From the ArcaMax Publishing, History & Quotes Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/quotes/s-569517-984875
In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of
Independence, proclaiming U.S. independence from Britain.
In 1826, in one of history's notable coincidences, former U.S.
Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died, 50 years to the
day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
In 1863, Union troops defeated Confederate forces in a battle at
Vicksburg, Miss.
In 1895, the poem "America the Beautiful," by Wellesley College
Professor Katherine Lee Bates, was published.
In 1914, director D.W. Griffith began filming his controversial film
"Birth of a Nation," which introduced important new filmmaking
techniques and influenced many other directors.
In 1986, more than 250 sailing ships and the United States' biggest
fireworks display honored the Statue of Liberty in its 100th birthday
year.
In 1995, the British Parliament reconfirmed John Majors as prime
minister.
In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder landed on Mars to become the first U.S.
spacecraft to land on the planet in more than two decades.
Also in 1997, Mexico's top drug lord died in a Mexico City hospital
following plastic surgery to change his appearance.
In 2002, a man opened fire near a ticket counter of El Al, the Israeli
airline, at Los Angeles International Airport and killed two people
before he was killed by a guard.
In 2003, with the lack of international markets after a lone case of
mad cow disease, Canadian beef prices in grocery stores fell to as low
as 75 cents a pound.
Also in 2003, three attackers killed 50 people and injured dozens of
others when they opened fire at a Shiite mosque in Quetta, Pakistan.
In 2005, NASA's "Deep Impact" spacecraft wound up an 85 million-mile
journey by intentionally slamming into the Tempel 1 comet to learn
more about comets and other aspects of the solar system.
In 2006, North Korea test launched seven ballistic missiles in what it
called "routine military exercises," kicking up a firestorm of anger
with its neighbors and the United States. One missile, the only
long-range one tested, reportedly was capable of hitting the western
United States.
Also in 2006, the first U.S. space shuttle flight in almost a year
began when the Discovery was launched from the space center at Cape
Canaveral.
In 2007, Palestinian militants holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston
prisoner in Gaza released him after nearly four months of captivity.
Also in 2007, former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who had
boycotted the proceedings as unfair, pleaded innocent to sex charges
at his war crimes trial at The Hague.
And, the Russian resort city of Sochi was selected to host the 2014
Winter Olympics, marking the first time the country has been the site
of the Winter Games.
In 2008, former arch-conservative U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms of North
Carolina, heralded as the last of the "Old South" politicians, died at
age 86 after battling cancer and heart disease.
Also in 2008, hundreds of people were forced from their homes by a
wildfire near Santa Barbara in Southern California. More than 2,600
homes were at risk.
And, a boat capsized on the Yway River in Myanmar, killing a reported
38 people. Authorities said there were 44 survivors.