Today in History: Munich Olympics massacre began in 1972

The following is a chronological list of notable events that occurred on September 5 throughout history:

1774 – First Continental Congress convenes
Delegates from twelve American colonies gathered in Philadelphia, marking the first unified Congressional resistance to British rule.

1836 – Sam Houston elected president of the Republic of Texas
Hero of the Battle of San Jacinto, Houston was chosen as the Republic of Texas’s leader.

1905 – Treaty of Portsmouth ends Russo‑Japanese War
Brokered in New Hampshire by President Theodore Roosevelt, the treaty formally concluded the Russo‑Japanese conflict.

1957 – Jack Kerouac’s On the Road published/reviewed
The novel became synonymous with the Beat Generation after the New York Times gave it a rave review.

1960 – Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) wins Olympic gold
Clay secured the light heavyweight boxing title in Rome—an early step toward his legendary career.

1969 – Lt. William Calley charged in My Lai Massacre
Calley faced murder charges over the killing of Vietnamese civilians during the war—a pivotal moment in Vietnam War history.

1970 – Operation Jefferson Glen begins in Vietnam
The 101st Airborne and South Vietnamese forces launched one of the last major U.S. ground operations in the Vietnam War.

1972 – Munich Olympics massacre begins
Palestinian terrorists from Black September took Israeli athletes hostage, killing and setting off a tragic hostage crisis.

1975 – Assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford
In Sacramento, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pointed a gun at the president—but the weapon failed to fire; Ford emerged unharmed.

1977 – Launch of NASA’s Voyager 1 probe
Voyager 1 began its journey from Florida; it remains the most distant human-made object in space.