Today in US History on March 22: Avanti design, women’s basketball debut, Jefferson milestone

Today in US history, March 22 has marked a vast range of moments in American history, from breakthrough innovations in design and industry to milestones in politics, civil rights, and culture.

Raymond Loewy sketches the futuristic Avanti (1961)

On March 22, 1961, renowned industrial designer Raymond Loewy created early sketches of a futuristic sports car at the request of Studebaker president Sherwood Egbert. As noted by the Library of Congress, Egbert hoped the bold design would revive the struggling automaker.


Loewy and his team delivered quickly, producing the Avanti prototype in record time. The car debuted in April 1962 to strong reviews. With its sleek fiberglass body, minimal chrome, and advanced safety features, including one of the first disc brake systems in an American car, the Avanti stood out as a forward-looking design in the auto industry.

Also Read: Today in US history on March 21: Broadway icon Ziegfeld born, Truman loyalty order, Olympic boycott

The Beatles release debut album in the UK (1963)

On this day in 1963, The Beatles released their debut album, Please Please Me, in the United Kingdom. While not an American release, the album would soon play a major role in shaping global pop culture, including the rise of Beatlemania in the United States.

First women’s college basketball game (1893)

On March 22, 1893, the first women’s college basketball game was played at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. A sophomore team defeated the freshmen 5–4 in a game consisting of two 15-minute halves, with each basket counting as one point.

At the time, men were not allowed inside the gym, but a crowd of women gathered on the indoor track to cheer. The winning team was awarded a gold and white banner, as per history.com.

Early colonial conflict: Powhatan attack (1622)

In 1622, a major conflict unfolded when Powhatan Native Americans attacked English settlers around Jamestown, Virginia, killing 347 people. The event marked one of the earliest and deadliest confrontations between Indigenous groups and European colonists in North America.

Anne Hutchinson expelled (1638)

Religious dissident Anne Hutchinson was expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638 for challenging Puritan leadership, highlighting early struggles over religious freedom in colonial America.

Thomas Jefferson becomes first Secretary of State (1790)

On March 22, 1790, Thomas Jefferson became the first US Secretary of State under President George Washington.

Other key political and social milestones

• 1871: William Holden of North Carolina became the first U.S. governor removed from office through impeachment.
  
• 1872: Illinois became the first state to mandate sexual equality in employment, marking a step toward workplace rights.
  
• 1873: Slavery was abolished in Puerto Rico, observed as Emancipation Day.
  

In 1941, actor James Stewart became the first major American movie star to enlist in the US Army during World War II, symbolizing Hollywood’s contribution to the war effort.