On this day in history

The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect, freeing enslaved people in the states then in rebellion against the United States.

Source: HistoryNet

The federal law banning the importation of enslaved Africans into the United States takes effect, as permitted by the Constitution's twenty year clause.

Source: On This Day

Ellis Island opens in New York Harbor as the nation's main immigration station, processing about 12 million immigrants over the next 62 years.

Source: HistoryNet

The St. Petersburg to Tampa Airboat Line begins service in Florida, the world's first scheduled airline, flying passengers across the bay in 23 minutes.

Source: On This Day

The U.S. Navy SEALs are established as a dedicated special operations force drawn from Navy underwater demolition teams.

Source: Naval History and Heritage Command

Greater New York is created by consolidating Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island into a single five borough city.

Source: Wikipedia

The first Rose Bowl college football game is played in Pasadena, California, where Michigan defeats Stanford 49 to 0.

Source: Wikipedia

The North American Free Trade Agreement takes effect, removing most trade barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Source: Congress.gov / CRS

Jean Jacques Dessalines proclaims Haitian independence at Gonaives, creating the first independent Black republic and the first nation founded by a successful slave revolt.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Julian calendar takes effect in Rome, traditionally dated to this day; it sets the solar year at 365 days with a leap year every fourth year.

Source: HistorIQly

German physicist Wilhelm Rontgen announces his discovery of X rays, opening a new era in medicine and physics.

Source: On This Day

Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Havana as Fidel Castro's revolutionary forces close in, ending his regime and paving the way for communist rule in Cuba.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Acts of Union take effect, merging the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Source: UK Parliament

The Commonwealth of Australia is established as the six British colonies federate into a single nation under a new constitution.

Source: On This Day

Representatives of 26 nations sign the Declaration by United Nations in Washington, pledging to fight the Axis powers together and giving the wartime alliance its name.

Source: United Nations

An unknown band called the Beatles auditions for Decca Records in London and is rejected, a decision the label soon regrets.

Source: On This Day

The euro is launched as an accounting currency in 11 European Union member states, beginning the transition toward physical euro banknotes and coins.

Source: European Central Bank