1674 – England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England, and it is renamed New York.
1807 – Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama and confined to Fort Stoddert.
1819 – British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III.
1846 – In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.
1847 – The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party.
1859 – Daniel E. Sickles, a New York Congressman, is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity. This is the first time this defense is successfully used in the United States.
1861 – Serfdom is abolished in Russia.
1876 – Founding of the National Amateur Press Association (NAPA) in Philadelphia.
1878 – Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
1933 – A major debate is raging on both sides of the Atlantic concerning the money loaned to Great Britain for the War effort . At the end of the War the French Government stated they would only pay 10 cents on the dollar of the money loaned to them and for weapons and the United States Government Agreed to the settlement. Britain in the meantime came to the United States and agreed to pay the full debt including a higher rate of interest than the French. Now the British Government is demanding the US Government to treat the debts owed exactly the same as the French and other countries in Europe but with the United States having it’s own problems with unemployment they are not willing to negotiate . This now leaves 2 great allies in war at odds with each other over war debts and many are waiting to see the outcome on both sides of the ocean
1942 – World War II: nearly 250 Japanese warplanes attack the northern Australian city of Darwin killing 243 people.
1942 – World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese-Americans to internment camps.
1945 – World War II: Battle of Iwo Jima – about 30,000 United States Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima.
1953 – Censorship: Georgia approves the first literature censorship board in the United States.
1959 – The United Kingdom grants Cyprus independence, which is then formally proclaimed on August 16, 1960.
1963 – The publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique reawakens the Feminist Movement in the United States as women’s organizations and consciousness raising groups spread.
1968 – Damages for children born with deformities, caused by mothers taking the drug thalidomide during pregnancy are set by the high court. ( The Thalidomide drug was available in the UK from 1958 to late 1961 ) and many cases children born with deformities were confirmed. In 1973 a much larger settlement was agreed following the discovery that more than 400 children were affected .
1976 – Executive Order 9066, which led to the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps, is rescinded by President Gerald R. Ford’s Proclamation 4417
1978 – Immortal Technique, Peruvian-American rapper was born.
1985 – William J. Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave hospital.
2001 – The Oklahoma City bombing museum is dedicated at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
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