Special Sub-Topic: Important Dates in History For Politicians Click Here To Play: Important Dates in History For Politicians

The month of January and Australian history. On what date was the Commonwealth of Australia established?

1 January 1901. On 1 January 1901, Edmund Barton was elected as Australia's first Prime Minister and one hundred years later on New Years Day, 2001, Australia celebrated its Centenary of Federation!

The month of January, looking at American history: on which of the following dates did Theodore Roosevelt die?

6 January 1919. The twenty-sixth President of the United States died in his sleep at his home in Oyster Bay, New York, aged 60. Even though he had been ill, his death was sudden.

On what date in the month of February did the Ayatollah Khomeini return to Iran after years of exile in France?

1 February 1979. A devout cleric, Khomeini was the son of an Islamic religious scholar. In December 1979, a new Iranian constitution was approved, naming Khomeini as Iran's political and religious leader for life! However, he died in 1989.

The month of February: on what date was Yasser Arafat appointed leader of the PLO?

3 February 1969. Yasser Arafat was appointed leader of the PLO at the Palestinian National Congress in Cairo on 3 February 1969.

The month of March and American history. On what date was Woodrow Wilson inaugurated as twenty-eighth President of the United States?

4 March 1913. Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born in 1856 and studied law and political science. In 1886 he received a Ph.D. and taught history and political economy.

The month of March: on what date did Hitler's German forces invade Austria?

13 March 1938. Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933 in Germany and spent the next few years rebuilding the German army, preparing it for war!

The month of April: on what date did America formally enter World War I?

6 April 1917. Two days after the Senate voted to declare war against Germany, the House of Representatives endorsed the declaration and America formally entered World War I.

In the month of April, on what date did the Ayatollah Khomeini declare Iran an Islamic republic?

1 April 1979. Born in 1900 in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini was educated in Islam and became a Shiite 'Ayatollah', a supreme religious leader.

The merry month of May: on what date did President Nixon make his first visit to the then-Soviet Union?

22 May 1972. Although it was Nixon's first visit to the Soviet Union as President, he had visited Moscow before as Eisenhower's Vice President.

The month of May: on what date was Golda Meir born?

3 May 1898. Born Goldie Mabovitch, in Kiev, she was Israeli Prime Minister from 1969 to 1973. Educated in America, she moved to Palestine in 1921, where she worked on a kibbutz with her husband.

The month of June and American history. On what date did Congress pass the 19th Amendment?

4 June 1919. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote, was passed by Congress in June 1919.

In the month of June: on what date was Leonid Brezhnev elected to the dual office of Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and Soviet President?

16 June 1977. Leonid Ilich Brezhnev, Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party from 1964, was elected President of the 'Supreme Soviet', becoming head of both the party and the state.

July and American history. On what date during this month did President Johnson sign the Civil Rights Bill prohibiting racial discrimination?

2 July 1964. Thirty-sixth President of the United States, he had served as Vice President to John F. Kennedy. Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in 1908 and died in 1973.

July and American history: on what date was President Coolidge born?

4 July 1872. John Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth President of the United States was born on the 4th of July, 1872!

August and British history. On what date was Stanley Baldwin, English Prime Minister, born?

3 August 1867. Stanley Baldwin was English Prime Minister from 1923 to 1929 and during his third term of office, Edward VIII abdicated!

August and American history. On what date did President Nixon resign?

8th August 1974. President Richard M. Nixon became the first President in American history to resign. He did so as impeachment proceedings against him were brought underway for his involvement in Watergate.

The month of September: on what date did Germany invade Poland?

1st September 1939. On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, thus starting World War II.

September: on what date was Nikita Khrushchev elected Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party?

7 September 1953. After the death of Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev was elected as Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.

October: on what date did Chiang Kai-shek become President of China?

6 October 1928. Also called Chiang Chung-cheng, he became Chinese Nationalist leader or President in 1928 and, under different titles and in various offices, he exercised almost uninterrupted power as leader.

October and American history. On what date did President Wilson detonate the explosives that opened up the Panama Canal?

10 October 1913. President Wilson, via remote control from the White House, detonated forty tons of explosives to clear the last obstacles and open the Panama Canal.

November and American history. On what date was there an assassination attempt made on President Truman?

1st November 1950. Two Puerto Ricans attempted to assassinate President Truman on 1 November 1950. He escaped without injury, but one of his bodyguards was shot dead.

The month of November: which of the following two Presidents were both elected on the fourth day of the month (in different years of course!)?

Dwight D Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Elected thirty-fourth President of the United States on 4 November 1952 was Dwight David Eisenhower and elected fortieth President on 4 November 1980 was Ronald Reagan!

December: on what date was Napoleon crowned?

2nd December 1804. In Paris, on 2 December 1804, Napoleon was crowned Emperor by Pope Pius VII.

December and British history. On what date was David Lloyd George voted Prime Minister?

7th December 1916. David Lloyd George became Prime Minister of a British coalition government on 7 December 1916.

American history. In the month of December, on what date did George Washington die?

14 December 1799. George Washington, American revolutionary and first President died of acute laryngitis at his home in Virginia aged 67.