THE DAY IN HISTORY · MARCH 21

March 21 in history

What happened on March 21: 5 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 1865, 1918, 1960, 1969 and 1990, each linked to the map that shows it.

1865 — Battle of Bentonville

19–21 Mar 1865 — In North Carolina, Johnston’s hastily assembled army attacks one wing of Sherman’s force. The Confederacy’s last offensive is gallant and briefly successful, but its position is hopeless.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

1918 — Operation Michael

21 Mar 1918 — A five-hour hurricane bombardment opens Operation Michael. Seventy-six divisions of stormtroops break the British Fifth Army and advance 65 km in a week, farther than any force has advanced since 1914. But the guns, supplies and plan cannot keep pace with them.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE WWI MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

1960 — Sharpeville massacre

21 Mar 1960 — A crowd protests South Africa’s pass laws. Police open fire, killing 69 people, most of them shot in the back. The ANC and PAC are banned and turn to armed struggle, while the world can no longer quite look away. Remember them.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE DECOLONIZATION OF AFRICA MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

1969 — Redstockings abortion speak-out

21 Mar 1969 — A New York legislative hearing on abortion reform had invited fourteen men and a nun to testify. Now, in a Greenwich Village church, Redstockings members speak about their own illegal abortions to some 300 listeners.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE PROTEST AND CHANGE MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

1990 — Independence of Namibia

21 Mar 1990 — Sam Nujoma’s SWAPO takes office in Namibia after 75 years of South African rule and 23 years of war. Africa’s last colony is free; apartheid South Africa alone remains.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE DECOLONIZATION OF AFRICA MAP → · THE FULL STORY →