This day in history: 1 july

Europa

• In 1991, the Warsaw Pact, a defense treaty between eight communist countries in Eastern Europe, was formally disbanded in Prague. The pact was originally founded in 1955 as a counterbalance to NATO during the Cold War.
• On July 1, 1914, during the July Crisis preceding World War I, Austria-Hungary received confirmation from Germany of full support to wage war against Serbia following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This was a key moment leading up to the outbreak of World War I later that month.
• On July 1, 2013, Croatia joined the European Union, becoming the bloc’s 28th member state, marking an important expansion of the EU in the 21st century.
• Additionally, on July 1, 1827, the Treaty of London was signed by the United Kingdom, France, and Russia, which helped establish the modern Greek state, a significant event in European diplomatic history.

America

• The Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal battle in the American Civil War, began on July 1, 1863. Confederate General Robert E. Lee initiated the invasion of the North, leading to this major conflict.
• On July 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the first income tax bill in the U.S., which imposed a 3% tax on incomes between $600 and $10,000 and 5% on incomes over $10,000. This day also saw the establishment of the Bureau of Internal Revenue by an Act of Congress.
• In 1893, President Grover Cleveland underwent secret cancer surgery aboard a yacht to remove a cancerous growth in his mouth. The secrecy was maintained to prevent public panic during an economic depression.
• The U.S. Naval School at Annapolis was officially renamed the U.S. Naval Academy on July 1, 1850.

Asia

• On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was officially handed over from British to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British colonial rule that began in 1841. This historic event marked the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the “one country, two systems” principle, which was intended to preserve Hong Kong’s economic and administrative systems for 50 years after the handover.
• The transfer was the result of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which outlined the terms of the handover and the future governance of Hong Kong. The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Charles III (then Prince of Wales), was broadcast globally and is widely seen as a symbolic end to the British Empire’s presence in Asia.
• Since the handover, July 1 has become a significant date for annual pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. These rallies, originally organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, have called for democracy, universal suffrage, and protection of civil liberties. The protests gained major attention in 2003 when 500,000 people marched against proposed national security legislation, and have continued in various forms, especially in response to changes in Hong Kong’s legal and political landscape.
• Founding of the Communist Party of China (1921): The Communist Party of China, which would go on to become the ruling party of the People’s Republic of China, was founded on July 1, 1921.
• Inauguration of the Calcutta High Court (1862): The Calcutta High Court, one of the oldest high courts in India, was inaugurated on this day.
• Central Bank of Pakistan (1948): Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, inaugurated the State Bank of Pakistan on July 1, 1948.

Africa

• On July 1, 1960, the Trust Territory of Somaliland (formerly Italian Somaliland) gained independence from Italy. On the same day, it united with the State of Somaliland (formerly British Somaliland, which had gained independence five days earlier) to form the Somali Republic. This unification marked the birth of modern Somalia as an independent nation.
• Ghana, which had gained independence from Britain in 1957, officially became a republic on July 1, 1960. On this day, Kwame Nkrumah was sworn in as the country’s first president, ending Queen Elizabeth II’s role as head of state and solidifying Ghana’s sovereignty.
• Both Rwanda and Burundi achieved independence from Belgium on July 1, 1962. This event ended decades of colonial rule and marked the beginning of self-governance for both countries.
• In Nigeria’s recent history, July 1 has also been marked by significant events, such as the extension of an amnesty offer to a rebel leader in 2009 and a tragic car bombing in Maiduguri in 2014.