This Day in History: June 21st Quiz

Answer: 1997

The Women's National Basketball Association was created in 1996, but the first game in the League didn't take place until the following summer. The Los Angeles Sparks hosted the New York Liberty in the WNBA debut game on June 21, 1997. The Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, was the site of the inaugural game, with the Sparks sharing the site with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Liberty won the game by 10, 67-57. The Great Western Forum last hosted the L.A. Sparks in 2001, after which the Sparks moved to Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Answer: 1945

Beginning April 1, 1945, and lasting 82 days, the Battle of Okinawa was considered the bloodiest battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Approximately 50,000 United States soldiers lost their lives during the prolonged campaign, which was the final battle planned before U.S. forces were to reach Japan itself. Around 110,000 Japanese soldiers perished during the battle as well, but the bloodiness of the battle is ultimately in the number of civilian casualties. Numbers are still unknown, but experts believe as many as 150,000 civilians died during the Battle of Okinawa.

While the official surrender for the battle ended later, the organized resistance of the Japanese forces ended on June 21, 1945.

Answer: 2003

J.K. Rowling published her first "Harry Potter" novel, "The Philosopher's Stone", in 1997. Since the book was re-titled "The Sorcerer's Stone" for its U.S. release, it didn't reach U.S. shelves until 1998. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released on June 21, 2003, worldwide.

The seventh and final book of the series was released in 2007. The first book was released on film in 2001, before Rowling had finished the full story. The final movie hit theaters in 2011.

Answer: 1788

After the United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, it took around a year and a half before all 13 states in the union ratified it. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, while Rhode Island was the last of the 13 to ratify in 1790. New Hampshire ratified the Constitution on June 21, 1788, becoming the ninth state to do so, placing the Constitution as the law of the land in the United States.

Answer: 1898

Ferdinand Magellan discovered the island of Guam in 1521, and the island was later claimed by Spain in 1565. United States forces captured Guam on June 21, 1898, as U.S. forces landed on Guam. Spanish soldiers had no knowledge of the conflict, as their last correspondence was a month before the war began.

The Spanish force surrendered peacefully, ceding control of Guam to the United States. After the Spanish forces were defeated in the Spanish-American War, the two sides signed the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the war, and formally giving Guam over to the United States.

Answer: 1963

After Pope John XXIII passed away on June 2, 1963, the Catholic Church began its search for his successor. Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini was selected by the papal conclave on June 21, 1963, after five ballots did not yield a successful vote. After taking the name Paul VI, he led the Catholic Church from Vatican City until his passing in 1978.

Answer: 1982

Hinkley shot President Reagan on March 31, 1981, leading to injuries to Reagan's press secretary, Reagan himself, and a member of his Secret Service detail. Reagan was rushed to the hospital for surgery, and was released from care on April 11. Hinkley went to trial for attempted assassination of the president, but was acquitted by reason of insanity on June 21, 1982.

Answer: 1834

Started by Robert McCormick, the mechanical reaper revolutionized farming for all of history. Instead of harvesting slowly with hand tools, the reaper greatly sped up the process. Cyrus McCormick continued the work his father began, gaining patent for the mechanical reaper on June 21, 1834. McCormick's work eventually led him to founding the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company.

The International Harvester Company, which was in business from 1902 to 1985, was founded by a merger of McCormick's company and a company owned by Charles Deering, another titan of the agricultural industry.

Answer: 1989

After being arrested for burning an American Flag in 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson appealed a Texas court's conviction, claiming that flag burning is protected under the 1st Amendment. Johnson burned the flag at a Republican National Convention to protest policies under the Reagan Administration.

He was arrested for "desecrating a venerated object," and tried in the state of Texas. After his conviction, Johnson appealed, and the Supreme Court ultimately agreed to hear the case. The court ruled in Johnson's favor by a 5-4 vote, agreeing that burning the flag, while offensive to some, is protected free speech under the first amendment to the Constitution.

Answer: 1970

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City played host to the FIFA World Cup final on June 21, 1970. The final match was played between Brazil and Italy, after Brazil defeated Uruguay in their semi-final match 3-1, and Italy defeated West Germany 4-3. Arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, Brazilian star Pele opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

Italy evened the score at 1-1 before three unanswered goals from Brazil salted the game away.