This Day in History: July 2

1776 Continental Congress resolves "these United Colonies are and of right ought to be Free and Independent States"

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress, representing thirteen American colonies, declared its independence from Great Britain. This Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in American history and is celebrated every year on Independence Day.

1823 Bahia Independence Day: the end of Portuguese rule in Brazil, with the final defeat of the Portuguese crown loyalists in the province of Bahia

The Bahia Independence Day marks the end of Portuguese rule in Brazil. After a long period of struggle, the Brazilian forces, led by General Pedro Labatut, finally defeated the Portuguese crown loyalists on July 2, 1823, in the province of Bahia. This was a significant step towards the complete independence of Brazil from Portugal.

1843 Alligator Falls Out of the Sky in Charleston, South Carolina during a thunderstorm.

During a thunderstorm, an alligator fell from the sky and landed on the streets of Charleston, South Carolina. It is believed that a waterspout, a tornado-like phenomenon over water, carried the alligator from a nearby body of water and dropped it on the city. This incident has become a part of the folklore of the area.

1900 The Zeppelin Takes Off for the First Time

The first Zeppelin, a rigid aircraft designed by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, made its maiden flight over Lake Constance in Germany. Unlike balloons or blimps, Zeppelins were built with a metal framework covered by stretched material, making them steerable. Zeppelins were used during World War I for bombing and reconnaissance, but their use declined after a series of deadly accidents.

1937 American aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan are heard for the last time before disappearing

Amelia Earhart, a renowned aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, disappeared while attempting to fly around the world with her navigator Fred Noonan. The last radio transmission from their Lockheed Model 10 Electra was heard on July 2, 1937. Despite extensive search efforts, neither Earhart nor Noonan nor their plane were ever found, leading to many theories about their fate.

1964 US President Lyndon B. Johnson signs Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act into law

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were landmark pieces of legislation that aimed to end racial discrimination in the United States. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed both acts into law, marking a significant victory for the civil rights movement and a major turning point in American history.

1990 1,426 pilgrims trampled to death after a panic in a tunnel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The 1990 Mecca tunnel tragedy occurred during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Due to overcrowding, a stampede occurred in a pedestrian tunnel, resulting in the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims and injuring over 2,000 others. This tragedy led to significant changes in the management of the Hajj and the safety measures in place for the pilgrimage.

2001 World's First Self-Contained Artificial Heart Transplant

In 2001, 59-year-old American Robert L. Tools became the first person to receive the a self-contained artificial heart transplant called the AbioCor at the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. The AbioCor is an artificial heart that is not connected to wires or an external pump.