On February 17, 2008 the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. While Serbia denounced the declaration as illegal, the international community has remained divided on this issue. Several nations including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Taiwan, and Turkey have recognized Kosovo’s independence, but others such as Russia maintain that the declaration violates international [...]
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On February 16, 1916, feminist and anarchist Emma Goldman was arrested in New York City for advocating birth control. Learn more about Emma Goldman and her defense of reproductive rights from the University of California, Berkeley.
On February 16, 1987, accused Nazi war criminal, John Demjanjuk, went on trial in Jerusalem, Israel. The prosecution claimed that Demjanjuk was a notorious prison guard known as “Ivan the Terrible” at the Treblinka extermination camp during World War II. On this basis, Demjanjuk was convicted by the Israeli court of crimes against humanity. However, [...]
On February 15, 1879, US President Rutherford B. Hayes signed legislation allowing women to be admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Belva Lockwood became the first woman admitted to practice under the new law on March 3, 1879. Learn more about Belva Lockwood.
On February 15, 1906, the British Labour Party was organized. By the 1920’s, Labour had surpassed the Liberal Party to become the primary opposition to the Conservative Party in Great Britain. Today, the government is controlled by Labour, headed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Read the Labour Party Rule Book.
On February 14, 1899, Congress approved the use of voting machines in federal elections. Listen to a brief history of voting machines from the Council of State Governments.
On February 14, 1949, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, convened for the first time, and Joseph Shprinzak was elected as its first Speaker. Read a history of the First Knesset from the Knesset archives.
David Dudley Field, a champion of legal codification in the United States, was born in Haddam, Connecticut, on February 13, 1805. Learn more about the life and career of David Dudley Field.
On February 13, 2007, Ma Ying-jeou, the chairman of Taiwan’s opposition party was indicted on embezzlement charges from his time as Mayor of Taipei. That same day, Ma stepped down as leader of the Kuomintang Party and proceeded to announce his candidacy for the Presidency of Taiwan. In the indictment, Ma was accused by the [...]
On February 12, 1793, the US Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, prohibiting anyone from assisting a runaway slave.
