1492 – Christopher Columbus arrives in the Canary Islands on his first voyage to the new world.
1851 – Isaac Singer is granted a patent for his sewing machine.
1898 – A peace protocol was signed, ending the Spanish-American War. The United States acquired Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines, and annexed Hawaii.
1914 – World War I: The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.
1939 – The Wizard of Oz had its world premiere in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
1964 – South Africa is banned from the Olympic Games due to the country’s racist policies
1966 – John Lennon apologized for saying the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.
1981 – IBM introduced the first personal computer.
1992 – Canada, Mexico and the United States announce the completion of negotiations for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
1994 – Major League Baseball players go on strike, forcing the cancellation of the 1994 World Series.
