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On this day in History Archives
 
At PaulsQuiz.com we aim to provide you with as much information as we possibly can. That's why we have built our On This Day in History section, to do just that. Our database is forever growing, we're adding more and more events from history to help you write your quiz questions.

Simply enter a date using the drop-down boxes below and click the 'Go' button to display events from the past that ocurred on that day.
 

 
20 January, 2001
Philippine president Joseph Estrada is ousted in the EDSA II Revolution and is succeeded by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
20 January, 1999
The China News Service announces new government restrictions on Internet use aimed especially at Internet cafés.
20 January, 1992
Air Inter Flight 148 crashes near Strasbourg, France, killing 82 passengers and 5 crew.
20 January, 1991
Sudans government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the countrys Muslim north and Christian south.
20 January, 1990
Black January - crackdown of Azerbaijani pro-independence demonstrations by Soviet army in Baku.
20 January, 1987
Church of England envoy Terry Waite is kidnapped in Lebanon.
20 January, 1986
Martin Luther King, Jr., day is celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time.
20 January, 1986
The United Kingdom and France announce plans to construct the Channel Tunnel.
20 January, 1985
The San Francisco 49ers defeat the Miami Dolphins 36-16 to win Super Bowl XIX. Joe Montana was named MVP.
20 January, 1981
Iran releases 52 American hostages twenty minutes after Ronald Reagan is inaugurated as U.S. President.
20 January, 1980
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Los Angeles Rams 31-19 to Super Bowl XIV. Terry Bradshaw was named MVP.
20 January, 1969
The first pulsar is discovered, in the Crab Nebula.
20 January, 1968
The Houston Cougars defeat the UCLA Bruins 71-69 to win the Game of the Century.
20 January, 1960
Hendrik Verwoerd announces a plebiscite on whether South Africa should become a Republic.
20 January, 1954
The National Negro Network is established with 40 charter member radio stations.
20 January, 1945
Hungary ends its involvement in the Second World War, agreeing an armistice with the Allies.
20 January, 1944
World War II: The Royal Air Force drops 2,300 tons of bombs on Berlin.
20 January, 1942
World War II: Nazis at the Wannsee conference in Berlin agree on the "final solution to the Jewish problem".
20 January, 1937
Franklin Roosevelt is inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. This is the first inauguration scheduled on January 20, following adoption of the 20th Amendment. Previous inaugurations were scheduled on March 4.
20 January, 1936
Edward VIII becomes King of the United Kingdom.
20 January, 1929
In Old Arizona, the first full-length talking film filmed outdoors, is released.
20 January, 1921
The first Constitution of Turkey is adopted, making fundamental changes in the source and exercise of sovereignty by consecrating the principle of national sovereignty.
20 January, 1920
The American Civil Liberties Union is founded.
20 January, 1892
At the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, the first official basketball game is played.
20 January, 1887
The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base.
20 January, 1885
L.A. Thompson patents the roller coaster.
20 January, 1841
Hong Kong Island is occupied by the British.
20 January, 1840
Dumont DUrville discovers Adélie Land, Antarctica.
20 January, 1840
Willem II becomes King of the Netherlands.
20 January, 1839
In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats a Peruvian and Bolivian alliance.
20 January, 1801
John Marshall is appointed the Chief Justice of the United States.
20 January, 1788
The third and main part of First Fleet arrives at Botany Bay. Arthur Phillip decides Botany Bay is unsuitable for location of a penal colony, and decides to move to Port Jackson.
20 January, 1783
The Kingdom of Great Britain signs a peace treaty with France and Spain, officially ending hostilities in the Revolutionary War.
20 January, 1667
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth cedes Kiev, Smolensk, and left-bank Ukraine to Imperial Russia in the treaty of Andrusovo.
20 January, 1649
Charles I of England goes on trial for treason and other "high crimes".
20 January, 1576
The Mexican city of León is founded by order of the viceroy Don Martín Enríquez de Almansa.
20 January, 1523
Christian II is forced to abdicate as King of Denmark and Norway.
20 January, 1502
The present-day location of Rio de Janeiro is first explored.
20 January, 1356
Edward Balliol abdicates as King of Scotland.
20 January, 1320
Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes king of Poland.
20 January, 1265
In Westminster, the first English parliament conducts its first meeting in the Palace of Westminster, now also known as the "Houses of Parliament".
20 January, 1156
According to legend, freeholder Lalli slays English crusader Bishop Henry with an axe on the ice of lake Köyliönjärvi in Finland.
20 January, 250
Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Pope Fabian was martyred. Afterwards the Donatist controversy over readmitting lapsed Christians disaffects many in North Africa.

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January

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February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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July

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August

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September

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October

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November

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December

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