev begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/coup-attempt-against-gorbachev-begins Crime 1988 : A Seattle judge involved in a sex scandal commits suicide http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-seattle-judge-involved-in-a-sex-scandal-commits-suicide Disaster 1931 : Yangtze River peaks in China http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yangtze-river-peaks-in-china General Interest 1227 : Genghis Khan dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/genghis-khan-dies 1590 : Roanoke Colony deserted http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/roanoke-colony-deserted 1920 : Woman suffrage amendment ratified http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/woman-suffrage-amendment-ratified 1963 : Meredith graduates from Ole Miss http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/meredith-graduates-from-ole-miss Hollywood 1933 : Director Roman Polanski born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/director-roman-polanski-born Literary 1958 : Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is published http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lolita-by-vladimir-nabokov-is-published Music 1979 : Chic's "Good Times" hits #1 on the U.S. pop charts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chics-quotgood-timesquot-hits-1-on-the-us-pop-charts Old West 1853 : Cyrus Skinner released from San Quentin http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cyrus-skinner-released-from-san-quentin Presidential 1795 : George Washington signs Jay Treaty with Britain http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-washington-signs-jay-treaty-with-britain Sports 1992 : Larry Bird hangs it up http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/larry-bird-hangs-it-up Vietnam War 1965 : Marines launch Operation Starlite http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marines-launch-operation-starlite 1966 : Australians defeat VC at Long Tan http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/australians-defeat-vc-at-long-tan 1968 : Communists launch new offensive http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/communists-launch-new-offensive 1971 : Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw troops from Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/australia-and-new-zealand-decide-to-withdraw-troops-from-vietnam World War I 1917 : Italians launch the 11th Battle of the Isonzo http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/italians-launch-the-11th-battle-of-the-isonzo World War II 1941 : Hitler suspends euthanasia program http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-suspends-euthanasia-program

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