Here you’ll find 33 Historical events that start with J, organized from “JVP Insurrection (1971)” to “Jōkyū War”. Entries cover global conflicts, political movements, and cultural milestones useful for study and quick reference.
“Historical events that start with J” are notable occurrences whose common English names begin with the letter J. For example, the Jōkyū War shaped Japanese imperial power in 1221.
Below you’ll find the table with Event, Year, Location, and Significance.
Event: Name of the historical occurrence, so you can quickly identify and locate the specific event for study or citation.
Year: Provides the date or date range so you understand the event’s chronological place and compare it with other events.
Location: Gives a concise place—city, region, or country—so you can see where the event occurred geographically.
Significance: Summarizes why the event matters in fifteen to twenty-five words, helping you grasp its impact and relevance quickly.
Historical events that start with J
| Event | Year | Location | Significance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July Crisis | 1914 | Europe | Diplomatic chain that triggered World War I | A series of diplomatic confrontations and ultimatums after Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination that rapidly escalated into World War I across Europe. |
| July Revolution | 1830 | France (Paris) | Overthrew Bourbon monarchy; advanced constitutional rule | Three days of street fighting in Paris that toppled King Charles X and brought Louis-Philippe to power, inspiring liberal movements across Europe. |
| June Rebellion | 1832 | France (Paris) | Failed republican uprising; cultural legacy | A short-lived anti-monarchist uprising in Paris against Louis-Philippe; later immortalized in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. |
| June Days | 1848 | France (Paris) | Workers’ revolt brutally suppressed, affecting social policy | A violent insurrection by Parisian workers protesting economic hardship and political exclusion after 1848 revolutions; suppressed with heavy casualties. |
| July Days | 1917 | Russia (Petrograd) | Early Bolshevik unrest indicating revolutionary momentum | Spontaneous demonstrations and armed actions by soldiers and workers that revealed deep revolutionary currents before the October Revolution. |
| Jallianwala Bagh Massacre | 1919 | India (Amritsar) | Brutal colonial massacre fueling Indian independence movement | British troops fired on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar, killing hundreds; the atrocity galvanized nationalist sentiment against British rule. |
| Jonestown Massacre | 1978 | Guyana | Mass murder–suicide highlighting cult dangers | More than 900 members of the Peoples Temple died in a mass suicide and murder orchestrated by Jim Jones, shocking global public opinion. |
| Johnstown Flood | 1889 | United States (Pennsylvania) | Catastrophic dam failure with massive civilian loss | The South Fork Dam collapse sent a deadly torrent through Johnstown, killing over 2,200 people and prompting national relief efforts. |
| Juneteenth | 1865 | United States (Texas origins) | Commemoration of emancipation and civil-rights history | Observance of the June 19 announcement freeing enslaved people in Texas; now a symbol of emancipation and a U.S. federal holiday. |
| Jasmine Revolution | 2010-2011 | Tunisia (Tunis) | Sparked the Arab Spring across MENA region | Mass protests ousted President Ben Ali, inspiring widespread uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa and reshaping regional politics. |
| Jacobite Rising of 1745 | 1745-1746 | United Kingdom (Scotland) | Last major Stuart restoration attempt; ended at Culloden | Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign to restore the Stuarts failed at Culloden, leading to harsh reprisals and cultural transformation in Scotland. |
| Jacobite Rising of 1715 | 1715-1716 | United Kingdom (Scotland) | Early restoration attempt shaping British succession politics | An unsuccessful rebellion aiming to place James Edward Stuart on the throne, consolidating Hanoverian rule and altering British politics. |
| Jewish Revolt | 66-73 | Judea (Roman province; modern Israel/Palestine) | Major anti-Roman uprising with lasting regional consequences | Large-scale revolt against Roman rule culminating in the destruction of the Second Temple and profound demographic and political shifts. |
| Japanese American internment | 1942-1945 | United States | Forced wartime incarceration raising civil-liberties issues | Over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly relocated and detained, a significant civil-rights abuse during World War II. |
| Japanese occupation of Korea | 1910-1945 | Korea | Colonial rule that reshaped Korean society and nationalism | Japan’s annexation imposed modernization, cultural suppression, and economic exploitation, deeply influencing Korea’s twentieth-century history. |
| Japanese occupation of the Philippines | 1942-1945 | Philippines | Brutal WWII occupation with widespread suffering | Japanese forces occupied the Philippines, committing atrocities, provoking resistance, and causing severe civilian casualties and economic damage. |
| Jōkyū War | 1221 | Japan | Conflict consolidating shogunate power over imperial court | A brief civil war between imperial loyalists and the Kamakura shogunate that confirmed military dominance over the imperial court. |
| January Uprising | 1863-1864 | Poland (then Russian Empire) | Large nationalist revolt suppressed by Russia | Polish insurgents launched guerrilla warfare seeking independence; defeat led to intensified Russification and exile of many leaders. |
| June Fourth Incident | 1989 | China (Beijing) | Suppression of pro-democracy protests with global fallout | The Chinese government’s violent crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests resulted in numerous deaths and lasting international condemnation. |
| John Brown’s Raid | 1859 | United States (Harpers Ferry) | Attempt to ignite slave rebellion, escalating sectional tensions | Abolitionist John Brown’s armed raid on a federal arsenal aimed to spark slave uprisings; its failure intensified divisions ahead of the U.S. Civil War. |
| Jabidah Massacre | 1968 | Philippines (Mindanao) | Alleged atrocity that fueled Moro separatism | Reports of the massacre of Muslim recruits heightened grievances and contributed to the rise of insurgency and long-term conflict in Mindanao. |
| JVP Insurrection (1971) | 1971 | Sri Lanka | Failed Marxist uprising shaping state responses | A violent but short-lived revolt by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna against the government; suppression led to arrests and political consequences. |
| JVP Insurrection (1987-1989) | 1987-1989 | Sri Lanka | Deadly second uprising causing mass violence and instability | A brutal leftist insurgency resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, severe human-rights abuses, and profound national trauma. |
| Jay Treaty | 1794-1795 | United States (signed in London) | Treaty easing Anglo-American tensions post-Independence | Agreement between the U.S. and Britain resolving lingering Revolutionary War issues, facilitating trade and avoiding renewed hostilities. |
| Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy | 2005 | Denmark (Copenhagen) and global | Provoked worldwide debate over free speech and religious respect | Publication of cartoons depicting Muhammad led to international protests, diplomatic rows, and a sustained debate on rights versus offense. |
| Japanese embassy hostage crisis | 1996-1997 | Peru (Lima) | High-profile hostage siege with international implications | Leftist rebels seized the Japanese ambassador’s residence, holding hostages for months; a military raid ended the crisis amid controversy and diplomatic fallout. |
| January 6 United States Capitol attack | 2021 | United States (Washington, D.C.) | Assault on democratic processes with lasting political impact | A mob stormed the U.S. Capitol during electoral vote certification, causing deaths, arrests, and intense debates about threats to democracy. |
| Jallikattu protests | 2017 | India (Tamil Nadu) | Mass cultural protests defending regional tradition | Widespread demonstrations opposed bans on jallikattu, a traditional bull-taming event, highlighting cultural identity and legal debates over animal rights. |
| Justinianic Plague | 541-542 | Byzantine Empire (Mediterranean) | Early pandemic with major demographic and economic effects | A bubonic plague outbreak that struck Justinian’s empire, causing widespread mortality, economic disruption, and long-term historical consequences. |
| Jameson Raid | 1895-1896 | South Africa (Transvaal) | Failed raid adding fuel to the Second Boer War | A botched incursion by British colonial forces into the Transvaal that heightened tensions and contributed to the outbreak of the Boer War. |
| Jaffa Riots | 1921 | Mandatory Palestine (Jaffa) | Sectarian violence marking rising Arab-Jewish tensions | Intercommunal clashes in Jaffa that reflected mounting nationalist conflict under British Mandate rule. |
| Jinan Incident | 1928 | China (Jinan) | Armed clash between Chinese and Japanese forces in civil-war era | A violent confrontation during the Northern Expedition where Japanese troops engaged Chinese forces, worsening Sino-Japanese relations. |
| Jamestown settlement | 1607 | United States (Virginia) | First permanent English settlement in North America | Establishment of Jamestown marks the beginning of sustained English colonization in North America, with lasting cultural and political implications. |
Descriptions
July Crisis
July Revolution
June Rebellion
June Days
July Days
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Jonestown Massacre
Johnstown Flood
Juneteenth
Jasmine Revolution
Jacobite Rising of 1745
Jacobite Rising of 1715
Jewish Revolt
Japanese American internment
Japanese occupation of Korea
Japanese occupation of the Philippines
Jōkyū War
January Uprising
June Fourth Incident
John Brown’s Raid
Jabidah Massacre
JVP Insurrection (1971)
JVP Insurrection (1987-1989)
Jay Treaty
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Japanese embassy hostage crisis
January 6 United States Capitol attack
Jallikattu protests
Justinianic Plague
Jameson Raid
Jaffa Riots
Jinan Incident
Jamestown settlement