This Day In History...

[OnePimpTiger]

Ryan is away for the weekend and asked me to take over this while he's gone. So here goes:

July 2, 1964 - Congress votes for independence

On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress, assembled in Philadelphia, formally adopts Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence from Great Britain. The vote is unanimous, with only New York abstaining. The resolution had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, but it soon became clear that New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and South Carolina were as yet unwilling to declare independence, though they would likely be ready to vote in favor of a break with England in due course. Thus, Congress agreed to delay the vote on Lee's Resolution until July 1. In the intervening period, Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Its members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson, well-known to be the best writer of the group, was selected to be the primary author of the document, which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776. On July 1, 1776, debate on the Lee Resolution resumed as planned, with a majority of the delegates favoring the resolution. Congress thought it of the utmost importance that independence be unanimously proclaimed. To ensure this, they delayed the final vote until July 2, when 12 colonial delegations voted in favor of it, with the New York delegates abstaining, unsure of how their constituents would wish them to vote. John Adams wrote that July 2 would be celebrated as the most memorable epoch in the history of America. Instead, the day has been largely forgotten in favor of July 4, when Jefferson's edited Declaration of Independence was adopted.

July 2, 1964 - President Johnson signs Civil Rights Act

On this day in 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law the historic Civil Rights Act in a nationally televised ceremony at the White House.

The most sweeping civil rights legislation passed by Congress since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, the Civil Rights Act prohibited racial discrimination in employment and education and outlawed racial segregation in public places such as schools, buses, parks and swimming pools. In addition, the bill laid important groundwork for a number of other pieces of legislation--including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which set strict rules for protecting the right of African Americans to vote--that have since been used to enforce equal rights for women as well as all minorities.

Also:
July 2, 1937 - Amelia Earhart disappears
July 2, 1881 - President Garfield shot by Charles J. Guiteau

[OnePimpTiger]

July 3, 1988

U.S. warship downs Iranian passenger jet

In the Persian Gulf, the U.S. Navy cruiser Vincennes shoots down an Iranian passenger jet that it mistakes for a hostile Iranian fighter aircraft. Two missiles were fired from the American warship--the aircraft was hit, and all 290 people aboard were killed. The attack came near the end of the Iran-Iraq War, when U.S. vessels were in the gulf defending Kuwaiti oil tankers. Minutes before Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down, the Vincennes had engaged Iranian gunboats that shot at its helicopter.

Iran called the downing of the aircraft a "barbaric massacre," but U.S. officials defended the action, claiming that the aircraft was outside the commercial jet flight corridor, flying at only 7,800 feet, and was on a descent toward the Vincennes. However, one month later, U.S. authorities acknowledged that the airbus was in the commercial flight corridor, flying at 12,000 feet, and not descending. The U.S. Navy report blamed crew error caused by psychological stress on men who were in combat for the first time. In 1996, the U.S. agreed to pay $62 million in damages to the families of the Iranians killed in the attack.

Also:

July 3, 1971 - Jim Morrison dies
July 3, 1890 - Idaho becomes 43rd state

[dfr52]

July 2nd is a heavily historical day.

[rchurchward]

First of all, thanks to Darren (OnePimpTiger) for picking up the slack for me while I was out of town with my wife. Now back to business...

July 7, 2009 - Hoover Dam Construction Begins

On this day in 1930, construction of the Hoover Dam begins. Over the next five years, a total of 21,000 men would work ceaselessly to produce what would be the largest dam of its time, as well as one of the largest manmade structures in the world.

Other significant events...
July 7, 1456 - Joan of Arc is acquitted of heresy, 25 years after her death.
July 7, 1865 - Four conspirators in the Lincoln assassination are hanged.
July 7, 2005 - Four terrorist bombs go off in London, killing 52 people in the worst attacks there since WWII.
July 7, 2009 - Funeral and memorial service for Michael Jackson.

[OnePimpTiger]

Well I did for a couple of days...and then the ball was dropped. Sorry about that buddy!!

[jwmaryvillecrg]

July 7 is a verybusy day in History

[rchurchward]

Yeah that's quite true!

[rchurchward]

July 8, 1951 - Paris Celebrates It's 2,000th Birthday

On this day in 1951, Paris, the capital city of France, celebrates turning 2,000 years old. In fact, a few more candles would've technically been required on the birthday cake, as the City of Lights was most likely founded around 250 B.C.

Other significant events...
July 8, 1776 - First public reading of the Declaration of Independence and ringing of Liberty Bell.
July 8, 1853 - Commodore Matthew Perry and his expedition arrive in Japan for the first time.
July 8, 1889 - The Wall Street Journal was first published.

[OnePimpTiger]

Wow...2,000 years old. Impressive! And I love the WSJ, one of the last few great papers.

[rchurchward]

Wow...2,000 years old. Impressive! And I love the WSJ, one of the last few great papers.

I know that's pretty cool huh? The history of Paris is pretty neat if you do some reading up on it!