of the United States House of Representatives. March 7 – "Livery Stable Blues", recorded with "Dixie Jazz Band One Step" on February 26, by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in the United States, becomes the first jazz recording commercially released. On August 17 the band records "Tiger Rag". March 8 – (N.S.) (February 23, O.S.) – The February Revolution begins in Russia: Women calling for bread in Petrograd start riots, which spontaneously spread throughout the city. March 10 – The Province of Batangas is formally founded, as one of the Philippines' first encomiendas. March 11 – Mexican Revolution: Venustiano Carranza is elected president of Mexico; the United States gives de jure recognition of his government. March 12 – The Russian Duma declares a Provisional Government. It was dissolved 4 months later. March 14 – WWI: The Republic of China terminates diplomatic relations with Germany. March 15 (N.S.) (March 2, O.S.) – Emperor Nicholas II of Russia abdicates his throne and his son's claims. This is considered to be the end of the Russian Empire, after 196 years. March 16 (N.S.) (March 3, O.S.) – Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia refuses the throne, and power passes to the newly formed Provisional Government, under Prince Georgy Lvov. March 25 – The Georgian Orthodox Church restores the autocephaly, abolished by Imperial Russia in 1811. March 26 – WWI – First Battle of Gaza: British Egyptian Expeditionary Force troops virtually encircle the Gaza garrison, but are then ordered to withdraw, leaving the city to the Ottoman defenders. March 30 – Hjalmar Hammarskjöld steps down as Prime Minister of Sweden; he is replaced by right-wing businessman and politician Carl Swartz. March 31 – The United States takes possession of the Danish West Indies, which become the US Virgin Islands, after paying $25 million to Denmark. April April – Imokawa Mukuzo Genkanban no Maki, the first anime, is released in Japan. April 2 – WWI: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asks the United States Congress for a declaration of war on Germany. April 6 – WWI: The United States declares war on Germany. April 8 (N.S.) (March 26, O.S.) – In Petrograd, 40,000 ethnic Estonians demand national autonomy within Russia. April 9–May 16 – WWI: Battle of Arras – British Empire troops make a significant advance on the Western Front but are unable to achieve a breakthrough. April 9–12 – WWI: Canadian troops win the Battle