July 4
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1776: The âmisguided Americansâ and their âinadmissible claim of Independenceâ
On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress. The documentâwhich announced the separation of the 13 North American British colonies from Great Britainâwas met with scorn by British officials. Fighting dragged on for years, and when the American Revolution finally ended in 1783, the colonies were victorious and went on to form the United States of America. July 4 subsequently became a national holiday.
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Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (2003576546); Photo Illustration EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
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Architect of the Capitol
The death of Jefferson and Adams
Two major figures of the American Revolution who became U.S. presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, died on this day in 1826â50 years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Adamsâs last words were âJefferson survives.â He was unaware that Jefferson had died hours earlier.
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Hindu spiritual leader and reformer Vivekanandaâwho sought to combine Indian spirituality with Western material progress, maintaining that they supplemented and complemented one anotherâdied this day in Calcutta in 1902.
Famous Birthdays
More on July 4
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2019
Pope Francis and President Vladimir Putin of Russia met in Vatican City and discussed, among other issues, ongoing fighting in Ukraine and the schism between the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Russian Orthodox Church.
© 2007 CERN
2012
Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN announced that they had detected an interesting signal that was later confirmed to be from a Higgs boson.
© Paul Slattery/Retna Ltd.
1976
British punk rock band the Clash gave their first public performance, opening for the Sex Pistols in a pub in Sheffield, England. [See what you know about the â70s.]
National Photo Company Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (Digital File Number: LC-DIG-npcc-10140)
1946
The Republic of the Philippines was proclaimed, and Manuel Roxas became its first president.
AP
1939
On an appreciation day in his honor, American baseball player Lou Gehrig, who had been forced to retire months earlier due to ALS, gave a memorable speech in which he claimed to be âthe luckiest man on the face of the earth.â [How much do you know about baseball?]
Image: EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
1930
The Nation of Islam is founded by Wallace Fard (later Wali Fard Muhammad) in Detroit. A religious movement that combines elements of Muslim teachings with Black nationalism, the Nation of Islam was created with a mission âto teach the downtrodden and defenseless Black people a thorough knowledge of God and of themselves.â [Learn more about the people, places, and events that shaped the 1930s.]
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
1910
In what was billed as the âFight of the Century,â African American boxer Jack Johnson defeated James Jackson Jeffries, who was considered the âGreat White Hope.â Johnsonâs victory led to nationwide celebrations by Black Americans that were sometimes met by violence from white people, resulting in more than 20 deaths across the country.
© shproteg/Fotolia
1884
The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States by the French in Paris. [Find out why the Statue of Liberty is a woman.]
Image: EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica, Inc.
1865
Lewis Carrollâs Aliceâs Adventures in Wonderland was published, though the first print run was soon recalled because of quality issues; a new first edition was released in November. [Take our quiz about famous literary characters.]
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
1855
American author Walt Whitman first published Leaves of Grass, a landmark in the history of American literature; undergoing numerous revisions, the poetry collection became known for its unconventional language and its celebration of the human body and sexual passion. [Sort fact from fiction in our poetry quiz.]
Courtesy of the Corporation of the Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
1845
Essayist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau moved to his retreat at Walden Pond, where he eventually wrote a series of reflective essays titled Walden; or, Life in the Woods. [Take our authors and poets quiz.]
Brady-Handy Photograph Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital file no. LC-DIG-cwpbh-03440)
1804
Nathaniel Hawthorneâwhose greatest literary works, including the novel The Scarlet Letter (1850), are marked by profound psychological and moral insightâwas born in Salem, Massachusetts. [Test your knowledge of famous novels.]
U.S. Army Photo
1802
The United States Military Academy opened in West Point, New York.