On This Day: Key Historical Events March 24
March 24 marks several pivotal moments in history, from royal successions and independence declarations to tragic disasters and landmark protests.
1603: Queen Elizabeth I Passes, Uniting Realms
Queen Elizabeth I of England died after reigning for 44 years. King James VI of Scotland succeeded her, bringing England and Scotland under one British monarch for the first time.
1934: U.S. Grants Philippines Independence
The United States granted independence to the Philippine Islands, set to take effect on July 4, 1946.
1975: Beaver Named Canada’s Official Symbol
Canada designated the beaver as its official national symbol.
1989: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Devastates Alaska
The Exxon Valdez struck a reef in Alaska’s Gulf of Alaska, releasing 11 million gallons of crude oil in the largest tanker spill in U.S. history.
1998: Jonesboro School Shooting Claims Lives
Four girls and a teacher at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas, died from gunfire originating in a nearby wooded area. Two boys, aged 11 and 13, carried out the attack and faced juvenile convictions with prison sentences.
1999: NATO Strikes Yugoslav Targets
NATO launched airstrikes on military sites across the Yugoslav union of Serbia and Montenegro following Serbian forces’ ethnic cleansing campaign against Kosovar Albanians.
2004: Microsoft Fined for Antitrust Violations
The European Commission imposed a $613 million fine on Microsoft for breaching EU antitrust rules.
2012: Dick Cheney Receives Heart Transplant
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, aged 71, successfully underwent heart transplant surgery at a hospital in Falls Church, Virginia.
2015: Germanwings Flight Crashes in French Alps
A Germanwings plane with 150 passengers and crew, including German high school students, crashed into the French Alps in southern France. All aboard perished.
2018: March for Our Lives Protests Sweep Nation
Student activists rallied nationwide in March for Our Lives demonstrations, demanding an end to gun violence shortly after a shooter killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
2023: Deadly EF4 Tornado Strikes Mississippi
A powerful EF4 tornado tore through Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi, during a four-day outbreak. It stayed on the ground for over an hour, claiming 17 lives and injuring dozens.
