"What happened on January 31?"
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January 31 has been a historically rich date, witnessing milestones such as the passage of the 13th Amendment, the execution of Guy Fawkes, the first McDonald’s in Moscow, and the launch of Ham the chimp into space.
AI Consensus
Models Agreed
- Guy Fawkes was executed on January 31, 1606 3.
- The U.S. House passed the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865, abolishing slavery 5.
- Ham the chimp became the first primate in space on January 31, 1961 6.
- The first McDonald’s in Moscow opened on January 31, 1990 6.
- The U.S. declared a public‑health emergency for COVID‑19 on January 31, 2020 9.
Guy Fawkes execution illustration
What Happened on January 31?
January 31 has been a date of diverse and significant events spanning centuries. Below is a concise, categorized overview drawn from the verified sources.
1. Early & Medieval Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 314 | Pope Sylvester I is consecrated as the successor to Pope Miltiades 2. |
| 1208 | The Battle of Lena takes place in Sweden, shaping the nation’s early monarchy 2. |
| 1601 | The Treaty of Lyon ends the Franco‑Savoyard War 1. |
| 1606 | Guy Fawkes, a key conspirator of the Gunpowder Plot, is executed in London 3. |
2. 19th‑Century Political Transformations
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1865 | The U.S. House of Representatives passes the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery 5. |
| 1919 | The Battle of George Square (“Bloody Friday”) erupts in Glasgow as police clash with striking workers 4. |
3. 20th‑Century Scientific, Cultural & Conflict Highlights
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1943 | German troops surrender at Stalingrad, a turning point in WWII 10. |
| 1958 | The United States launches its first satellite, Explorer 1, into orbit 8. |
| 1961 | Ham the chimp becomes the first hominid in space aboard a Mercury capsule 6. |
| 1990 | The first McDonald’s opens in Moscow, marking a symbolic opening of the Soviet market 6. |
| 1996 | A suicide bombing in Sri Lanka kills 91 people 67. |
| 2000 | Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashes into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 88 aboard 7. |
| 2011 | Myanmar’s first elected parliament in half a century convenes 7. |
4. 21st‑Century Global Health & Politics
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2020 | The United States declares a public‑health emergency over COVID‑19 9. |
Quick Takeaways
- Legislation: The 13th Amendment (1865) ended slavery in the United States.
- Execution: Guy Fawkes’ death (1606) remains a symbol of thwarted rebellion.
- Space Milestones: Ham the chimp (1961) and Explorer 1 (1958) highlighted early U.S. space achievements.
- Cultural Firsts: The Moscow McDonald’s (1990) signaled the opening of Soviet consumer culture.
- Disasters: Alaska Flight 261 (2000) and the Sri Lanka bombing (1996) are remembered as tragic losses.
These events illustrate the broad political, scientific, and cultural significance of January 31 across history.
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