Today, in 1776, the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. Of course, actually achieving independence would take years of struggle. Also today, in 1826, on the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died.
Glenn Reynolds in today’s Washington Examiner: While Independence Day is about independence from Great Britain, today it’s also associated with more general notions of freedom — individual independence, not just political independence. Unfortunately, America’s political class doesn’t want you independent.
Today, in 1863, General George Pickett’s division led an ill-fated charge on Confederate infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg. It would prove to be the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.
Today, in 1962, the first Wal-Mart opened for business.
Today, in 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began.
From the New York Post: Anthony Weiner’s wife is taking time off from her senior job with the State Department — as well as time off from the randy former representative, The Post has learned. While Weiner, 46, heads to
From The Daily Caller: Minority parents in New York have a message for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): you are hurting our children. In New York Monday, charter
Today, at NOON EDT, BigGovernment will conduct a Twitterview with Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI). Follow @BigGovt and @ThadMcCotter or #mccotterttv for all the fun. As always, we’ll publish the full exchange later here at BigGovernment.
Today, in 1997, the United Kingdom turned Hong Kong over to the Chinese.
The Charles Koch Foundation has released a great video that underscores the importance of economic freedom. Milton Friedman long-ago argued that, without economic freedom, all other freedoms are vulnerable.
Thousands of Greeks have resorted to violent street protests in the wake of proposed budget cuts needed to right Greece’s fiscal policy. Consider it a foreshadowing.
From the Associated Press: Riot police fired tear gas at youths hurling rocks near the Greek finance ministry Tuesday, trying to quell the anger unleashed by a general strike as parliament debated new cost-cutting measures. The latest austerity measures must
Today, in 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, sparking World War I. Also today, in 1919, the parties involved in World War I signed the final formal peace treaty, ending hostilities. Bookends.
From the Associated Press: Rod Blagojevich, who rode his talkative everyman image to two terms as Illinois governor before scandal made him a national punch line, was convicted Monday of a wide range of corruption charges, including the incendiary allegation
Today, in 1905, sailors aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin mutinied. Although the mutiny was put down, Russian naval forces would be among the more radical forces supporting the Bolshevik coup d’etat in 1917.
From the Associated Press: The floats were there, the music and dancing, too–all the usual staples of one of the world’s oldest and largest gay pride parades. But this year, something new joined the spectacle on the streets of New
From the Associated Press: Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann has surged to the front of the pack in Iowa, the crucial first voting state she hopes will propel her to the Republican presidential nomination. Bachmann, a Minnesota representative and darling
Today, in 1917, the first American troops arrived on the Western Front of World War I. One year later, on this day, the Americans defeated the Germans at the Battle of Belleau Wood. (One of our relatives was there. In
Today, in 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, sparking the Korean War.
From The New York Times: New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday approved a broad rollback of benefits for 750,000 government workers and retirees, the deepest cut in state and local costs in memory, in a major victory for Gov. Chris Christie
Republican Rep. Fred Upton is the father of the ban on incandescent light bulbs. (Yeah, there are at least three things wrong with that sentence.) In his campaign to get the gavel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee he
Join Andrew Breitbart and Melanie Morgan for Troopathon 2011, today from 4pm to Midnight EDT! Troopathon brings together famous celebrities from radio, television, the movie, musicians, journalists, and more to create a one-of-a-kind event with one purpose – to support
From the Associated Press: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pulled out of talks with Vice President Joe Biden on a deficit reduction-debt ceiling deal, saying they had reached an impasse over Democratic demands for tax increases to be paired with
Today, in 1948, Justice Clarence Thomas was born. If you have never read one of his opinions, you are missing out. Happy Birthday, Justice Thomas!
From the Associated Press: The Federal Reserve acknowledged Wednesday that the economy is growing more slowly than it expected. But it said it will complete its $600 billion Treasury bond buying program by June 30 as planned and announced no
