It was on this day in 1898 that Spain and the US delegates in Paris finalized the treaty that would officially end the Spanish-American War. As a result of the negotiations Cuba became an independent country while the US gained control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. There was much controversy in the Senate during the vote for ratification, with one lawmaker stating “This Treaty will make us a vulgar, commonplace empire -controlling subject races and vassal states, in which one class must forever rule and other classes must forever obey.” It passed the Senate by only one vote.
The earliest event that Wiki says happened on this day is “1041 – The adopted son of Empress Zoe of Byzantium succeeds to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V” and the most recent is “1994 – Rwandan Genocide: Military advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the Military Division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations Maurice Baril recommends that the UN multi-national forces in Zaire stand down.”
A few other things that also took place on this day are:
1884 – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published.
1955 – First broadcast of The Mighty Mouse Playhouse on television.
2001 – World premiere of the movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”
Happy birthday to Susan Dey.