September 16 - The Day in History

September 16 : General Interest 1932: Gandhi begins fast in protest of caste separation On this day in 1932, in his cell at Yerovda Jail near Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest of the British government's decision to separate India's electoral system by caste... read more American Revolution 1776 : Battle of Harlem Heights restores American confidence http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-harlem-heights-restores-american-confidence Automotive 1908 : William Durant creates General Motors http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-durant-creates-general-motors Civil War 1832 : Confederate General Custis Lee is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/confederate-general-custis-lee-is-born Cold War 1950 : United Nations essay contest angers Soviets http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-nations-essay-contest-angers-soviets Crime 1845 : Murder in Illinois http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/murder-in-illinoisl Disaster 1978 : Killer quake shakes Iran http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/killer-quake-shakes-iran General Interest 1620 : Mayflower departs England http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mayflower-departs-england 1810 : Mexican War of Independence begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mexican-war-of-independence-begins 1977 : Maria Callas dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/maria-callas-dies 1982 : Massacres at Sabra and Shatila http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massacres-at-sabra-and-shatila Hollywood 1993 : Frasier debuts http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/frasier-debuts Literary 1943 : James Alan McPherson is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/james-alan-mcpherson-is-born Music 1977 : Opera star Maria Callas dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/opera-star-maria-callas-dies Old West 1893 : Settlers race to claim land http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/settlers-race-to-claim-land Presidential 1940 : Franklin Roosevelt approves military draft http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-roosevelt-approves-military-draft Sports 1981 : Leonard knocks out Hearns to unify middleweight title http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/leonard-knocks-out-hearns-to-unify-middleweight-title Vietnam War 1960 : U.S. Ambassador in Saigon warns that situation is worsening http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-ambassador-in-saigon-warns-that-situation-is-worsening 1969 : Nixon announces the withdrawal of a further 35,000 troops from Vietnam http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-the-withdrawal-of-a-further-35000-troops-from-vietnam World War I 1916 : Hindenburg gives order to strengthen German defenses http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hindenburg-gives-order-to-strengthen-german-defenses World War II 1940 : United States imposes the draft http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-imposes-the-draft

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