This Day in History: August 20

1993 Oslo accords negotiations conclude

The Oslo Accords negotiations concluded at the Fafo Institute in Oslo. This agreement pulled together Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The culmination of these discussions led to the eventual signing of the Accords in Washington D.C, which established the Palestinian Authority, vesting it with governance control over Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

1988 The Iran-Iraq War ends after 7 long years

The deadly Iran-Iraq War, a conventional war between two Middle Eastern nations, starts with Iraq's invasion of Iran on September 22, 1980, finally came to a conclusion.

1975 Viking 1 is launched by NASA using a Titan launch vehicle

Viking 1, a NASA initiative, marked a significant milestone in space exploration by being the first space probe to accomplish a successful landing on Mars.

1960 Senegal withdraws from the Mali Federation

A year following its establishment, Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation. A month later, Léopold Senghor assumed his position as Senegal's first president.

1940 Leon Trotsky is attacked in Mexico

Leon Trotsky, the Russian revolutionary and red army's founding figure, was assaulted at his residence by an undercover N.K.V.D agent, the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs. Trotsky succumbed to his injuries the next day.

1597 First Dutch East India Company ships return from the Far East

This year marked the return of the first ships of Dutch East India Company from the Far East, signifying a notable moment in the company's history.

1619 First known African Americans in English North America land at Point Comfort, Virginia

Approximately 20 of the first-known African Americans arrived in English North America at Point Comfort, Virginia. They were then either sold off or traded into servitude.

1741 Danish explorer Vitus Bering sights Alaska for the first time

Vitus Bering, the Danish explorer, sighted Alaska for the first time, leading a Russian expedition into the distant land.

1866 President Andrew Johnson officially declares the US Civil War over

President Andrew Johnson formally ended the US Civil War in 1866, providing an official resolution to the conflict.

1905 Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen forms the first chapter of T'ung Meng Hui

Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary, established the first chapter of T'ung Meng Hui, a union of all the secret societies committed to overturning the Manchus or Qing Dynasty.

1968 During the night, 250,000 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia responding to the Prague Spring

In response to the Prague Spring, a staggering count of 250,000 Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia overnight.

1993 Oslo Peace Accords signed marking a milestone in diplomacy

The Oslo Peace Accords were signed in this year. Secret negotiations held in Norway set the framework for this agreement, leading to a subsequent public ceremony in Washington, D.C the next month.