March 19th

The U.S. fired more than 100 cruise missiles from the sea while French fighter jets targeted Moammar Gadhafi's forces from the air, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising.

Invasion of Iraq by American and British led coalition begins without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion.

California officials declared a power alert, ordering the first of two days of rolling blackouts.

Sarajevo became a united city again after four years when Moslem-Croat authorities took control of the last district held by Serbs.

After giving up an attempt to become a major league baseball player, Michael Jodan returned to pro basketball with the Chicago Bulls.

Two British soldiers were shot to death after they were dragged from a car and beaten by mourners attending an Irish Republican Army funeral in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organization amid a sex-and-money scandal involving a former church secretary, Jessica Hahn.

Bob Dylan's self-titled debut album was released by Columbia Records.

Willie Mosconi sets the world record for running most consecutive Pool balls without a miss. Mr. Pocket Billiards, as the hugely successful American sportsman was often called, ran 526 consecutive balls.

The Academy Awards ceremony was televised for the first time.

Adolf Hitler issued his so-called ""Nero Decree"" ordering the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened.

Nevada state legislature legalized gambling.

US Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles for 2nd time refusing to ratify League of Nations' covenant (maintaining isolation policy).

Congress approved daylight-saving time.

The Supreme Court upheld the eight-hour work day for railroads.

The first International Women's Day is observed by over 1 million people in several European countries. German socialists Clara Zetkin and Luise Zietz initiated the observance, which has become an annual global event.

The Lumière brothers record their first footage. Sortie des Usines Lumière à Lyon showed workers leaving their factory in Lyon. The film is about 50 seconds long. Auguste and Louis Lumière were the earliest filmmakers in history.

Earl Warren, the 14th chief justice of the United States, was born in Los Angeles.

William Jennings Bryan, secretary of state and three-time Democratic presidential nominee, was born in Salem, Ill.

During the Taiping Rebellion in China, the rebels captured Nanking and renamed it T'en-ching (Heavenly Capital).

200 members of Peking imperial family/court commit suicide in loyalty to the Emperor.

A Mongolian victory at the naval Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.