June 2023 – History of the Day

Archive: Jun 2023

American author Margaret Mitchell published Gone with the Wind

June 30, 1936: “Gone with the Wind” became an instant sensation upon its publication in 1936. A sweeping romance set during the Civil War; the novel later won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into a hugely successful film. Gone with the Wind novel by Mitchell Gone with the…

Jean-François Gravelet, known as Blondin, crossed the Niagara Falls on a tightrope

June 30, 1859: A rope 1,300 feet long, two inches in diameter and made entirely of hemp would be the sole thing separating him from the roiling waters below. Despite numerous close calls and injuries, the Daredevil’s fearless determination to conquer the mighty falls captured the public’s imagination. The…

US naval hero Stephen Decatur ends attacks by Algerian pirates

June 30, 1815: Stephen Decatur’s achievements in the Barbary Conflict helped establish the United States as a formidable force in international affairs and safeguarded American merchant vessels from future attacks. After inflicting further damages on the Algerian fleet, Decatur dictated terms of peace. The agreement stated that, in return for…

The Original iPhone released

June 29, 2007: Apple Inc. released its first-ever smartphone, the iPhone. The product project began two years earlier but was kept a total secret until its public announcement. Thanks in part to the iPhone’s popularity, Apple became the most profitable company of all time. iPhone (1st generation) From Wikipedia,…

Virginia adopts state constitution

June 29, 1776: Virginia adopted its own constitution early compared to other states and the United States in general. Before the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, Virginia had already adopted its own constitution, and it served as inspiration for subsequent constitutions. Constitution of Virginia From Wikipedia, the…

British Parliament tax tea for colonists

June 29, 1767: The British Parliament passed the Revenue Act of 1767, part of the immensely unpopular Townshend Acts. The Revenue Act placed taxes on items like glass, paint, paper, and tea, and gave power for general warrants to be used to search private property for smuggled goods. The…

Bald Eagle no longer an endangered species

June 28, 2007: The U.S. Department of Fishing and Wildlife Services announced that the Bald Eagle had a remarkable population rebound and no longer required the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The iconic American symbol is still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden…

Treaty of Versailles signed

June 28, 1919: Exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end the war that the assassination started. The treaty was signed by Germany and most of the Allied Powers. Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles[i] was a peace…

Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated

June 28, 1914: Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated during a drive through Sarajevo. His assassination is considered the spark that set off World War I. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The assassination…

United States enters the Korean War

June 27, 1950: The United States officially entered the Korean War to support the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and repel an invasion from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Japan had controlled the Korean Peninsula during WWII, and after Japanese surrender, control of the peninsula was split…

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