November 21: Historical Events & Birthdays

Today in History, From the Mayflower Compact to Verrazano-Narrows

Nov 18, 2008

November 21 is the anniversary of the historical Hanukkah, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, and the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

November 21 is the anniversary that marks turning points in several major struggles for religious freedom. It is the anniversary of the events that led to the modern celebration of Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday that marks the Jews' battle for religious freedom against a tyrannical Syrian leader. November 21 also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Mayflower Compact, the ruling document of the Pilgrims -- a group of people also in search of religious freedom. In addition, November 21 is the anniversary of several major technological and scientific innovations: the invention of the phonograph, the publication of Einstein's mass energy-equivalence formula, and the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

164 BCE -- The Liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem (The Historical Hanukkah)

Starting in 175 BCE in ancient Israel, Judah Maccabee and his brothers led a widespread revolt against the tyranny of Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who severely restricted the practice of Judaism. November 21 is thought to be the anniversary of the day when Judah Maccabee liberated and restored the holy temple. According to the story of Hanukkah, the eternal flame that burned in the candle had only enough oil to burn for one day, but a miracle allowed the flame to burn for eight days and eight night.

November 21, 1620: The Signing of the Mayflower Compact

The Mayflower Compact was the original governing document of the Pilgrims, the settlers who sailed to the New World on the Mayflower in order to practice Christianity as they saw fit. It was signed by 41 of the male settlers of Plymouth Colony. The date on the compact is November 11, but the Pilgrims followed the Old Style of dates, which was ten days behind the Gregorian calendar.

November 21, 1877: The Invention of the Phonograph

On this day, Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph, a revolutionary device that could record and play back sound. Later, the device became known as the record player and was extremely popular until the end of the 20th century.

November 20, 1905: E = MC(2)

On this day, Albert Einstein revolutionized physics by publishing an article in a physics journal about the relationship between energy and mass, which led to the mass-energy equivalence formula, or E = MC (2).

November 21, 1920: Bloody Sunday

Dublin's Bloody Sunday was one of the most violent and symbolically significant days during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921), an uprising in Ireland against the ruling British government. After 14 British Cairo Gang agents were killed early in the day, the British retaliated by opening fire on a football game, killing 14 civilians. Perhaps to commemorate Bloody Sunday, the Irish Republican Army bombed two pubs in Birmingham, England in 1974, killing 21 people.

November 21, 1964: Opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects Brooklyn, NY to Staten Island, NY, opens amidst quite a bit of hoopla. It remained the largest suspension bridge in the world until 1981, and instantly became a New York landmark and a symbol of technological pride.

Birthdays on November 21

The copyright of the article November 21: Historical Events & Birthdays in Historical Resources is owned by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. Permission to republish November 21: Historical Events & Birthdays in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.