This Day in History: June 13

1373 - Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Perpetual Alliance

In 1373, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Perpetual Alliance was signed in London between King Edward III of England and King Ferdinand I of Portugal. This treaty is considered the world's oldest still in existence, and it established a military and commercial alliance between the two countries.

1866 - US House of Representatives passes 14th Amendment (Civil Rights)

In 1866, the US House of Representatives passed the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and provided equal protection under the law. The amendment was ratified in 1868 and is one of the Reconstruction Amendments that aimed to ensure civil rights for African Americans after the Civil War.

1878 - Congress of Berlin determines territories in Balkan peninsula

The Congress of Berlin began in 1878 and was held to determine the territories of the states in the Balkan Peninsula following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. The congress aimed to stabilize the region and prevent further conflicts by revising the Treaty of San Stefano, which had given extensive territories to Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro. The congress recognized the independence of Romania, Serbia, and Montenegro and gave autonomy to Bulgaria within the Ottoman Empire.

1950 - South Africa implements the Group Areas Act

In 1950, South Africa implemented the Group Areas Act, which assigned geographically separate residential and business areas for different racial groups. This act was a major pillar of the apartheid system of racial segregation and oppression and forced non-whites from the most developed areas.

1956 - Last British troops leave Suez Canal Zone in Egypt

In 1956, the last British troops left the Suez Canal Zone in Egypt, which had been under British control since the late 19th century. This withdrawal marked the end of the Suez Crisis, which had erupted when Egypt nationalized the canal and Britain, France, and Israel invaded the country in response.

1971 - New York Times publishes Pentagon Papers

In 1971, the New York Times published the Pentagon Papers, a secret study of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. The documents revealed the government's lies concerning the scale of US activities in Vietnam and neighboring countries. Daniel Ellsberg, an employee of the RAND Corporation, leaked the documents to the New York Times, and he was later tried but not convicted of espionage.

1983 - Pioneer 10 becomes first man-made object to leave central solar system

In 1983, Pioneer 10, a US space probe, crossed the orbit of Neptune, which at the time was classified as the furthest planet from the Sun. This event marked the first time a man-made object had left the central solar system and entered interstellar space.

2000 - Leaders of North and South Korea meet in historic summit

In 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met in an historic summit in the northern capital of Pyongyang. The talks were initiated by then President of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung, as part of his "Sunshine Policy" to improve relations between the two Koreas. Kim Jong