Today:
202 BC: Liu Bang is enthroned as the Emperor of China, marking the beginning of the Han dynasty’s four-century rule.
1801: The District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801 places Washington, D.C. under the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Congress.
1827: The first Mardi Gras celebration is held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
1844: The Dominican Republic gains its independence from Haiti.
1922: The United States Supreme Court unanimously upholds the 19th Amendment, which guarantees women the right to vote.
1933: The Reichstag, the German parliament building in Berlin, is destroyed by an arson fire, an event the Nazi party used to justify a crackdown on political opponents.
1951: The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, officially limiting presidents to serving two terms.
1974: The first issue of People magazine is published by Time Inc.
1991: During the Gulf War, U.S. President George H.W. Bush declares that Kuwait has been liberated and orders a ceasefire.
2013: Pope Benedict XVI holds his final general audience in St. Peter’s Square before becoming the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.