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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ZIP Codes, short for “Zone Improvement Plan” Codes, have been integral to the United States Postal Service since their inception in 1963. Their primary purpose is to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of mail delivery, reflecting a history marked by evolving needs and technological…
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On July 1, 1898, during the heat of a Cuban summer, the 1st New Mexico Cavalry, better known as The Rough Riders, stormed up San Juan Hill, propelling the future president, and his regiment, to legendary status while helping the United States defeat a…
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On June 30, 1688, seven English noblemen—two earls, a viscount, a bishop, and three barons—sent a covert letter to William of Orange, inviting him to intervene militarily in England and promising their support in overthrowing King James II. Known to history as the “Immortal…
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The Chevrolet Corvette, often called “America’s Sports Car,” began thrilling Americans with a need for speed when it began rolling off the assembly line on June 20, 1953. The original model was a hand-built convertible with a fiberglass body and a 150-horsepower inline-six engine.…
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On June 30, 1882, a presidential assassin met his fate following his shooting of President James Garfield, a wound that eventually killed the 20th president. The National Parks service explains that even by nineteenth-century standards, “Guiteau was obviously mentally ill. He considered himself a…
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