On This Day, Sept. 16: Mayflower Sails, Mexico Begins Independence War
Sept. 16 (UPI) -- On this date in history, one of the most consequential voyages in American history began, Mexico launched its long fight for independence, and the United States took a major step toward a modern military draft.
1620: The Mayflower departed Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers across the Atlantic toward America. The voyage, driven by religious persecution and economic ambition, led to the founding of Plymouth Colony and became a cornerstone of the Thanksgiving origin story. Its legacy remains contested, as it also preceded centuries of displacement and violence against Native peoples.
1810: Mexico began its war of independence against Spain. The conflict, ignited by Father Miguel Hidalgo's call to arms, stretched for more than a decade before Mexico won independence in 1821.
1940: Congress passed the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, requiring all men ages 21 to 36 to register. The Selective Training and Service Act came as war raged in Europe and Asia, marking a shift toward sustained military readiness before Pearl Harbor.
1974: President Gerald Ford offered conditional amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders and military deserters, saying they could return to the United States if they performed up to two years of public service and reaffirmed the Pledge of Allegiance. The move sought to heal divisions left by the war, though it drew criticism from veterans groups and amnesty advocates alike.
1978: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck northeastern Iran, killing more than 25,000 people. The disaster underscored the region's vulnerability to seismic activity and overwhelmed local rescue efforts.
1982: Lebanese Christian militiamen entered two Palestinian refugee camps in West Beirut, Lebanon, beginning the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Hundreds were killed over three days. The massacre became a watershed moment in Lebanon's civil war and prompted international outrage over the failure to protect civilians.
1986: Fire and fumes in South Africa's Kinross mine killed 177 people, the country's worst gold mine disaster. The tragedy focused attention on dangerous working conditions in the apartheid-era mining industry.
1994: A U.S. federal court jury in Anchorage, Alaska, ordered Exxon to pay $5 billion to fishermen and Alaska Natives affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. It was the largest pollution-related award at the time, though the punitive damages were later reduced on appeal.
1999: Congress doubled the U.S. presidential salary from $200,000 a year to $400,000, effective in 2001. The raise was the first since 1969, reflecting inflation and the responsibilities of the office.
2007: Former NFL running back and actor O.J. Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas and charged with robbery, assault, burglary and conspiracy in an armed robbery at a hotel-casino. He was later convicted and sentenced to up to 33 years in prison. The case revived memories of his 1995 murder trial and underscored his dramatic fall from sports and screen fame.
2008: U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, who oversaw the troop surge in Iraq, was chosen to lead U.S. Central Command, which covers the Middle East. U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno succeeded him in Iraq. The move signaled continuity in U.S. strategy during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2011: A vintage P-51 Mustang fighter plane crashed into a crowd at the National Championship Air Races and Air Show in Reno, Nev., killing 11 people, including 74-year-old pilot Jimmy Leeward, and injuring about 75 others. The accident raised new questions about safety at air shows.
2013: A gunman identified as Aaron Alexis of Texas killed 12 people and injured four at the Washington Navy Yard before he was shot dead by a U.S. Park Police officer. The attack exposed gaps in security clearances and prompted reviews of military and federal workplace safety.
2018: Christine Blasey Ford accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault at a gathering when they were teenagers in the 1980s. The allegation led to congressional hearings during Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation process. He was sworn in Oct. 6, 2018. The episode intensified national debates over judicial nominees, sexual misconduct and political polarization.
2024: Federal officials arrested entertainment mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs in New York City on racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. In July 2025, a jury found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
This date in history is compiled from UPI archives.