This day in history: 4 july

Europa

• 1610: Battle of Klushino (Polish–Russian War)
  The Battle of Klushino was fought between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia. This conflict was a major event in Eastern European history, influencing the balance of power in the region.
• 1832: Durham University Founded
  Durham University was established by Act of Parliament, becoming the first recognized university to be founded in England since Cambridge, over 600 years earlier.
• 1837: Grand Junction Railway Opens
  The Grand Junction Railway, the world’s first long-distance railway, opened between Birmingham and Liverpool, marking a significant milestone in the European Industrial Revolution.
• 1943: Death of General Władysław Sikorski
  During World War II, a Royal Air Force bomber crashed into the sea near Gibraltar, killing General Władysław Sikorski, the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army and Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile.
• 1946: Kielce Pogrom in Poland
  The Kielce pogrom, a violent outbreak against Jewish Holocaust survivors, occurred in Poland, highlighting the continued struggles and unrest in post-war Europe.
• 1951: Espionage Trial in Czechoslovakia
  An American journalist, William N. Oatis, was sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage by a court in Czechoslovakia, reflecting the tense atmosphere of the early Cold War in Eastern Europe.
• On July 4, 1941, German forces captured Ostrov in northern Russia and a strategic bridge over the Dnieper at Rogatchev, as part of the ongoing Eastern Front operations.
• On the same day, Polish mathematician Antoni Łomnicki was killed in the Massacre of Lviv professors, a Nazi atrocity in occupied Poland.

America

• On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, marking the birth of the United States as a nation independent from British rule.
• While the vote for independence actually took place on July 2, July 4 became the date celebrated because it appears on the Declaration itself.
• Most delegates signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776, but July 4 remains the symbolic date of American independence.
• The holiday became a federal holiday in 1870 (initially unpaid) and a paid holiday for federal workers in 1938.
• 1826: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration and former presidents, died on July 4, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
• 1831: President James Monroe also died on July 4, making him the third president to die on this date.
• 1827: Slavery was abolished in New York on July 4.
• 1876: Suffragists presented the “Declaration of the Rights of Women” at Independence Hall during the Centennial celebration.

Asia

• 1946: Philippines Gains Independence
  On July 4, 1946, the Philippines became an independent nation after nearly 50 years of American rule, and centuries of Spanish colonialism before that. The United States formally recognized Philippine independence, and this date was celebrated as the country’s Independence Day for many years before it was moved to June 12 to commemorate the 1898 declaration from Spain.
• Fireworks Origin: Fireworks, a staple of July 4 celebrations in the U.S., have their origins in ancient China, where they were developed as early as the second century B.C.. This innovation later spread worldwide and became integral to celebrations across cultures.
• Broader Context: While July 4 does not mark a major recurring holiday across most of Asia, the region’s rich history includes pivotal moments such as the founding of dynasties, major battles, and cultural innovations, though these are not specifically tied to this date.

Africa

• Rwanda – Liberation Day (1994)
  July 4 is Rwanda’s national holiday known as Liberation Day. On this date in 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) captured the capital, Kigali, effectively ending the 100-day genocide that killed approximately 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The day is marked with both celebration and somber remembrance: Rwandans honor the end of the genocide with music, dancing, testimonies, and reflections on the nation’s recovery and resilience. Liberation Day is one of Rwanda’s most important national holidays and symbolizes both the country’s rebirth and the ongoing commitment to unity and reconciliation.
• Anglo-Zulu War Ends (1879)
  On July 4, 1879, the Anglo-Zulu War officially ended with the defeat of the Zulu Kingdom by British forces. This conflict, which began in January of that year, was a significant event in southern African colonial history and marked the beginning of British dominance in the region.
• Nigeria (2007): On July 4, 2007, armed men kidnapped five foreigners in southern Nigeria, coinciding with the announcement by a major militant group that it would end a truce with the government.
• Central African Republic (2002): A Boeing 707 crashed near Bangui M’Poko International Airport, killing 28 people.