May 7, 1794: Robespierre’s Craziest Gamble

In the blood-soaked spring of 1794, as guillotines claimed heads by the dozen and the French Revolution threatened to devour itself, Maximilien Robespierre unveiled his most audacious experiment yet—not in law or terror, but in theology. On May 7, standing before the National Convention,…

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May 6, 1659: The Restoration Begins

In the uneasy spring of 1659, the republican experiment that had governed England since the execution of Charles I teetered on the edge of collapse. At its helm stood Richard Cromwell, son of the late Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell—an unlikely successor and, to many,…

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May 5, 1866: The First Memorial Day

On May 5, 1866, the small village of Waterloo, New York, held what is widely recognized as the first formal observance of Memorial Day in the United States. Known at the time as Decoration Day, the event was a community-wide tribute to honor the…

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May 4, 1886: The Haymarket Affair

On May 4, 1886, the Haymarket Affair, a watershed event marked by ideological conflict and explosive violence, unfolded in Chicago, profoundly shaping America’s political and labor landscape. Occurring amid escalating nationwide tensions driven by a determined campaign for an eight-hour workday, this incident encapsulated…

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