March 31.
1822. As a result of the growing Greek War of Independence, a number of Greeks from the neighboring island of Samos land at Chios, an island mostly inhabited by Greeks lying about 5 miles off the Turkish coast. Initially reluctant, the islanders join the uprising. As a result, the Ottoman Turks order the islanders massacred, and 5/6ths of the islanders are killed or exported.
1854. Commodore Matthew Perry (formerly of Veracruz, Mexico), signs the Treaty of Kanagawa with the government of Japan, opening certain ports in Japan to American trade.
1889. The Eiffel Tower is inaugurated. When built, it was the world's tallest tower, a title it retained until New York's Chrysler Bulding was built in 1930.
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