This day in history: 3 august

Europa

• Christopher Columbus Sets Sail (1492)
  On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus departed from Palos, Spain, beginning his first transatlantic voyage. He sailed with three ships—the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María—seeking a westward route to India. This expedition ultimately led to the European discovery of the Americas, marking a pivotal moment in world and European history.
• World War I: Germany Declares War on France (1914)
  On August 3, 1914, at the outset of World War I, Germany declared war on France. This action was a critical escalation in the conflict that had begun in late July with Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Germany’s declaration on France was part of its broader war plan to quickly defeat France before turning its attention to Russia, France’s ally.
• The declaration of war on France set in motion the German invasion of Belgium, as German military strategy required passing through Belgian territory to reach France. Belgium’s refusal to allow German troops passage led to Germany declaring war on Belgium as well, further expanding the conflict and drawing in Britain, which had guaranteed Belgian neutrality.
• The events of August 3, 1914, marked the rapid escalation of a regional Balkan conflict into a full-scale European—and eventually global—war. The alliances and treaties between European powers ensured that the declaration of war by one state quickly involved others, leading to the outbreak of World War I.
• The invasion of Belgium and France triggered widespread mobilization across Europe, with major battles soon following on the Western Front.

America

• Calvin Coolidge Becomes President (1923)
  On August 3, 1923, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th President of the United States following the sudden death of President Warren G. Harding. Coolidge took the oath of office at his family home in Vermont, administered by his father, a notary public.
• Whittaker Chambers Testifies Against Alger Hiss (1948)
  On this day in 1948, former Communist Party member Whittaker Chambers testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, accusing State Department official Alger Hiss of being a communist and a Soviet spy. The case became one of the most famous espionage controversies of the Cold War era.
• Formation of the NBA (1949)
  The National Basketball Association (NBA) was officially formed on August 3, 1949, through the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL), creating the premier professional basketball league in the United States.
• USS Nautilus Reaches the North Pole (1958)
  The nuclear-powered submarine USS Nautilus became the first vessel to travel beneath the Arctic ice cap and reach the geographic North Pole on August 3, 1958, marking a milestone in naval and polar exploration.
• PATCO Air Traffic Controllers Strike (1981)
  On August 3, 1981, members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) went on strike, seeking better working conditions and pay. President Ronald Reagan ordered the strikers back to work and ultimately fired those who did not comply, reshaping labor relations in the United States.
• 1859: The American Dental Association was founded in Niagara Falls, New York.
• 1900: Firestone Tire and Rubber Company was founded.

Asia

• Based on available historical records and commemorations, August 3 does not mark a widely recognized, singularly significant pan-Asian event comparable to, for example, Japan’s Hiroshima memorials later in August.

Africa

• Niger Gains Independence (1960)
  On August 3, 1960, Niger declared its independence from France, joining the wave of African nations breaking free from colonial rule in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Hamani Diori became the country’s first president. This day is celebrated annually as Niger’s Independence Day, a national holiday marking the end of French colonial rule and the beginning of self-governance.
• Nigeria’s Olympic Football Triumph (1996)
  On August 3, 1996, Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, made history by becoming the first African nation to win an Olympic gold medal in football. At the Atlanta Olympics, Nigeria defeated Argentina 3-2 in a dramatic final, with Emmanuel Amunike scoring the winning goal in the closing minutes. This victory is celebrated as a landmark achievement for African sports on the global stage.
• South Africa Bans Beatles Records (1966)
  On August 3, 1966, the South African government banned Beatles records after John Lennon’s controversial remarks about Christianity. This event reflected the tense cultural and political climate of apartheid-era South Africa and the intersection of global pop culture with local politics.
• Mauritania Coup (2005)
  On August 3, 2005, a military coup took place in Mauritania, ousting President Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya. Colonel Ely Ould Mohamed Vall led the transitional government until elections were held later that year.