From Historynet: Today in History February 3

1160          Emperor Frederick Barbarossa  hurtles prisoners, including children, at the Italian city of Crema, forcing its surrender.

1238          The Mongols take over Vladimir, Russia.

1690          The first paper money in America is issued in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1783          Spain recognizes United States' independence.

1904          Colombian troops clash with U.S. Marines in Panama.

1908          The U.S. Supreme Court rules that union-sponsored boycotts are illegal, and applies the Sherman Antitrust Act to labor as well as capital.

1912          New U.S. football rules are set: field shortened to 100 yds.; touchdown counts six points instead of five; four downs are allowed instead of three; and the kickoff is moved from midfield to the 40 yd. line.

1917          A German submarine sinks the U.S. liner Housatonic off coast of Sicily. The United States severs diplomatic relations with Germany.

1920          The Allies demand that 890 German military leaders stand trial for war crimes.

1927          President Calvin Coolidge  signs a bill creating the Federal Radio Commission to regulate the airwaves.

1943          Finland begins talks with the Soviet Union.

1944          The United States shells the Japanese homeland for the first time at Kurile Islands.

1945          The Allies drop 3,000 tons of bombs on Berlin.

1945          The month-long Battle of Manila begins.

1954          Millions greet Queen Elizabeth  in Sydney on her first royal trip to Australia.

1962          President John F. Kennedy  bans all trade with Cuba.

1966          Soviet Luna 9 achieves soft landing on the moon.

1971          OPEC decides to set oil prices without consulting buyers.

1984          The Environmental Protection Agency orders a ban on the pesticide EDB for grain products.