What Happened on February 5 in History?
February 5 has been a pivotal date for political acquittals, major scientific milestones, and cultural breakthroughs across history.
Political & Legal Milestones
Trump Acquitted (2020): The U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial, with Mitt Romney being the only Republican to vote for conviction on the charge of abuse of power.
Mexican Constitution (1917): Following years of revolution, the modern Constitution of Mexico was proclaimed, establishing major land reforms and the separation of church and state.
Immigration Act (1917): The U.S. Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto to pass the Immigration Act of 1917, which introduced literacy tests and a "Barred Zone" prohibiting immigration from most of Asia.
Civil Rights Justice (1994): White separatist Byron De La Beckwith was finally convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1963 murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers.
Science & Discovery
Apollo 14 Moon Landing (1971): Astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell landed the Lunar Module Antares in the Fra Mauro region, marking the third crewed moon landing.
Pompeii Earthquake (62 AD): A massive earthquake struck Pompeii, Italy, causing severe damage and serving as a deadly precursor to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius seventeen years later.
Synthetic Plastic Invented (1909): Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland announced the creation of Bakelite, the world's first synthetic plastic, at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
"Welcome Stranger" (1869): The largest alluvial gold nugget ever discovered, the "Welcome Stranger,"was found in Moliagul, Australia.
Culture & Entertainment
United Artists Founded (1919): Silent film icons Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and D.W. Griffith joined forces to form their own studio, United Artists, to gain control over their work.
Super Bowl History (2017): The New England Patriots completed the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, overcoming a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to win Super Bowl LI in the first-ever Super Bowl overtime.
Beyoncé’s Record (2023): Beyoncé won her 32nd Grammy, becoming the most decorated artist in the history of the awards.
Notable Birthdays
Babe Ruth (1895): Legendary American baseball player.
Hank Aaron (1934): Hall of Fame slugger who broke Ruth’s home run record.
Cristiano Ronaldo (1985): World-renowned Portuguese soccer star.
Neymar (1992): Brazilian soccer sensation.
Laura Linney (1964): Award-winning American actress.
