August 22 in history — What Happened Today in History

Nicaraguan Revolution: The FSLN seizes the National Congress of Nicaragua, along with over a thousand hostages.

The District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment is passed by the U.S. Congress, although it is never ratified by a sufficient number of states.

The Congress of Chile votes in favour of a resolution condemning President Salvador Allende's government and demands that he resign or else be unseated through force and new elections.

Rhodesia is expelled by the IOC for its racist policies.

J. Edgar Hoover and John Mitchell announce the arrest of 20 of the Camden 28.

Pope Paul VI arrives in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the first visit of a pope to Latin America.

Labor movements NFWA and AWOC merge to become the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC), the predecessor of the United Farm Workers.

Juan Marichal, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, strikes John Roseboro, catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on the head with a bat, sparking a 14-minute brawl, one of the most violent on-field incidents in sports history.

X-15 Flight 91 reaches the highest altitude of the X-15 program (107.96 km (67.08 mi) (354,200 feet)).

The OAS attempts to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle.

The penal colony on Devil's Island is permanently closed.

The Queen Charlotte earthquake is Canada's strongest since the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.

World War II: Holocaust of Kedros in Crete by German forces.

Brazil declares war on Germany, Japan and Italy.

Bill Woodfull of Australia becomes the only test cricket captain to twice regain The Ashes.

Michael Collins, Commander-in-chief of the Irish Free State Army, is shot dead in an ambush during the Irish Civil War.

The Cadillac Motor Company is founded.

Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first President of the United States to make a public appearance in an automobile.

At least 6,000 people are killed by the magnitude 7.7 Kashgar earthquake in the Tien Shan mountains.

Mahatma Gandhi forms the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in order to fight discrimination against Indian traders in Natal.

The Treaty of Saint Petersburg between Japan and Russia is ratified, providing for the exchange of Sakhalin for the Kuril Islands.

Twelve nations sign the First Geneva Convention, establishing the rules of protection of the victims of armed conflicts.

The first America's Cup is won by the yacht America.

Passaleão incident: João Maria Ferreira do Amaral, the governor of Portuguese Macau, is assassinated by a group of Chinese locals, triggering a military confrontation between China and Portugal at the Battle of Passaleão three days later.

The Second Federal Republic of Mexico is established.

José de La Mar becomes President of Peru.

French troops land at Kilcummin, County Mayo, Ireland to aid the rebellion.

The Haitian slave revolution begins in Saint-Domingue, Haiti.

Dillon Danis, American mixed martial artist

Ema Burgić Bucko, Bosnian tennis player

Federico Macheda, Italian footballer

Brayden Schenn, Canadian ice hockey player

Randall Cobb, American football player

Drew Hutchison, American baseball player

Robbie Rochow, Australian rugby league player

Adam Thielen, American football player

Giacomo Bonaventura, Italian footballer

Aleksandra Gajewska, Polish politician and businessperson

Apollo Crews, American wrestler

Stephen Ireland, Irish footballer

Tokushōryū Makoto, Japanese sumo wrestler

Ieng Thirith, Cambodian academic and politician (born 1932)

Eric Thompson, English race car driver and book dealer (born 1919)

U. R. Ananthamurthy, Indian author, poet, and playwright (born 1932)

Emmanuel Kriaras, Greek lexicographer and philologist (born 1906)

Pete Ladygo, American football player and coach (born 1928)

Noella Leduc, American baseball player (born 1933)

John Sperling, American businessman, founded the University of Phoenix (born 1921)

John S. Waugh, American chemist and academic (born 1929)

Paul Poberezny, American pilot and businessman, founded the Experimental Aircraft Association (born 1921)

Nina Bawden, English author (born 1925)

Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, Taiwanese cardinal (born 1923)

Jeffrey Stone, American actor and screenwriter (born 1926)

Nick Ashford, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1942)