Maastricht Treaty comes into force, creating EU

Maastricht Treaty comes into force, creating EU

November 1, 2009 04:00:00 am

On November 1, 1993, the Treaty on the European Union (Maastricht Treaty) officially came into force, formally creating the European Union.

Learn more about the history of the EU.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First US execution by gas

On February 8, 1924, Gee Jon, a Chinese man convicted of murder, was executed by gas in Nevada and became the first person in the United States to be put to death in that manner.

The Nevada state legislature had eliminated hanging and shooting as a method of execution in 1921, and had provided for execution by lethal gas instead. Nevada sent 32 convicts to the gas chamber between 1924 and 1979. Learn more about the history of executions by gas in Nevada.

Mary, Queen of Scots executed

On February 8, 1587, Mary I of Scotland was executed for involvement in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England. Before execution, Mary denied three times assisting the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, and crown Mary as ruler of Great Britain. Mary's guilt or innocence is debated to this day. Learn more about the Babington Plot.