This day in history: 7 july

Europa

• Brioni Declaration Ceasefire (1991)
  On July 7, 1991, the Brioni Declaration was signed, marking a crucial ceasefire agreement between Slovenia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia. This was a pivotal moment in the early stages of the Yugoslav Wars, as it temporarily halted hostilities and set the stage for further negotiations regarding the independence of Slovenia and Croatia.
• Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges (1438)
  On July 7, 1438, King Charles VII of France issued the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges. This decree asserted the authority of the French crown over the appointment of bishops and the collection of church revenues, reducing papal influence in France. The move was a key step in the development of the Gallican Church and the assertion of national sovereignty over religious matters.
• World War II: Hungary Halts Deportation of Jews (1944)
  On July 7, 1944, Regent Miklós Horthy of Hungary ordered a stop to the deportation of Jews from Hungary. Despite this order, the Nazis declared all of Hungary except Budapest free of Jews, highlighting the tragic and complex situation of the Holocaust in Hungary during the final year of World War II.
• While not specific to July 7, the month of July has seen numerous significant events in European history, such as the July Crisis of 1914 that led to World War I, and the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, marking the beginning of the liberation of continental Europe during World War II.

America

• Annexation of Hawaii (1898)
  On July 7, 1898, President William McKinley signed the Newlands Resolution, officially annexing Hawaii as a territory of the United States. This action paved the way for Hawaii to become an official U.S. territory in 1900 and, eventually, the 50th state in 1959.
• First U.S. Military Draft (1863)
  The United States began its first military draft on July 7, 1863, during the Civil War. Men could avoid service by paying a $300 exemption fee, a policy that sparked controversy and unrest.
• Execution of Lincoln Assassination Conspirators (1865)
  Four conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln—Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt—were hanged in Washington, D.C., on July 7, 1865. Mary Surratt became the first woman executed by the federal government.
• Annexation of California Proclaimed (1846)
  On July 7, 1846, U.S. forces occupied Monterey and Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), proclaiming the annexation of California during the Mexican-American War.
• Sandra Day O’Connor Nominated to U.S. Supreme Court (1981)
  President Ronald Reagan announced the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court on July 7, 1981.
• Alaska Statehood Act Signed (1958)
  President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act into law on July 7, 1958, allowing Alaska to become the 49th state of the United States.
• In 1948, six female U.S. Navy reservists became the first women to be sworn into the regular Navy.
• In 1947, the famous Roswell UFO incident occurred near Roswell, New Mexico.

Asia

• On July 7 in Asian history, the most significant event is the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 1937, which marked the beginning of full-scale war between China and Japan, known as the Second Sino-Japanese War. On the night of July 7, 1937, a clash occurred between Chinese and Japanese troops near the Marco Polo Bridge (Lugouqiao) outside Beijing (then called Beiping). This skirmish escalated rapidly into a full-scale conflict, leading to Japan’s invasion of much of China and the start of the largest Asian war of the 20th century, which is often considered the beginning of World War II in Asia.

Africa

• Death of Chief Moshood Abiola (1998)
  On July 7, 1998, Nigerian opposition leader Chief Moshood Abiola died of a heart attack while in prison. His death sparked major riots in Lagos, resulting in at least 19 deaths. Abiola was widely regarded as the winner of Nigeria’s annulled 1993 presidential election, and his death marked a turning point in Nigeria’s transition toward civilian rule.
• Afrikaans Recognized as Official Language in South Africa (1925)
  On July 7, 1925, Afrikaans was officially recognized as one of South Africa’s official languages, alongside English and Dutch. This was a significant moment in South African cultural and linguistic history.
• On July 7, 2011, motorcycles were completely banned in Maiduguri, Nigeria, as a security measure in response to violence and unrest in the region.
• On July 7, 2010, internet service providers in Africa experienced disruptions due to a failure in the SEACOM underwater cable, highlighting the continent’s growing dependence on digital infrastructure.