Today is Tuesday, November 15, the 319th day of 2011. There are 46 days left in the year.
1492 ― Christopher Columbus notes first recorded reference to tobacco
1881 ― American Federation of Labor (AFL) founded (Pittsburgh)
1884 ― Colonization of Africa organized at international conference in Berlin
1889 ― Dom Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil, deposed; republic proclaimed
1939 ― Nazis begin mass murder of Warsaw Jews
1969 ― 250,000 peacefully demonstrate in Washington, D.C. against the Vietnam War
1969 ― Janis Joplin, accused of vulgar and indecent language in Tampa, Fla.
1988 ― PLO proclaims the State of Palestine, recognizes Israeli existence
1988 ― Soviet space shuttle makes unmanned maiden flight (two orbits)
1999 ― Next transit of Mercury visible in North America