May 22 - This Day in History

May 22 : General Interest 1843: Great Emigration departs for Oregon A massive wagon train, made up of 1,000 settlers and 1,000 head of cattle, sets off down the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri. Known as the "Great Emigration," the expedition came two years after the first modest party of settlers made the long, overland journey to Oregon... read more American Revolution 1781 : Patriot siege of Ninety Six, South Carolina, begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriot-siege-of-ninety-six-south-carolina-begins Automotive 1969 : "Winning" released, stars Paul Newman as a race car driver http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/winning-released-stars-paul-newman-as-a-race-car-driver Civil War 1856 : Southern congressman attacks Northern senator http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/preston-brooks-attacks-charles-sumner Cold War 1977 : Jimmy Carter reaffirms his commitment to human rights http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jimmy-carter-reaffirms-his-commitment-to-human-rights Crime 1981 : Atlanta child murderer is questioned http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/atlanta-child-murderer-is-questioned 2002 : Chandra Levy's remains found http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/chandra-levys-remains-found Disaster 1967 : Belgian department store burns http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/belgian-department-store-burns General Interest 1455 : The War of the Roses http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-war-of-the-roses 1972 : President Nixon in Moscow http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-nixon-in-moscow 1990 : Yemen united http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yemen-united Hollywood 2004 : Controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 wins Palme d'Or http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/controversial-documentary-fahrenheit-911-wins-palme-dor Literary 1859 : Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sir-arthur-conan-doyle-is-born Music 1958 : Jerry Lee Lewis drops a bombshell in London http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jerry-lee-lewis-drops-a-bombshell-in-london Old West 1843 : A thousand pioneers head West on the Oregon Trail http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-thousand-pioneers-head-west-on-the-oregon-trail Presidential 1802 : Martha Washington dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/martha-washington-dies Sports 2003 : Sorenstam makes history http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sorenstam-makes-history Vietnam War 1964 : Rusk warns North Vietnamese http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rusk-warns-north-vietnamese 1969 : Negotiators differ on diplomatic exchange http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/negotiators-differ-on-diplomatic-exchange World War I 1917 : Crisis in Austria-Hungary http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/crisis-in-austria-hungary World War II 1939 : The Pact of Steel is signed; the Axis is formed http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-pact-of-steel-is-signed-the-axis-is-formed 1944 : Operation Chattanooga Choo-Choo is launched http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/operation-chattanooga-choo-choo-is-launched