This Day in History: July 4

1776: United States Declaration of Independence is adopted in Philadelphia

The 13 British colonies in North America declared their independence from the British crown and established a new country called the United States of America. The declaration was approved by the Second Continental Congress and signed by 56 delegates on August 2, 1776.

1785: James Hutton publicly reads abstract of his theory of uniformitarianism for the first time at the meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

James Hutton, a Scottish geologist, presented his theory of uniformitarianism, which proposed that the Earth's geological processes occur gradually and continuously over long periods of time. This theory was a major development in the field of geology and helped establish it as a legitimate scientific discipline.

1803: The Louisiana Purchase is announced to the American people by President Thomas Jefferson

The United States government, led by President Thomas Jefferson, announced the acquisition of a large portion of land from France, known as the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase doubled the size of the United States and provided new opportunities for westward expansion.

1838: Huskar Colliery Mining Disaster in Silkstone England: mining pit floods drown 26 children, leads to 1842 'Mines and Collieries Act' banning women and children working underground

A mining disaster in England's Huskar Colliery resulted in the drowning of 26 children who were working underground. The tragedy brought attention to the dangers of child labor and led to the passage of the 1842 Mines and Collieries Act, which prohibited women and children from working underground.

1865: Alice in Wonderland is published for the first time

Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy novel, Alice in Wonderland, was published, recounting the adventures of a curious girl named Alice who falls into a rabbit hole and encounters a variety of strange creatures. The book has since become a beloved children's classic.

1946: Philippines gains independence from the United States

The Philippines, which had been a colony of various colonial powers for almost 381 years, gained independence from the United States. The event was a significant milestone in the country's history and celebrated as Independence Day on June 12 every year.

1966: Freedom of Information Act in the US is signed into law

The Freedom of Information Act, which allows for the disclosure of government information to the public, was signed into law by US President Lyndon B. Johnson. It came into effect a year later in 1967 and has since been an important tool for journalists and citizens to access government information.

2012: Discovery of Higgs boson particle is announced by scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland announced the discovery of the elusive Higgs boson particle, which had been suggested in the 1960s and is named after Nobel laureate Peter Higgs. The discovery was a major breakthrough in particle physics and helped confirm the existence of the Higgs field.

2017: North Korea tests first successful intercontinental ballistic missile into Sea of Japan

North Korea successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile, which was launched into the Sea of Japan. The test was widely condemned by the international community and raised