2 Minute History January 18th

January 18th has been marked by several significant historical events. In 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European to land on the Hawaiian Islands, initiating increased European contact with the region. In 1943, the first American bombing raid on Germany during World War II targeted Wilhelmshaven, signaling a shift in Allied military strategy. The Cultural Revolution in China began in 1966, led by Mao Zedong, aiming to enforce communist ideology and resulting in widespread upheaval. Lastly, in 1993, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed as a federal holiday for the first time, honoring the civil rights leader's legacy and contributions to racial equality in the United States.