The Madrid Train Bombings (2004)

On the morning of March 11, 2004, 10 explosions occurred aboard four commuter trains in Madrid. The series of coordinated bombings killed 191 people and wounded 2,050, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Spain’s history. Although a Basque militant group was originally suspected of the attack, an investigation revealed that it was carried out by an al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist cell. The bombings occurred three days before Spain’s general elections and exactly 911 days after what event? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Courrières Mine Disaster (1906)

The Courrières mine disaster, the worst mining accident in European history, killed 1,099 miners in Northern France. It is generally agreed that the majority of the deaths and destruction were caused by an explosion of dust which swept through the mine, however, it has never been ascertained what caused the coal dust to ignite in the first place. A group of 13 trapped survivors, later known as the rescapés, was found by rescuers 20 days after the explosion. How had they survived? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations Is Published (1776)

Published in 1776, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations is the magnum opus of Scottish economist Adam Smith. It is a clearly written account of political economy at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and is considered the first modern work in the field of economics. In it, Smith postulates the theory of the division of labor and emphasizes that value arises from the labor expended in the process of production. What was Smith’s concept of “the invisible hand”? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Gnadenhütten Massacre (1782)

During the American Revolution, the Lenape, or Delaware, group of Native Americans found itself divided on the issue of which side, if any, to take in the conflict. Some members elected to fight against the Americans, while others—particularly Christian converts—remained neutral. In 1782, an American militia seeking revenge for Native American raids on frontier settlements killed 96 Christian Delawares in Gnadenhütten, Ohio. What military leader was later killed in retaliation for Gnadenhütten? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Antoninus Pius Is Succeeded by Co-Emperors (161)

When Emperor Antoninus Pius died in 161, Marcus Aurelius accepted the throne on the condition that he and Lucius Verus be made joint emperors—an unprecedented political arrangement in the Roman Empire. Aurelius likely sought the partnership so Verus could directly command Roman legions in the empire’s nearly constant war efforts. Verus was authoritative enough to command the loyalty of the troops and powerful enough that he had little incentive to overthrow Marcus. Did Verus remain loyal? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Gallaudet University Students Demand Deaf President (1988)

When their existing president resigned in 1987, students at Gallaudet University, a liberal arts university for the deaf in Washington, DC, began campaigning for a deaf successor to the post, which had never been held by a deaf person. When the school’s board selected a hearing candidate on March 6, 1988, students began to protest and issued four demands, including the immediate naming of a new deaf president and the resignation of the chair of the board. How many of their demands were met? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Boston Massacre (1770)

Many Bostonians resented the heavy British military presence in their city during the late 1700s, and the soldiers’ enforcement of the unpopular Townshend Acts merely exacerbated the tense situation. On March 5, 1770, soldiers opened fire on an aggressive, rioting civilian mob, killing five men. The Boston Massacre, as it became known, fueled the anti-British sentiment that culminated in the American Revolutionary War. Which future US president served as the troops’ defense lawyer? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Frederick Barbarossa Elected King of the Germans (1152)

Frederick Barbarossa was elected King of Germany in 1152 and crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1155. Shortly thereafter, an apparent misunderstanding with Pope Adrian IV led Frederick to mount military operations against Italy and install an antipope in opposition to Adrian’s successor. The schism continued for some time, but Frederick and the Catholic pontiff ultimately reconciled. According to scholars, what factors may have contributed to Frederick’s drowning death in the shallow Saleph River? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Bulgaria Regains Independence from Ottoman Empire (1878)

Though the April Uprising of 1876, a Bulgarian revolt against the perceived Ottoman oppression, failed as a revolution, it succeeded in raising international support for the Bulgarian plight. News of atrocities committed by Ottoman troops suppressing the uprising quickly spread to the international community, and Russia soon declared war on the Ottomans. The subsequent Treaty of San Stefano created a large autonomous Bulgaria within the Ottoman Empire, but it was later revised. Why? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game (1962)

Recognized as one of the National Basketball Association’s greatest players of all time, Wilt Chamberlain led the league in scoring for 7 seasons and in rebounding 11 times, was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player 4 times, and was elected to basketball’s Hall of Fame. However, he is perhaps best known for being the only player in league history to score 100 points in a single game—a feat he achieved while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors. How many total points were scored in that game? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary