Anniversaries & Dates of Interest - January Quiz

Answer: USA

Slovakia dates the establishment of the Slovak Republic to 1993. Sudan dates its Independence Day to 1956. In Cuba 'the Day of Liberation' dates to 1959. In the USA, Independence Day is the closest to a 'National Day', and is celebrated on July 4th. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, does not have a national day.

Answer: The European Economic Community (EEC)

The European Economic Community (EEC) was created by the 1957 Treaty of Rome to bring about a 'Common Market' among six founding nations, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.
Its name subsequently changed to the 'European Union'. The entry of Croatia in July 2013 brought the number of members states to 28. However, the ethos envisages that other countries can join.
NATO came into being on April 4, 1949; ACPO was formed in 1958, and AFL-CIO was founded on December 4, 1955.

(Style note: This question follows 'The Times' style guide of a an initial capital followed by small case letters for acronyms that are pronounced as a word.)

Answer: Thatcher Day

The Falkland Islands were claimed as British Territory in 1765, even though France already had a colony there. Spain later assumed the French interests, and the British left in 1776. In 1811, Spain relinquished many of her South American dependencies, including the Falkland Islands, or as they called them, Islas Malvinas. Newly freed from Spanish control, Argentina asserted sovereignty, but the British returned in 1833 and the islands became an Overseas Dependency. Argentina continued to claim the islands and after increasing tensions, launched a military invasion in 1982. Britain sent a military fleet to reclaim the islands and after a conflict lasting 74 days the Argentinian forces surrendered.

The British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was acclaimed a hero by Falkland Islanders, and they named their National Day after her.

Answer: Burma

The modern state has borders with China, Thailand, India, Laos and Bangladesh. It was fought over by many nations and was colonised by Britain in the 19th century. During World War Two, it was the location for many ferocious battles between the invading Japaneses and Britain and her allies.

In January 1948, Burma became independent. In 1989, the military forces that controlled the country changed its name to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Answer: Jamaica

Rastafari is an Africa-centred religion that developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as Emperor of Ethiopia. Its followers believe Haile Selassie is God. They believe that through him, all the Africans who were removed from their Continent as a result of the slave trade will be returned. Rastafaria is a Christian-based belief. Christianity has existed in Ethiopia since 330 AD, and Rastafarians mark January 7, which is also the Ethiopian Christmas with a feast of vegetarian or vegan food.

Answer: Newspaper production

For centuries, the production of National newspapers in the UK had been based around Fleet Street in London. Print unions were historically very strong, and many managements felt they were held to ransom by the working practices of the unions. In the early 1980s, Rupert Murdoch, head of the group that publishes "The Times" and "Sunday Times", built and equipped new printing plants at Wapping.

The intention was to introduce a totally new type of newspaper production that would modernise the industry - while dispensing with many of the labour-intensive jobs that existed.

In all 5,500 workers were sacked. The print unions began an industrial dispute aimed at stopping the implementation of the plans. Production moved to Wapping, but protests outside frequently turned violent as dissatisfed print workers tried to prevent copies of the papers being moved.

Their strike started on 24th January 1986 and continued for two years.

Answer: Robert Burns

Robert Burns (25th January 1759 to 21st July 1796) was a Scottish poet, songwriter and author. His works are now celebrated throughout the world. In many places "Burns Suppers" are held to mark the anniversary of his birth, and songs and poems are sung and recited. Among his best-known works are "Auld Lang Syne", "To a Mouse", "Scots Wha Hae" and "Tam O'Shanter."

Answer: Auschwitz

It is estimated that 1.1m prisoners died at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland between April 1940 and January 1945. It was liberated by the Soviet Army on January 27th 1945, but by that time many of those who had been in the camp had been marched away by the Nazis. The Soviet Army found about 7,500 people who were too sick to move.
Alderney, in the Channel Islands was a labour camp, as was Breendonk, in Belgium, and Dachau in Germany was the first permanant Nazi concentration camp, having been opened on March 22nd, 1933.
January 27th is also Holocaust Memorial Day.

Answer: Bloody Sunday

On that day, 13 men died when soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment opened fire on a Civil Rights march. Others were injured and a 14th man later died. A long-running enquiry some 40 years later found that the men had been unarmed and that the killings were unjustified.

Answer: Mohandas Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi led the largely peaceful opposition of India to British rule of their country. That work began in 1915, and India was granted Independence in 1947, though much to the dismay of Gandhi, India was split, with Pakistan (which then included Bangladesh as East Pakistan) becoming a separate country.

He was assassinated in New Delhi by a man who opposed his ethos of non-violence and who believed that Gandhi favoured the new Pakistan.