What happened on February 25 News and Events on This Day in History

1964 U.S.A. Cassius Clay Becomes Champion 25th February, 1964 : Cassius Clay, defeated Sonny Liston when Liston retired at the end of the sixth round in Miami to become Heavyweight Champion of the World

2004 U.S.A. The Passion of the Christ 25th February, 2004 : This was the opening day of The Passion of the Christ, a film directed by Mel Gibson. It was highly acclaimed by those who wanted to view the exact nature of what happened to Jesus on the cross. However, it was Rated R, and was not recommended for children. There was some criticism made of the film, suggesting that it was intended to indicate that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus. Also, some people thought it was a bit too graphic. Nevertheless, the first run of The Passion of the Christ was substantially more effective and successful than the edited, less-violent run. This film had impacted many lives in many ways, at a time when religiosity was considered to be very important in peoples’ lives. This increased awareness and hunger for knowledge of God and/or a force greater than man was brought for many reasons during this time. One of the most shocking perhaps was the event of September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center Tragedy, during which thousands of people were killed.

1948 Czechoslovakia Communist Rule Established 25th February, 1948 : The president (Eduard Benes) of Czechoslovakia allowed communist rule to be established in this country on this date. Eduard Benes was reported to have been under quit a bit of pressure at this time. During this year, the communist party had forced other parties out of political office, and the communists were the only party that existed in this country at this time. This newly-formed totalitarian government was very much supported by the Soviet government, until the year 1989.

1913 U.S.A. US Federal Taxes Start 25th February, 1913 : The Sixteenth Amendment, which paved the way for the United States adoption of income tax, was ratified

1919 U.S.A. Oregon Imposes Gas Tax 25th February, 1919 : Oregon became the first state to impose a 1 percent tax on gasoline
Please Take the time to check out our new project featuring 2012 Festivals, Fairs, Shows, Arts and Crafts Listings and Other Fun Ideas for days out , Oregon Below as an Example

1920 Canada Sugar trees 25th February, 1920 : Sugar trees were found in British Columbia, and at this time the value of the sugar from this tree was $66.00 per pound. It was discovered as existing on Douglas Fir trees.

1920 Australia League of Nations 25th February, 1920 : Sir Joseph Cook, the Minister of the Australian Navy, defended Australia’s right to cast one vote in the League of Nations. A decision had not been made at this time one way or another. However, it was noted in the speech made by Cook that this country had lost more lives during the war than the Americans did . Consideration was still being made regarding this issue.

1921 Republic of Georgia Bolshevistic Armies 25th February, 1921 : On this day, it was reported that the capital of the Republic of Georgia was being seized by Bolshevistic (Russian) armies. The Greeks were headed to this location to pick up the Greek Merchants and Greek refugees now there. The Turkish army had voted to remain neutral. The capture of Georgia by Soviet Russian armies was in essence signified the near end of the Independence of the Republic of Georgia. This country did again regain their independence from the Soviet Union as of 1991 (declared on April 9, finalized on December 25th). Independence Day of Georgia is still celebrated on May 26th, however. This was the date of the original breaking away from Russia which occurred in 1918.

1930 U.S.A. Prohibition Laws 25th February, 1930 : With the continuing debate in congress between wets and drys over the prohibition laws , the enforcement in each state also continues to be dependent on the position of the politicians in that state. In states where the wets are in control the boats used to enforce prohibition could not catch a cold let alone a fast rum runners boat , and speakeasies are very rarely raided by law enforcement. In other states where the dry's are in control fast patrol boats and many raids occur.

1932 U.S.A. Steers 25th February, 1932 : A local Abilene, Texas basketball team known as the Steers was unable to make it to state. If they had, this would have been the second year in a row, but instead they were defeated 24 to 13 by the Breckenridge Buckaroos, another local Texas basketball team.

1949 U.S.A. Robert Mitchum 25th February, 1949 : Robert Mitchum is released from a Los Angeles prison farm at the end of his two-month sentence for marijuana possession

1972 U.S.A. Prison Repairs 25th February, 1972 : On this day, a sum of $60,000 was allocated to remodel the Aiken County Stockade. Improvements were to be made on the courthouse as well, and prison workers would be employed in order to cut down on the cost of the operation.

1972 Great Britain Miners Strike 25th February, 1972 : Miners accept a pay settlement after a seven-week strike. The strike had caused many companies to institute a three-day week when lack of coal to British power stations caused disruption to electricity supplies.

1982 Great Britain Corporal Punishment 25th February, 1982 : The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that beating school children against their parents' wishes is a violation of the Human Rights Convention. Britain was the last country in Western Europe to ban corporal punishment in state schools in 1986.

1984 Brazil Gas Line Explosion 25th February, 1984 : A huge explosion caused by a Gas Pipeline close to the Shanty Town destroys the shanty town in Brazil, killing at least 500 people, mostly young children.

1986 Philippines Ferdinand Marcos 25th February, 1986 : President Ferdinand Marcos and his entourage are rescued and airlifted from the presidential palace in Manila by U.S. helicopters. The new Philippines president is Corazon Aquino

1991 Saudi Arabia Iraqi Scud Missile 25th February, 1991 : An Iraqi Scud missile hit a U.S. barracks in Dhahran killing 28 Americans during the Persian Gulf War.

1992 Azerbaijan Slaughter 25th February, 1992 : Armanian forces slaughtered more than 600 Azerbaijani citizens, including nearly 200 women and children near Khojaly, Azerbaijan.

1994 Israeli Occupied Territories Jewish settler kills 30 25th February, 1994 : A Jewish settler kills 29 Palestinian worshippers and injures 125 more before being subdued and beaten to death by survivors at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, West Bank after opening fire as people gathered for Friday morning prayers.

2005 U.S.A. Dennis Rader 25th February, 2005 : Dennis Rader is arrested for the BTK ( Bind, Torture and Kill, ) serial killings that terrorized Wichita, Kan. (He later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 life prison terms.)

2007 U.S.A. Oscars 2007 25th February, 2007 : Some of the Main Oscars
Best Picture : The Departed
Best Documentary : An Inconvenient Truth
Best Actor Leading Role : Forest Whitaker ( The Last King Of Scotland )
Best Actress Leading Role : Helen Mirren ( The Queen )
Best Actor Supporting Role : Alan Arkin ( Little Miss Sunshine )
Best Actress Supporting Role : Jenifer Hudson ( Dreeam Girls )
The Best Original Screenplay: Little Miss Sunshine
This Day In History For Tomorrow February 26th Day After February 27th Or You Can Use Our Calendar at the top of the page to find the day or month you are looking for

2008 India Muslim scholars in India say terrorism is un-Islamic 25th February, 2008 : An influential group of Muslim theologians in India have denounced terrorism, saying it is against the teachings of Islam. Their thoughts were given at a meeting being held at an Islamic school. Scholars from around six thousand religious schools were attending the meeting.

2009 United States Drugs traffickers arrested in the United States 25th February, 2009 : Attorney-General Eric Holder has announced the arrest of more than seven hundred and fifty people on narcotics-related charges, and the seizure of more than twenty-tree tons of narcotics. This is part of the twenty-one month multi-agency law enforcement investigation known as 'Operation Xcellerator.' This number has included the fifty-two people detained in California, Minnesota and Maryland in raids targeting the powerful Sinaloa cartel. The twenty-one month operation involved U.S, Mexican and Canadian authorities. A 2008 justice department report found that Mexican traffickers were the biggest organised crime threat to the United States..

United States   2011 United States Four Amish Children Die in Storm 25th February, 2011 :  Four children died as an Amish family of nine traveled in a horse-drawn buggy through heavy storms in Kentucky. The buggy was overturned in a creek and four of the young children drowned. The family had been traveling to make a phone call.