The government of the People’s Republic of China announces that it is releasing 211 people arrested during the massive protests held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in June 1989. Most observers viewed the prisoner release as an attempt by the communist government of China to …read more

In South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is sworn in as the first Black president of South Africa. In his inaugural address, Mandela, who spent 27 years of his life as a political prisoner of the South African government, declared that “the time for the healing of the wounds …read more

• 1497 Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci leaves for his first voyage to the New World (disputed)
• 1775 Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and issues paper currency for 1st time

• 1801 First Barbary War: The Barbary pirates of Tripoli declare war on the United States of America (1st US foreign war)
• 1857 Indian mutiny against rule by the British East India Company begins with the revolt of the Sepoy soldiers in Meerut
• 1940 Winston Churchill succeeds Neville Chamberlain as British Prime Minister
• 1960 US atomic submarine USS Triton completes 1st submerged circumnavigation of the globe
• 1994 Nelson Mandela sworn in as South Africa’s 1st black president