1783: The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon
The flight of the Montgolfière lasted only about 10 minutes, but it secured the French inventors a place in the history books.
1912: The US used a national minimum wage for the first time in Massachusetts.
The change came after many angry workers protested their pay rate, which gave them a very low quality of life.
1917: The first Pulitzer Prize is awarded. Every year, the prestigious award honors outstanding journalistic achievements. It was established with money bequeathed to Columbia University by publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
1919: Congress passes the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote, is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
1959: Ella Fitzgerald. The first Grammy Awards were presented, and the winners included Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Kingston Trio.
1965: Parliamentary elections are canceled by Ghana President Kwame Nkrumah as “unnecessary.” Following a rigged constitutional referendum in 1964, Nkrumah himself chooses the MPs he wants in the legislature. He will be deposed by a military coup d’état in eight months.
1977: The first president of Seychelles, James Manchem is deposed in a coup d’état staged by members of the opposition Seychelles Democratic Party, who have returned from military training in Tanzania. Prime Minister France-Albert René (pic: left) agrees to become president, but with these preconditions: that no political individual be harmed and new elections be held by 1978.
1984: Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A. The album was Springsteen’s most successful. It featured hits like “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, and “I’m on Fire”.
1995: Journalist Christine Anyanwu is arrested again. She is alleged to have published an article “revealing the names of 19 people arrested” by the government, which suspected them of involvement in a coup attempt.
1996: Alhaja Kudirat Abiola senior wife to the president-elect and a fierce fighter for the validation of the mandate given to MKO Abiola, is murdered by unknown assassins in Lagos.
BIRTHS ON THIS DAY: June 04
Angelina Jolie, 49 years
Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards, she has been named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress multiple times.
Evan Lysacek, 39 years
Evan Frank Lysacek is an American retired figure skater. He is the 2010 Olympic champion, the 2009 World champion, a two-time Four Continents champion, the 2009 Grand Prix Final champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion.
Modibo KeÏta (4 June 1915 – 16 May 1977)
First President of Mali (1960-1968), in Bamako Coura, French Sudan. He helped establish the Union of French West African Teachers, and was imprisoned for criticising colonialism. As president, he proved autocratic: imprisoning political opponents, and overturning the national constitution before he was ousted by a military coup d’état. He died at the age of 61.
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