This day in history - July 1

[seamusTX]

1690 - The Protestant army of King William III defeated the Catholic army of King James II the in Battle of the Boyne in Ireland, cementing British rule of Ireland for over two centuries.

Though it should be a footnote to history by now, this date still evokes ill will, demonstrations, riots, and assassinations in Ireland.

1776 - The Continental Congress approved independence, without adopting the draft text of the Declaration of Independence.

1847 - The first U.S. postage stamps as we know them were issued.

Before that, postage was a mess. Most letters were mailed and delivered without stamps. The recipient had to pay. Rates were very high by relative standards. A 10¢ stamp cost about an hour's pay for a workman. That would be something like $5 today. Postage dropped to 2¢ in 1919.

1863 - The Battle of Gettysburg began.

1867 - Canada became an autonomous dominion of Great Britain. Thus ended direct British rule of any part of North America.

1870 - James W. Smith became the first black cadet to enroll in West Point.

1898 - Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders assaulted San Juan Hill.

1899 - The Gideon Society was established to place Bibles in hotel rooms.

1932 - Franklin D. Roosevelt was nominated for president at the Democratic convention in Chicago.

1943 - Income tax withholding from paychecks began.

The income tax had originally applied to only the richest people, and they had to work out the terms for themselves (or let their accountants do it). The federal government's revenue requirements during WW II led to tax brackets being lowered until most workers had to pay income tax. The prospect of millions of families having to pay hundreds of dollars (months' pay at the time) on April 15 led to withholding, and wartime patriotism made taxpayers cooperative.

1944 - The Bretton Woods Conference convened in New Hampshire, leading to the establishment of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Though this system has its critics, the panics and crashes of the previous two centuries have not been repeated.

1963 - Nationwide ZIP codes were introduced.

Before that, large cities had "zones." Addresses looked like "123 W. Dallas Street, Houston 2, Texas."

(Around that time, phone numbers were still written out as "FReedom 3-1234.")

1966 - Medicare went into effect.

1968 - The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty was signed.

Though not an unqualified success, I think we can agree that the world is better off with eight (or whatever the real number is) nuclear powers, rather than every tinhorn dictator and terrorist being able to buy nukes on the open market.

1987 - President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.

The most contentious Supreme Court nomination process in history up to that time ensued. Judge Bork was rejected.

1991 - President George H.W. Bush nominated Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

The most contentious Supreme Court nomination process in history ensued.

(I wonder how these coincidences occur.)

- Jim

[bryang]

Wow, July 1 is indeed a busy day through out history, and what ever the future holds.

However, In way of showing gratitude....

1943 - Income tax withholding from paychecks began.

...July 1 should be declared a day of mourning.

-geo

[boomerang]

Wow, July 1 is indeed a busy day through out history, and what ever the future holds.

However, In way of showing gratitude....

1943 - Income tax withholding from paychecks began.

...July 1 should be declared a day of mourning.

-geo

If people can't write a check for their taxes, that's a sign taxes are too high.