# A History Test (A Game of sorts) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723 "2003-12-13T03:34:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/1 "2003-12-13T03:34:33Z")
Can you name the event that goes along with these dates? They are from recent history. After, post your own, and see if anyone else can get them. November 9th, 1989 January 28th, 1986 December 25th, 1991 December 21st, 1988 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/2 "2003-12-13T04:19:55Z")
**January 28th, 1986** Challenger Disaster **April 1, 1946** Anyone ?? ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/3 "2003-12-13T04:20:36Z")
No one knows any of the dates? I’ll give clues by saying where I was when these events happened. 1. November 9th, 1989 - I was in my living room, watching the news, as my mother said that this would be the most impoprtant event I would ever watch in my life. 2. January 28th, 1986 - Grade 2, science, if I remember corectly. 3. December 25th, 1991 - Boy, my mom was wrong. We had just finished unwrapping our presents, when my dad turned the channel on the TV, and the press conference that changed the face of the world was on. 4. December 21st, 1988 - I just remmber reading the headlines the next day on the 22nd. ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/4 "2003-12-13T04:22:07Z")
**April 1st, 1946** The great Aleutian Tsunami ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/91b2a8/32.png) [@Earl\_of\_Sandwhich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_of_Sandwhich)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/5 "2003-12-13T04:24:43Z")
#1 should be the fall of the Berlin Wall. #3- German reunification. November 24, 1978. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/6 "2003-12-13T04:32:48Z")
**xayoz306** Very good. The truly tragic part of it was it devastated Hilo, Hawaii. What made matters worse were the facts that: it was April Fool’s Day; the emergency sirens were so faulty that whenever they went off, no one paid attention (like car alarms of today); one of the few people who knew about the impending disaster was an “all-night radio dee-jay” whose Hawaiian “on-air” name meant ‘crazy fish-head’. He had access to a wire service (I beleive) and knew what was coming. However, with a name like his, no one took him seriously. One of the lesser-known tragedies of modern tomes. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/7 "2003-12-13T04:34:45Z")
sorry for the typo - the word should be **times** and NOT tomes. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/8 "2003-12-13T04:38:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl of Sandwhich \* > **#3- German reunification.** Nope – the dissolution of the Soviet Union. East Germany and West Germany had gotten back together on October 3, 1990. SV1: August 6, 1945 SV2: Nov. 4, 1979 ---
**Author:** ![quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/9 "2003-12-13T04:51:58Z")
August 6, 1945 is the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. (One of the more greatly known tragedies of modern times) The only thing off the top of my head is November 11, 1919 ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/10 "2003-12-13T04:58:42Z")
Nov. 11, 1919 is Armistice Day, ending WWI Lemme think of a good one and I’ll be back. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/11 "2003-12-13T05:15:44Z")
(Courtesy of **Pucksraven** , Nov. 4, 1979 is the day they took the hostages in Iran) 1. April 30, 1975 2. July 10, 1925 2.a. (Sidebar bonus date related to above) October 23, 4004BC Blame **Puck** for question 2. ---
**Author:** ![Newton\_meter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/57b2e6/32.png) [@Newton\_meter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newton_meter)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/12 "2003-12-13T05:22:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian \* > **1. April 30, 1975** The fall of Saigon. Next: July 3, 1937. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/13 "2003-12-13T05:44:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xayoz306 \* > **November 9th, 1989** The first day of the fall of the Berlin Wall > [@](#): > > **January 28th, 1986** The loss of the Challenger > [@](#): > > \*\*December 25th, 1991 \*\* The announcement of a war against Iraq for invading Kuwait. It wasn’t a declaration of war, but more or less of a “Get the f\*ck outta there, or we’re gonna kick you out!” declaration. > [@](#): > > \*\*December 21st, 1988 \*\* Pan Am Flight 103 was lost over Lockerbie Scotland. Tripler ---
**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/14 "2003-12-13T05:51:54Z")
> [@](#): > > December 25th, 1991 > > > [@](#): > > > > The announcement of a war against Iraq for invading Kuwait. It wasn’t a declaration of war, but more or less of a “Get the f\*ck outta there, or we’re gonna kick you out!” declaration. Already answered by **Sternvogel** (Dissolution of the Soviet Union); Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991 and Kuwait was declared liberated on February 28. **July 3, 1937** : Disappearance of Amelia Earhart (?) **July 10, 1925** : Scopes Monkey Trial 1. October 14, 1066 2. August 9, 1974 Still stumped on November 24, 1978 ---
**Author:** ![Publius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Publius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Publius)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/15 "2003-12-13T05:52:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xayoz306 \* > \*\*December 25th, 1991 > \*\* The hammer-and-sickle lowered over the Kremlin for the last time (we hope), at midnight. On a related note: December 25, 1979 ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@Lady\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_Ice)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/16 "2003-12-13T05:52:48Z")
July 10, 1925, the Scopes trial began. December 17, 1903. ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/17 "2003-12-13T05:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Nov. 11, 1919 is Armistice Day, ending WWI Actually, Armistrice Day is Novemebr 11th, 1918. In 1919, the Treaty of Versaille was officially signed. ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/18 "2003-12-13T06:01:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lady Ice \* > \*\*December 17, 1903. \*\* The first ever flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk September 5th, 1972 September 28th, 1972 ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/19 "2003-12-13T06:03:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Obsidian \* > \*\* 2. July 10, 1925 > 2.a. (Sidebar bonus date related to above) October 23, 4004BC > \*\* The juxtaposition helped – the first date relates to the Scopes trial. (On preview, I see **KeithT** also got this one.) The second is the day of Creation, as calculated by Bishop Ussher. The date of the armistice ending World War I was Nov. 11, 1918. Either **quinn** made a typo, or 11/11/1919 has a significance unknown to me. I remember August 9, 1974 for Nixon’s resignation as President of the USA and Gerald Ford’s succession to the office. Since 1066 was the year of the Norman Conquest of England, I’m guessing October 14 was the day William the Conqueror took the throne. How about July 4, 1826? ---
**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723/20 "2003-12-13T06:14:00Z")
\*\*December 25, 1979 \*\*: Soviets invade Afghanistan **July 4, 1826** : Founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, political rivals to the end, both die on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams’ last words were “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Unbeknownst to him, Jefferson had passed on mere hours before. > [@](#): > > Since 1066 was the year of the Norman Conquest of England, I’m guessing October 14 was the day William the Conqueror took the throne The Battle of Hastings was on the 14th of October. Interestingly enough (with regards to this thread, at least), William was crowned on Christmas Day. No Soviets involved. Sept 17, 1787 July 20, 1969 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-history-test-a-game-of-sorts/218723.md?page=2)