1792day.year
The Coinage Act is passed by Congress, establishing the United States Mint.
The United States Congress enacts the Coinage Act to establish the U.S. Mint and standardize the national currency.
On April 2, 1792, the United States Congress enacted the Coinage Act, creating the United States Mint in Philadelphia.
The law defined the dollar as the unit of currency and regulated the coins to be struck, including their weight, composition, and design.
It established positions such as the Mint Director and set standards for gold, silver, and copper coinage.
By laying the foundation for a uniform national currency, the Coinage Act aimed to stabilize the young nation's economy and facilitate commerce.
The act also authorized medals and foreign coin conversions, reflecting a comprehensive approach to monetary policy.
The U.S. Mint would later develop into a cornerstone institution for American financial and industrial growth.
1792
Coinage Act
United States Mint
1902day.year
Dmitry Sipyagin, Minister of Interior of the Russian Empire, is assassinated in the Mariinsky Palace, Saint Petersburg.
Russian Interior Minister Dmitry Sipyagin is assassinated at the Mariinsky Palace in Saint Petersburg, reflecting political turmoil in the Empire.
On April 2, 1902, Dmitry Sipyagin, the Russian Empire’s Minister of Interior, was shot and killed by revolutionary Leonid Kaltovich inside the Mariinsky Palace.
Sipyagin had been instrumental in enforcing conservative policies and expanding the secret police under Tsar Nicholas II.
The assassination stunned the imperial court and underscored the growing radical opposition to autocratic rule.
Kaltovich, a member of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party, aimed to intimidate the government with the act.
In response, authorities implemented stricter security measures and intensified crackdowns on revolutionary groups.
The event foreshadowed the mounting tensions that would lead to the 1905 Revolution and later upheavals in Russia.
1902
Dmitry Sipyagin
Minister of Interior
Russian Empire
Mariinsky Palace
Saint Petersburg
1911day.year
The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducts the country's first national census.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducts the country's first national census in 1911 to gather comprehensive demographic data.
In April 1911 the Australian Bureau of Statistics carried out the nation's first official census, marking a milestone in the young federation's history. Established six years earlier to centralize statistical collection, the Bureau surveyed every household to compile comprehensive data on population, occupations, and living conditions. Enumerators faced challenges in reaching remote communities across the vast continent and islands. The results provided unprecedented insight into Australia's demographic makeup, informing government planning for infrastructure, education, and public health. This inaugural census set the standard for systematic data collection and has continued at roughly five-year intervals to shape national policy ever since.
1911
Australian Bureau of Statistics
national census
1917day.year
American entry into World War I: President Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress to declare war on Germany in April 1917, marking America's entry into World War I.
On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson addressed the United States Congress, requesting a formal declaration of war against Germany and signaling the end of American neutrality. The decision was driven by German unrestricted submarine warfare that threatened U.S. shipping and provoked public opinion. Wilson framed the conflict as a fight to make the world 'safe for democracy,' rallying support for the Allied powers. Congress approved the war resolution on April 6, officially drawing the United States into World War I. American mobilization brought fresh troops and resources to the European front, influencing the war's final stages and reshaping the nation's role on the global stage.
1917
American entry into World War I
asks the U.S. Congress
1921day.year
The Autonomous Government of Khorasan, a military government encompassing the modern state of Iran, is established.
The Autonomous Government of Khorasan is established in northeastern Persia in 1921, creating a military-controlled regional administration.
In April 1921 the Autonomous Government of Khorasan was proclaimed in the northeastern province of Persia, now part of modern-day Iran, following a military insurrection. Led by regional commanders, the new government operated independently from Tehran, enforcing order and asserting local authority. It emerged amid widespread unrest after World War I and rival tribal conflicts, aiming to stabilize the region under a unified command. Although short-lived, the autonomous regime demonstrated the tensions between central authority and regional power bases in Persia. Its rise and fall paved the way for subsequent efforts to consolidate Iran under a strong central government.
1921
Autonomous Government of Khorasan
Iran
1930day.year
After the mysterious death of Empress Zewditu, Haile Selassie is proclaimed emperor of Ethiopia.
Haile Selassie is proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia on April 2, 1930, succeeding Empress Zewditu after her mysterious death.
On April 2, 1930, following the unexpected death of Empress Zewditu, Ras Tafari Makonnen was proclaimed Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. As regent since 1916, Haile Selassie had guided the nation through modernization reforms, centralizing power and promoting education. His coronation at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum marked the beginning of a transformative reign. He would later introduce Ethiopia's first written constitution and advocate for African unity on the world stage. Haile Selassie's leadership spanned tumultuous periods, including the Italian invasion and the formation of the United Nations.
1930
Zewditu
Haile Selassie
Ethiopia
1972day.year
Actor Charlie Chaplin returns to the United States for the first time since being labeled a communist during the Red Scare in the early 1950s.
In April 1972, legendary actor Charlie Chaplin returned to the United States for the first time since being labeled a communist during the early 1950s Red Scare. His visit symbolized a poignant homecoming for the iconic filmmaker.
Charlie Chaplin had lived in self-imposed exile in Switzerland after facing accusations of communist sympathies during the McCarthy era. For nearly twenty years, he was denied reentry to the country where he revolutionized silent film comedy. His 1972 visit followed President Nixon’s formal invitation and was greeted by thousands of fans at Los Angeles Airport. Chaplin’s return highlighted shifting attitudes toward Cold War politics and the legacy of Hollywood’s golden age. The event was celebrated in media coverage and renewed interest in his cinematic masterpieces. It remains a landmark moment in both film history and American cultural politics.
1972
Charlie Chaplin
communist
Red Scare
1976day.year
Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as leader of Cambodia and is placed under house arrest.
Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigned as Cambodia’s head of state in 1976, ending a turbulent leadership marked by shifting alliances. He was placed under house arrest amid growing internal unrest.
Norodom Sihanouk had navigated Cambodia through a series of political upheavals since independence in 1953. His reign saw coups, civil war, and foreign interventions that strained the nation. On April 2, 1976, Sihanouk announced his resignation and was confined to his Phnom Penh residence. The move came as the emergent Khmer Rouge regime consolidated power and sought to eliminate rival authorities. Sihanouk’s departure highlighted the kingdom’s descent into radical communist rule. Although initially sidelined, he was later used as a figurehead before the Khmer Rouge turned against him entirely.
1976
Norodom Sihanouk
Cambodia
house arrest
1980day.year
United States President Jimmy Carter signs the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act.
President Jimmy Carter signed the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act in 1980 to capture unexpected oil revenues for taxpayers. The law aimed to lessen inflationary pressure and fund energy programs.
Facing an energy crisis and rising gasoline prices, President Carter sought to tax excess profits from domestic oil production. The Windfall Profits Tax Act imposed levies on oil producers when market prices exceeded a government-set base price. Revenue from the tax was earmarked for energy conservation, research, and assistance to low-income households. Critics argued the law discouraged domestic oil exploration, while supporters saw it as a necessary response to the 1970s oil shocks. The act remained in place until its repeal in the 1980s amid changing economic conditions. Its legacy underscores the challenges of balancing energy policy, taxation, and market dynamics.
1980
Jimmy Carter
Crude Oil
Windfall Profits Tax
1986day.year
Alabama governor George Wallace, a former segregationist, best known for the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door", announces that he will not seek a fifth four-year term and will retire from public life upon the end of his term in January 1987.
In 1986, Alabama Governor George Wallace announced he would not seek a fifth term, signaling the end of a career once defined by segregationist politics. His retirement marked the departure of one of America’s most controversial state leaders.
Known for his 1963 Stand in the Schoolhouse Door, George Wallace had become a symbol of resistance against desegregation. After surviving an assassination attempt in 1972, he moderated some of his public positions and won three terms as governor. On April 2, 1986, Wallace declared he would step down at the end of his term, opting not to pursue another four-year term. His decision reflected changing political tides in the South and growing calls for new leadership. Wallace’s legacy remains complex, as he evolved from hardline segregationist to a more conciliatory figure. His retirement closed a controversial chapter in the civil rights era and Alabama politics.
1986
Alabama
George Wallace
segregationist
Stand in the Schoolhouse Door
1989day.year
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Havana, Cuba, to meet with Fidel Castro in an attempt to mend strained relations.
Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev visited Havana in 1989 to meet Fidel Castro and repair strained relations between the USSR and Cuba. The visit signaled shifts in Cold War diplomacy as reform efforts accelerated.
Amid sweeping reforms under perestroika, Gorbachev traveled to Cuba to address economic and political tensions with his longstanding ally. The two leaders discussed Soviet aid, debt relief, and Cuba’s role in global politics. Gorbachev’s glasnost policies contrasted with Castro’s hardline socialism, creating friction over the pace of change. Despite disagreements, both men sought common ground to maintain the bilateral partnership. The 1989 Havana summit foreshadowed the eventual withdrawal of Soviet support following the USSR’s collapse. It marked one of the last major Cold War-era visits between the two countries.
1989
Soviet
Mikhail Gorbachev
Havana
Fidel Castro
1991day.year
Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she succeeds William Vander Zalm (who had resigned) as Premier of British Columbia.
In 1991, Rita Johnston became the first woman to serve as premier of a Canadian province, taking office in British Columbia. Her appointment shattered political glass ceilings and made history in Canada.
Rita Johnston rose through the ranks of the British Columbia Social Credit Party before succeeding William Vander Zalm as party leader and premier. On April 2, 1991, she took the oath of office, becoming the first female head of a Canadian provincial government. Johnston’s leadership focused on economic challenges, healthcare reforms, and party unity ahead of imminent elections. Though her tenure was brief, her milestone appointment inspired greater gender diversity in Canadian politics. She faced both acclaim and intense scrutiny as a pioneer for women in leadership. Johnston’s legacy endures as a symbol of progress in political representation.
1991
Rita Johnston
Premier
Canadian province
William Vander Zalm
Premier of British Columbia