1. The Battle of Hampton Roads Begins (1862)
On March 8, 1862, naval warfare changed forever when the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (built from the salvaged hull of the USS Merrimack) launched its attack on the Union’s wooden fleet at Hampton Roads, Virginia. This first day of battle saw the Virginia destroy two Union ships—USS Cumberland and USS Congress—while sustaining minimal damage herself.
The Virginia had been converted from the burned hulk of the USS Merrimack, which Union forces had scuttled when abandoning the Norfolk Navy Yard in 1861. Confederate engineers rebuilt her with a sloped iron casemate and powerful guns. When she steamed into Hampton Roads on March 8, she proved virtually invulnerable to the Union’s conventional warships.
This battle marked the beginning of the end for wooden warships, as navies worldwide recognized the revolutionary impact of ironclad technology. The following day, March 9, would bring the famous duel between the Virginia and the USS Monitor, the first battle between ironclad vessels in history.
2. International Women’s Day First Observed (1911)
On March 8, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with more than one million people attending rallies advocating for women’s rights. The day was established following a proposal by German socialist Clara Zetkin at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in 1910.
The early celebrations focused primarily on women’s suffrage, working conditions, and ending discrimination. Participants demanded the right to vote, to hold public office, and to have equal opportunities in employment and education.
The date gained additional significance in 1917 when women in Russia chose March 8 to strike for “bread and peace” during World War I, an action that helped precipitate the Russian Revolution. The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day in 1975, and it continues to be celebrated globally as a day to honor women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality.
3. The New York Stock Exchange Founded (1817)
On March 8, 1817, a group of stockbrokers formalized their trading arrangement by signing the Buttonwood Agreement, establishing what would eventually become the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This pivotal moment in American financial history created the foundation for the world’s largest stock exchange and a cornerstone of global capitalism.
The agreement, named after the buttonwood tree where traders would gather on Wall Street, established a set of trading rules and commission structures. It created a closed marketplace where members agreed to trade only with each other, giving preference to other members and charging fixed commission rates.
From these humble beginnings, the NYSE grew to become the financial powerhouse we know today, facilitating trillions of dollars in trades and listing some of the world’s largest companies. This March 8th milestone represents a transformative moment in the development of modern financial markets.
4. First Woman Earns Pilot’s License (1910)
On March 8, 1910, Raymonde de Laroche of France became the first woman in the world to receive an official pilot’s license. The Aéro-Club de France issued her license #36, marking a groundbreaking achievement in aviation history during an era when flying was considered exclusively a man’s domain.
De Laroche, originally an actress, developed an interest in aviation after meeting aviation pioneers including the Wright Brothers and Charles Voisin. Her achievement came just seven years after the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight, during aviation’s dangerous early days when aircraft were primitive, unreliable, and crashes were common.
Her courage and determination opened doors for future generations of female aviators. Despite facing significant gender discrimination, de Laroche went on to set numerous aviation records and became an inspiration for women entering male-dominated fields. Her March 8th milestone represents a significant step forward in women’s participation in aviation and technology.
5. Susan B. Anthony Addresses Congress for Women’s Suffrage (1884)
On March 8, 1884, suffragist leader Susan B. Anthony made a historic appearance before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, delivering a powerful argument for a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote. This marked a significant milestone in the decades-long struggle for women’s suffrage in America.
Anthony, already a prominent figure in the women’s rights movement, presented her case with compelling logic and moral clarity. She argued that women, as citizens, deserved the same voting rights as men under the Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Her testimony came 16 years after legislators had first introduced a federal women’s suffrage amendment.
Though the 19th Amendment wouldn’t be ratified until 1920, Anthony’s March 8th address represented a crucial step in the long journey toward women’s enfranchisement. Her persistence and advocacy helped lay the groundwork for eventual victory, though she didn’t live to see it (she died in 1906). This date stands as a testament to the power of determined advocacy in the face of institutional resistance.
BONUS: Utica’s Underground Railroad and Abolition Movement (Historical Commemoration)
While not specifically occurring on March 8th, the Oneida County History Center in Utica, NY commemorates an important local historical movement on this date: Utica’s significant role in the Underground Railroad and abolition movement through an exhibition called “Utica Promiscuous Assemblies: Oneida County’s Women of the Underground Railroad and Abolition.”
In the mid-19th century, Utica emerged as a crucial hub in the Underground Railroad network, with many local women playing vital but often overlooked roles. The city’s strategic location along transportation routes and its community of committed abolitionists made it an important waypoint for enslaved people seeking freedom in the North or Canada.
Notable Utica women like Harriet Tubman collaborator Catherine Loguen and the members of the Female Anti-Slavery Society risked legal penalties and social ostracism to support the cause of abolition. These “promiscuous assemblies” (a derogatory term used by opponents to describe mixed-gender, mixed-race gatherings) were instrumental in building the moral and logistical infrastructure of the Underground Railroad in Central New York.
This local history connects Utica to the broader national struggle for freedom and equality, highlighting how ordinary citizens in smaller communities contributed to one of America’s most important moral movements.
Women abolitionists in Utica, NY operating an Underground Railroad safe house in the 1850s, representing the city’s important role in the fight against slavery.
