September 16 - This 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-illinois

2013 : Gunman kills 12 in D.C. Navy Yard massacre
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gunman-kills-12-in-dc-navy-yard-massacre


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