Sun, May 18
3 minute readPublished: Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 4:00 am
This Day in History: A Look Back at May 18th
May 18th has been a day of significant, and often tragic, events throughout history. From landmark legal decisions to devastating natural disasters and acts of violence, the date holds a diverse collection of moments that have shaped the world.
One of the most enduring events to occur on this day was the ratification of the **27th Amendment** in 1992. This amendment, which prohibits Congress from giving itself a pay raise that takes effect immediately, finally became law after a staggering 202-year journey.
The day also saw the eruption of **Mount St. Helens** in 1980, ending a 123-year slumber. In the same year, in South Korea, the **Gwangju Uprising** saw Korean students protesting the closure of their university, met with violence from paratroopers.
Earlier in the 20th century, the day was marked by tragedy. In 1927, **Andrew Kehoe** committed a horrific act of violence, detonating explosives at the Bath, Michigan school, killing dozens, including children. Also in 1927, the last survivor of the **Charge of the Light Brigade**, Edwin Hughes, passed away.
Other notable events include India's successful nuclear test, **Operation Smiling Buddha**, in 1974, and the crash of the propaganda plane **Maxim Gorky** in 1935, resulting in numerous fatalities. The Supreme Court's decision in **Plessy v. Ferguson** in 1896, which upheld racial segregation, also occurred on this day.
This snapshot of May 18th highlights the complex and often turbulent nature of history, reminding us of the events that have shaped our present.
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