Today in 1775, Second Continental Congress drafted the Olive Branch Petition to King George III.
Today in 1852, fugitive slave Frederick Douglass delivered his 'What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?' speech to the Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, condemning the celebration as hypocritical sham.
Today in 1865, William Booth founded the Christian Mission in London. It is known in over 80 countries across the world today as the Salvation Army.
Today in 1916, Adelina and August Van Buren started on the first successful transcontinental motorcycle tour to be attempted by two women. They started in New York City and arrived in San Diego, California on September 12th, 1916.
Today in 1946, the bikini made its debut during an outdoor fashion show in Paris. Model Micheline Bernardini wore the skimpy two-piece outfit, which was the creation of Louis Reard (loo-EE' ray-AHRD').
Today in 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title as he defeated Jimmy Connors.
Today in 1984, scientists isolated one gene common to many different life forms, including humans, which suggested that man, insects and reptiles may have had common origins.
Today in 1989, former U.S. National Security Council aide Oliver North received a $150,000 fine and a suspended prison term for his part in the Iran-Contra affair. The convictions were later overturned.
Today in 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton accepted the Democratic Presidential nomination at the party's convention in New York.
Today in 2016, African American Alton Sterling was shot by Louisiana police in Baton Rouge, while being restrained on the ground, the killing was filmed. After the Department of Justice investigated decided that it would not file criminal charges against the police officers involved in May 2017, Louisiana's attorney general, Jeff Landry, said that the state of Louisiana would open an investigation into the shooting once the Department of Justice releases the physical evidence.