Those of a certain age may know the #OregonTrail from a game, but it was a deadly-serious task, crossing North America for a new life on stolen #PacificNorthwest land. On #ThisDayInHistory in 1842 a first major #WagonTrain left Elm Grove, MO, with 100 #pioneers/#SettlerColonists.
The US passed a #SeditionAct on #ThisDayInHistory in 1918, criminalizing criticism of the government, of conscription, and of #WorldWarI. It ended the illusion of #FreeSpeech here & almost a thousand #PoliticalPrisoners were gaoled for their beliefs. Stop pretending you are free.

#SammyDavisJr, one of the greatest entertainers this country ever produced, died on #ThisDayInHistory in 1990. As a tribute to his unique character, I'll share one of his songs that always held special meaning for me as a socially-awkward autistic nut. ๐Ÿ˜Š

https://zurl.co/X3OsF

We lost genius puppeteer #JimHenson far too soon. The creator of the #Muppets and the #SesameStreet #puppets died on #ThisDayInHistory in 1990. To celebrate with the black humour he loved, here are some of early, savagely funny #WilkinsCoffee adverts:

https://zurl.co/fFky3

The Senate failed to convict #WhiteSupremacist shithead #AndrewJohnson on #ThisDayInHistory in 1868, by one vote. If #impeachment actually worked to prevent tyranny & illegal activity, most of our presidents would have removed from office. Not one of them has ever been convicted
A worker's council (a #soviet) was declared at #KnocklongCreamery in #CountyLimerick, Ireland, on #ThisDayInHistory in 1920. Like in other labour revolts, they took over production as a worker-owned enterprise. Ownership was returned in exchange for better pay and shorter hours.
The #WarsawGhettoUprising collapsed on #ThisDayInHistory in 1943. Between 19 April & 16 May, the #Jewish population held off #Nazi forces, choosing to die on their feet. The survivors had the fate originally intended for all of them โ€” the gas chambers of #Treblinka and #Majdanek.
You had plenty of warnings that the #GazaWar would be horrifying. #Israel has been committing #WarCrimes there for decades. On #ThisDayInHistory in 2021, a densely-populated area was hit in the #WehdaStreetMassacre, killing 44+ civilians. History does not start on 7 October 2023.
The #LevantCrisis began on #ThisDayInHistory in 1945. #Syria & #Lebanon had been seized from #VichyFrance by #FreeFrench & #British action, on condition that France relinquish its colonies. It tried to renege at #WWII's end, and both Syrian nationalists & Britain threatened war.
The secret #SykesPicotAgreement was signed on #ThisDayInHistory in 1916 by the UK & France. In it, they laid out plans to dismember the #OttomanEmpire at the end of #WorldWarI. The lines they drew divided otherwise coherent nations and have acted to prevent stability ever since.