This Day in History: March 6th through March 11th
March 6, 1975 - The Zapruder Film is Broadcast on National TV for the First Time
The Zapruder film, considered by many to be both the most complete film of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and the most studied film in US history, was filmed by Abraham Zapruder using a Bell & Howell home movie camera. The film contained 26.6 seconds of footage comprised of 486 frames, with frame 313 depicting the fatal shot. Nowadays, the film is easily accessible online, and has been deemed significant enough by the US Library of Congress to warrant preservation in the National Film Registry.
March 7, 161 - Marcus Aurelius Becomes Emperor of Rome
Succeeding his adoptive father Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius became Emperor of Rome in 161, and would rule until 180. His rule is widely considered the last of the “Five Good Emperors” that preserved the peace and prosperity of the Empire, and the time after his death is traditionally seen as the beginning of Rome’s gradual (and at some points rapid) decline. During his life he was famous his administrative and philosophical abilities, with the latter earning him the unofficial title, “The Philosopher”.
March 8, 1658 - Treaty of Roskilde is Signed
After numerous defeats in the Second Northern War, the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway was forced to cede numerous territorial possessions to Sweden. These included Halland, Skane, Blekinge, and Bohuslan (territories that Sweden still holds today) and Trondelag and Bornholm (territories that were ceded to Sweden but were ceded back to Norway after just two years). This treaty essentially marked the end of the Danish struggle for Baltic supremacy, as the kingdom became second-rate to the Swedish Empire.
March 9, 1862 - First Battle Between Ironclad Warships in the Battle of Hampton Roads
The US Civil War led to various advancements in warfare; from the development of trenches and rail schedules on land, to the development of early ironclads at sea. The Battle of Hampton Roads, in which the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia fought to a stalemate, was the most important naval battle of the war from the perspective of advancements. After this battle, it soon became clear that wooden ships were becoming obsolete, quickly replaced by ironclads.
March 10, 1804 - Formal Ceremony is Conducted to Officiate the Louisiana Purchase
The purchase of Louisiana, done on the French side to raise funds for war and done on the American side to double territorial size for a cheap price, soon became extremely beneficial and pivotal for the US. At a time in which boats were the fastest means of transportation, having the entirety of the Mississippi river under US control essentially created a highway system spanning across the central US. It also became a target for the US in the Civil War, as taking control over the river could essentially cut the Confederacy in half and deprive it of a major transportation artery.
