On July 4, 1863, while the Union celebrated Independence Day, General Ulysses S. Grant accepted the surrender of Confederate Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton at Vicksburg, Mississippi—concluding a grueling 47-day siege and securing one of the most decisive victories of the American Civil War.…
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The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, was a seminal document that not only marked the birth of the United States but also launched a transformative era: the modern world that lifted billions alive and yet unborn. Its impact reverberated across continents,…
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On July 4, 1802, amidst the backdrop of a new and aspiring nation, West Point, the esteemed United States Military Academy, officially opened its doors. The event marked a significant milestone in American history. Established under President Thomas Jefferson’s vision, West Point’s inception was…
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On July 3, 1913, under the humid skies of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a remarkable scene unfolded on the rolling hills of Cemetery Ridge. Fifty years to the day after the Confederate Army’s fateful charge across the open fields toward Union lines—a climax known as Pickett’s…
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Pickett’s Charge, often heralded as the high-water mark of the Confederacy, stands as one of the most dramatic and poignant moments in American Civil War history. On the afternoon of July 3, 1863, during the third and final day of the Battle of Gettysburg,…
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On July 3, 1775, George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The appointment came as tensions and hostilities began to rise between Massachusetts and England following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in that April. After vocal appeals from the…
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In the minds of many Americans, July 4th is the nation’s birthday—the date celebrated with fireworks, patriotic speeches, and parades across the country. Yet it was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress formally broke ties with Great Britain by adopting the Lee…
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The Night of the Long Knives, known in German as “Nacht der langen Messer,” was a pivotal event in the history of Nazi Germany, occurring from June 30 to July 2, 1934. It marked a critical turning point in Adolf Hitler’s consolidation of power,…
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On July 2, 1839, over 50 captives on a slave ship named La Amistad threw off their chains and seized control of the ship. Led by Joseph Cinqué, the Africans killed the ship’s captain and another crew member, demanding to be returned to Mendiland (now Sierra Leone).…
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At 7:30 a.m. on July 1, 1916, whistles blew across the British trenches in northern France, marking the start of what would become the single bloodiest day in British military history. The First Day of the Battle of the Somme—a major Allied offensive against…
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