April 20 - The Day in History

April 20 : General Interest 1980: Castro announces Mariel Boatlift On April 20, 1980, the Castro regime announces that all Cubans wishing to emigrate to the U.S. are free to board boats at the port of Mariel west of Havana, launching the Mariel Boatlift... read more American Revolution 1777 : New York adopts state constitution http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-york-adopts-state-constitution Automotive 2008 : Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win Indy race http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/danica-patrick-becomes-first-woman-to-win-indy-race Civil War 1861 : Lee resigns from U.S. Army http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lee-resigns-from-us-army Cold War 1978 : Korean Air Lines jet forced down over Soviet Union http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/korean-air-lines-jet-forced-down-over-soviet-union Crime 1999 : A massacre at Columbine High School http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-massacre-at-columbine-high-school Disaster 2010 : Massive oil spill begins in Gulf of Mexico http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massive-oil-spill-begins-in-gulf-of-mexico General Interest 1689 : Siege of Londonderry begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/siege-of-londonderry-begins 1871 : Ku Klux Act passed by Congress http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ku-klux-act-passed-by-congress 1902 : Curies isolate radium http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/curies-isolate-radium 1999 : Columbine High School massacre http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/columbine-high-school-massacre Hollywood 1926 : New sound process for films announced http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-sound-process-for-films-announced Literary 1841 : First detective story is published http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-detective-story-is-published Music 1923 : "Mambo King" Tito Puente is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mambo-king-tito-puente-is-born Old West 1914 : Militia slaughters strikers at Ludlow, Colorado http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/militia-slaughters-strikers-at-ludlow-colorado Presidential 1898 : McKinley asks for declaration of war with Spain http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mckinley-asks-for-declaration-of-war-with-spain Sports 1986 : Jordan scores 63 points in playoff game http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jordan-scores-63-points-in-playoff-game Vietnam War 1970 : Nixon announces more troop withdrawals http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-announces-more-troop-withdrawals 1971 : "Fragging" on the rise in U.S. units http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fragging-on-the-rise-in-us-units World War I 1917 : Nivelle Offensive ends in failure http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nivelle-offensive-ends-in-failure World War II 1945 : Operation Corncob is launched while Hitler celebrates his birthday http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-corncob-is-launched-while-hitler-celebrates-his-birthday