March on this day: What happened on 18 March and why this date is key for Mexico

When flicking through the March history books, one date stands out, particularly for Mexicans: 18 March. It's not just another day on the calendar; it's a day that witnessed events which changed the course of entire nations. If you're after a quick guide to understand why this day is so significant, or if you simply want to recap (a historical review) of the most impactful events, you've come to the right place. Here's our take on what happened on this day, as if we'd lived through it ourselves.

1938: The cry of sovereignty that still echoes in Mexico

If there's one event no Mexican forgets when looking at March anniversaries, it's the Oil Expropriation. On 18 March 1938, President Lázaro Cárdenas announced to the world, via radio, the nationalisation of the oil industry. Back then, foreign companies were exploiting the crude as if it were their own, ignoring the rulings of Mexican courts. Cárdenas, with a resolve that seems from another era, decreed the legal expropriation of their assets. Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) was born. For many, that was the moment Mexico took its seat at the table of genuinely independent nations. Every 18 March, Mexicans remember that sovereignty isn't asked for; it's asserted.

The world was also turning: other 18 March milestones

But history doesn't stop at borders. If we widen the lens on March's key dates, the 18th is also a red-letter day in other countries. For instance, in 1871, Parisians rose up to create the Paris Commune, that first workers' government which, although short-lived, sowed the seeds for 20th-century social movements. And speaking of historic feats, in 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to float in open space. Just imagine: tethered to a spacecraft by a thin cable, gazing at Earth from the void. It was a giant leap that seems routine today, but back then it was pure heroism.

European politics also has its chapter on 18 March. According to well-documented accounts of the time, in 1990, the German Democratic Republic (communist East Germany) held its first free elections, a decisive step towards reunification. And going further back, in 1921, the Peace of Riga was signed, ending the war between Poland and Soviet Russia, redrawing the map of Eastern Europe.

Farewells and arrivals

Anniversaries also mark goodbyes. On 18 March 1584, Ivan the Terrible, the first Tsar of Russia, passed away – as brutal as he was crucial to his country's history. In the realm of science, the world lost a visionary in 1893: Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, left us that day. Although the phone today might have evolved beyond recognition, the revolution it brought to human communication is undeniable.

On the flip side, it's also a day that saw the birth of brilliant minds. On 18 March 1837, Grover Cleveland was born – the only US president to serve two non-consecutive terms. And in 1922, the British jailed Mahatma Gandhi for sedition, not realising they were fuelling the legend of the man who would free India without firing a single shot.

A quick guide to other events on 18 March

For lovers of trivia or anyone needing a speedy March historical events review, here's a list of other happenings on this day worth remembering:

• 1962: France and the Algerian National Liberation Front sign the Évian Accords, paving the way for the end of the Algerian War of Independence.
• 1937: A school tragedy in New London, Texas, shocks America: a gas explosion at a school kills over 300, mostly children.
• 1745: Robert Walpole, regarded as the first British Prime Minister, dies, leaving an enduring political legacy.
• 1922: The US Supreme Court upholds the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's right to vote – a landmark in the fight for equality.

So, as you can see, using March's historical anniversaries as a guide lets us travel through time and connect different eras and cultures. 18 March isn't just the day of the Oil Expropriation in Mexico; it's a reminder that humanity advances through acts of sovereignty, rebellion, exploration, and peace deals. Next time someone asks you what's so special about this day, you've got the full story to tell them, like a true expert who's been covering this for years.