Events

Second inauguration of James Monroe (March 5, 1821) Second inauguration of James Monroe Account of James Monroe's second swearing-in: date, location, officiant, political context, and notable facts including its postponement due to a snowstorm.

Second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson (January 20, 1965) Second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson Public ceremonies on January 20, 1965, marking Lyndon B. Johnson’s first full presidential term; notable for a large National Mall crowd, ceremonial firsts, media coverage, and the…

Second Inauguration of Ronald Reagan (January 1985) Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan Overview of Ronald Reagan's second presidential inauguration, the two ceremonies held because January 20 fell on a Sunday, key participants, location, themes and historical signifi…

Second inauguration of Thomas Jefferson (March 4, 1805) Second inauguration of Thomas Jefferson Account of Thomas Jefferson's second inauguration on March 4, 1805, held in the U.S. Capitol Senate Chamber, describing the ceremony, participants, setting, themes of the address a…

Second Punic War (218–201 BC): Hannibal, Rome, and the struggle for Mediterranean dominance Second Punic War Major war between Rome and Carthage (218–201 BC) featuring Hannibal’s invasion of Italy, decisive battles like Cannae and Zama, and long-term consequences for Carthaginian power.

Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) Second Vatican Council An overview of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965): its origins, major documents and reforms, participants, and long-term significance for the Roman Catholic Church.

Second War of Scottish Independence A conflict (c.1332–1357) between competing Scottish claimants and England, sparked when Edward III repudiated the Treaty of Northampton and backed Edward Balliol against David II,…

Securitas depot robbery (Tonbridge, 2006) Securitas depot robbery A detailed overview of the 21–22 February 2006 Securitas depot robbery in Tonbridge, Kent — the largest cash robbery in British history, its method, aftermath, investigation and le…

Selma to Montgomery marches (1965) Selma to Montgomery marches A series of civil rights demonstrations in Alabama in 1965 that protested voter suppression, most famously Bloody Sunday, and helped spur the Voting Rights Act.

Seneca Falls Convention (1848): Origins of the U.S. Women's Rights Movement Seneca Falls Convention Seneca Falls Convention (July 1848) in Seneca Falls, NY, was the first major U.S. women's rights meeting. Activists drafted the Declaration of Sentiments; over 100 men and women, i…

Seppuku: the ritual suicide of the Japanese samurai Seppuku Seppuku (often called hara-kiri) was a formal Japanese ritual of self-disembowelment performed by samurai to preserve honor, atone, protest, or avoid capture; it evolved into a reg…

September: the ninth month of the Gregorian calendar September September is the ninth month, has 30 days, and marks the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Its name derives from Latin for seven; it carries cultural, agricultural, and…

September 11 September 11 is the 254th day of the Gregorian year (255th in leap years). It is known for calendar placement and for several major historical events, most notably the 2001 terrori…

September 11 attacks (9/11) September 11 attacks On September 11, 2001, four coordinated hijackings by al‑Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people, destroyed the World Trade Center towers, struck the Pentagon and reshaped U.S. security,…

September 13 September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It has notable historical events, observances such as World Sepsis Day, and seasonal sign…

September 14 September 14 is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years). It is noted for religious feasts, national observances such as Hindi Diwas, and several historical events including…

September 15 September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is observed as independence day in several Central American countries and the UN’s Int…

September 17 September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is remembered for events such as the 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution and other h…

September 18 September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It falls near the autumnal equinox and is notable for national observances such as Chile’…

September 20 (calendar date) September 20 September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, near the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and associated with Virgo, sapphire,…

September 21 September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is known for international observances, national holidays and several notable births.

September 25 — calendar date, history, and observances September 25 September 25 is a date in the Gregorian calendar (268th day, 269th in leap years) noted for historical events, notable births, and a variety of local observances around the world.

September 27 September 27 is a date in the Gregorian calendar, the 270th day in common years (271st in leap years). It is associated with seasonal markers, international observances and everyda…

September 29 September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is associated with the feast of St. Michael (Michaelmas), autumn customs, and academic…

September 3 September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It has hosted events such as the 1783 Treaty of Paris and the 1939 declarations of war by…

September 30 September 30 is a calendar date—commonly the 273rd day of the year—known for national observances, religious feasts, and its role as the U.S. federal fiscal year end.

September 5 (calendar date) September 5 September 5 is the 248th day of the Gregorian year (249th in leap years). It falls in late summer in the Northern Hemisphere and is associated with several observances and notable…

September 6 September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). It sits in early September and is associated with a variety of historical events, notable births, and seasonal obser…

Serbia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics Serbia was represented by para‑Nordic skier Milos Zaric at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang; he is also a world champion in the men's F55 javelin.

Seven Days Battles (Peninsula Campaign, June 25 – July 1, 1862) Seven Days Battles A concise encyclopedia article on the Seven Days Battles: a series of engagements around Richmond that ended the Union Peninsula Campaign and elevated Robert E. Lee's leadership.

Seveso disaster: 1976 industrial dioxin release and its legacy Seveso disaster A 1976 industrial accident near Seveso, Italy, released TCDD dioxin, causing major environmental contamination, health effects, large-scale animal culling and prompting European sa…

Shamrock Summit (March 1985) — Mulroney–Reagan meeting in Quebec City Shamrock Summit A March 1985 bilateral meeting in Quebec City between Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and U.S. President Ronald Reagan, remembered for its convivial atmosphere and the leade…

Sharpeville massacre (21 March 1960) — turning point in South African history Sharpeville massacre On 21 March 1960 South African police opened fire on a crowd protesting apartheid pass laws in Sharpeville, killing 69 and wounding about 180. The event intensified resistance and…

Shays' Rebellion: 1786–1787 uprising of indebted farmers in Massachusetts Shays' Rebellion An armed uprising of rural Massachusetts farmers (1786–1787) protesting debt, taxes, and court actions; its suppression exposed weaknesses of the Confederation and influenced calls…

Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638) Shimabara Rebellion A major uprising in southwestern Japan during the early Edo period, largely by disaffected peasants and ronin, many of whom were Catholic; suppressed by Tokugawa forces with lastin…

Shooting of Michael Brown and its aftermath Shooting of Michael Brown The 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the ensuing protests, investigations, legal outcomes, and its impact on policing, race discourse, and reform debates in th…

Short Parliament (April–May 1640) — three-week English parliament Short Parliament The Short Parliament sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640. Charles I summoned it to raise money for war; MPs resisted until grievances were addressed. Its collapse helped precipitate la…

Shushi Massacres (Shusha), March 1920 Shushi Massacres Violent intercommunal attack on the Armenian population of Shusha (Shushi) in March 1920; contested casualty figures and major consequences for the town and Nagorno‑Karabakh.

Siege of Fort Zeelandia (1661–1662) Siege of Fort Zeelandia The 1661–1662 siege by Koxinga that ended Dutch colonial rule at Fort Zeelandia in Taiwan and led to the short-lived Kingdom of Tungning.

Siege of Jerusalem (1187) The 1187 Siege of Jerusalem saw Saladin capture the city after months of campaigning, ending nearly a century of Crusader rule and prompting the European response that became the T…

Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944) Siege of Leningrad A World War II siege of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) lasting 872 days, marked by a prolonged blockade, mass civilian suffering from starvation and bombardment, partial relief v…

Siege of Orléans (1428–1429) Siege of Orleans Nine‑month siege turned after Joan of Arc's arrival in 1429; the lifting of Orléans marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War and enabled the revival of Charles VII’s cause.

Siege of Petersburg (Richmond–Petersburg Campaign) Siege of Petersburg A detailed overview of the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign (Siege of Petersburg), 1864–1865: chronology, tactics, key battles, significance, and legacy in American Civil War history.

Siege of Sidney Street (Battle of Stepney), London, 1911 Siege of Sidney Street A 1911 armed confrontation in London's East End between police and a group of immigrants suspected of involvement in the Houndsditch murders; notable for its violence, a building f…

Siege of Vicksburg (May 18–July 4, 1863) Siege of Vicksburg A pivotal campaign of the American Civil War in which Ulysses S. Grant's forces besieged Vicksburg, Mississippi, forcing Confederate surrender and securing Union control of the Mis…

Siege of Yorktown (1862) — Peninsula Campaign engagement Siege of Yorktown (1862) An overview of the 1862 Siege of Yorktown during the American Civil War: forces, siege operations, key actions, outcome and its strategic impact on the Peninsula Campaign and Richm…

SilkAir Flight 185: 1997 crash of a Boeing 737-300 SilkAir Flight 185 SilkAir Flight 185 crashed into the Musi River on 19 December 1997, killing 104. Investigations reached divergent conclusions—Indonesia's investigators left the cause undetermined…

Sing-along: communal singing events and practices Sing-along A sing-along is a communal singing event in which participants join a leader to sing familiar songs together. This article explains formats, history, uses, and common variations.