The Xinyou Coup at the Qing Court
On November 2, 1861, Cixi and Prince Gong seized the regency set up for the child emperor Tongzhi and arrested the eight regents.
North Dakota and South Dakota Join the Union
On November 2, 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th U.S. states.
Russia Declares War on the Ottoman Empire
On November 2, 1914, Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire after its warships shelled Russian ports on the Black Sea.
Britain Issues the Balfour Declaration on Palestine
On November 2, 1917, Britain's Balfour Declaration backed a Jewish national home in Palestine.
The First Commercial Radio Station Goes on the Air
On November 2, 1920, station KDKA in Pittsburgh went on the air, and it is counted as the first commercial radio station in the United States.
Haile Selassie Is Crowned Emperor of Ethiopia
On November 2, 1930, Haile Selassie was crowned emperor of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.
The BBC Launches the World's First Regular TV Service
On November 2, 1936, the BBC started the world's first regular TV service from London. The sets were few, but the habit of scheduled viewing began here.
The Liaoshen Campaign Ends
On November 2, 1948, Shenyang fell to the People's Liberation Army, ending the Liaoshen campaign and the Nationalist hold on the northeast.
The Hague Agreement Transfers Sovereignty to Indonesia
On November 2, 1949, the Hague Agreement handed sovereignty over Indonesia to a new republic.
George Bernard Shaw Dies
On November 2, 1950, the playwright George Bernard Shaw died at his home in Hertfordshire at the age of ninety-four.
South Vietnam's President Ngo Dinh Diem Is Killed
On November 2, 1963, South Vietnam's President Diem was killed in a coup in Saigon.
Reagan Signs the Law Creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On November 2, 1983, Reagan signed the law creating the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
The Morris Worm Spreads Through the Internet
On November 2, 1988, the Morris worm spread through the internet and disabled a large part of it, the first such case to reach the courts.