Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in modern-day Major League Baseball, is born in Cairo, Georgia. Robinson, a four-sport athlete in high school and college, was commissioned a second lieutenant during World War II before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, desegregating the major leagues.
Germany announces it will resume unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic Ocean, negating the 1916 Sussex pledge. Under diplomatic pressure from the United States, Germany had previously scaled back its U-boat attacks. By reinstituting a policy of unrestricted attacks, Germany compelled President Woodrow Wilson to break diplomatic ties, and Congress issued a declaration of war on April 6, 1917.
Congress passes Thirteenth Amendment
The House of Representatives passes the Thirteen Amendment, which sends the amendment to the state legislatures. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, Congress sought to formally outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude. The amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865 as Georgia became the 27th state to ratify it.
