This Day in History: August 19

1991 Race riots break out in the Crown Heights area of New York city

These violent riots erupted between the African-American and Orthodox Jewish residents of Crown Heights, following an accident where two children were hit by the motorcade of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a leader of the Orthodox Jews. This ignited a three-day riot, resulting in two fatalities and multiple injuries.

1978 Over 400 lives lost in a fire at the Rex Cinema in Abadan, Iran

This tragic event marked a prelude to the Iranian Revolution. The fire broke out during the screening of 'The Deers', an Iranian film by director Masoud Kimiai. Four extremists reportedly locked the theater gates before setting it ablaze. Many speculated that SAVAK, the Iranian intelligence agency, orchestrated this fire.

1964 Launch of world's first geostationary satellite

Syncom 3, a communications satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. As a geostationary satellite, it follows the Earth’s rotation around its axis, making it stationary to observers on Earth. Positioned approximately 22,000 miles above the Equator, this satellite facilitated the broadcast of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics to the United States.

1960 USSR launches Sputnik 5

This Soviet spacecraft carried two dogs, Strelka and Belka, who became the first living beings to survive a journey in space.

1919 Afghanistan gains independence from The United Kingdom

Having fallen under British control in 1859, Afghanistan was viewed as a safeguard for British interests in India. Despite efforts to establish dominance, the Afghans resisted British control. In 1919, King Amanullah declared Afghanistan's independence, sparking the Third Anglo-Afghan War, which ended with the signing of the Rawalpindi Treaty. This granted Afghanistan's freedom from British rule.

43 BC Octavian, later known as Augustus, establishes control over the Roman Senate

In 43 BC, Octavian compelled the Roman Senate to elect him as Consul, solidifying his political power within the empire.

1839 A practical photographic process is made public in Paris by Louis Daguerre

On this year, Louis Daguerre released the details of his first practical photographic process, giving birth to the age of photography.

1942 World War II: Massive casualty in a raid at Dieppe, France

Over 4,000 Canadian and British soldiers were killed, wounded or captured while raiding Dieppe, France during World War II.

1988 Iran and Iraq's 8-year-long war experiences a ceasefire

This day marked the beginning of an indefinite ceasefire between Iran and Iraq putting a pause (at 11 PM EDT) to their 8-year-long war.

1991 Coup d'état attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev

Conservative members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union attempted to depose General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in a coup d'état.

2010 End of Operation Iraqi Freedom

The last of the United States brigade combat teams crossed the border to Kuwait, marking the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.