Votes, Moons, and Vanished Colonies!
Welcome to August 18th, a day packed with history that proves the past is never boring! We’re traveling from ancient empires to space discoveries. You won’t believe what major world changes and weird mysteries happened on this very day!
Today is huge for voices being heard, as American women finally won the right to vote! Plus, we look way out to space where a tiny moon orbiting Mars was spotted for the first time. Get ready to explore how one day can change everything from our voting booths to the entire Solar System!
What Happened on This Day
Women Gain the Vote in the USA!
This was a massive win for fairness! On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the final state needed to ratify the 19th Amendment. That meant millions of American women finally had the legal right to vote. Imagine fighting for years—even decades—for a voice in your country’s decisions! Suffragists cheered in the streets, celebrating a huge change that made the USA a bit more of a democracy for everyone.
The Mystery of the Lost Roanoke Colony
Picture this: Governor John White sailed back to Roanoke Island after a supply trip to find everyone gone! The first English child born in the Americas, Virginia Dare, was among the missing colonists. The only clue left behind was the single word 'CROATOAN' carved into a post. Was it a rescue? Did they move? This 'Lost Colony' remains one of history’s spookiest unsolved puzzles. What do you think happened?
Mars's Tiny Moon Phobos is Discovered
Way before fancy space telescopes, astronomer Asaph Hall looked through his telescope at Mars and spotted something tiny zipping around it: Phobos! This is one of Mars’s two small moons. What’s cool is that Phobos orbits its planet so fast—it circles Mars in less than 8 hours! That’s like getting dizzy on a merry-go-round that spins multiple times a day!
The Great Leader Genghis Khan Passes Away
Genghis Khan, the legendary founder of the massive Mongol Empire, died while on a military campaign. This guy was an incredible leader who united many nomadic tribes and created one of the largest empires the world has ever seen! His impact on the map of Asia and Europe was huge. Though his exact cause of death is debated—some say he fell from a horse—his legacy as a conqueror is certainly not forgotten.
Helium: The Sun's Element Found on Earth!
Believe it or not, the second lightest element in the universe, Helium (He), was first spotted in the light of the sun! French astronomer Pierre Janssen noticed a bright yellow line in the sun's spectrum during a solar eclipse. It was so new, they thought it *only* existed on the Sun! It took over 30 years for scientists on Earth to finally prove it existed here too. Now we know it's what makes balloons float and party voices squeaky!
Fun Facts About August 18
- Helium was the first element ever discovered by looking at the Sun, not on Earth!
- It took over 40 years of fighting for the 19th Amendment to become law!
- Phobos, the moon discovered today, orbits Mars three times every single Earth day!
- Genghis Khan's empire, at its biggest, was the largest contiguous land empire in history!
A Look Back in Time
August 18th often lands during the summer holidays, a time of big change! In 1920, the US was transitioning from a period of great social upheaval following World War I, making the right to vote for women an even more monumental victory. Meanwhile, in 1590, the early colonists in the New World were grappling with survival far from home, leading to the eerie vanishing act at Roanoke. This date connects triumphs of modern democracy with ancient, unsolved mysteries and scientific breakthroughs across the centuries.
Born on This Day
Virginia Dare
Virginia Dare holds a special, mysterious place in American history! She was the very first English child born in the Americas, in the short-lived Roanoke Colony. After her birth, the entire settlement vanished without a trace. Her story is the core of one of history's greatest disappearances.
Antonio Salieri
Antonio Salieri was a famous Italian composer and conductor who was super popular in his day! He was an amazing teacher and had many famous students, including Beethoven and Schubert. Although sometimes people tell tall tales about him and Mozart, Salieri was a huge name in classical music history.
Meriwether Lewis
Meriwether Lewis was an American explorer famous for leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition across the western United States. He and his partner, William Clark, mapped new lands, discovered plants and animals, and bravely interacted with Native American tribes. His adventures opened up a huge part of America!
Robert Redford
Robert Redford is a super famous American actor and director known for his cool, classic movie roles. He’s also a big supporter of the environment! He has won Academy Awards and is known for starring in films that are both exciting and thoughtful. He’s one of Hollywood’s most respected stars!